Honda Civic vs. Mazda3

2016 Honda Civic Sedan white background

2016 Honda Civic

2016 Mazda3 red exterior

2016 Mazda3

Boulder and Denver drivers will often find both the 2016 Honda Civic and the 2016 Mazda3 at the top of their lists when they’re searching for a compact sedan, but which one offers more? The two are closely matched in many areas, so we conducted a competitive comparison to see which one comes out on top.

Trim Levels

The 2016 Honda Civic provides a stunning range of standard and available features across five exciting trim levels, including:

  • LX: Starting at $18,640,* the LX provides plenty of first-rate features as standard, including a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines, LED daytime running lights, an electronic parking brake, and a 5-inch color LCD screen.
  • EX: Starting at $21,040,* the EX adds a 7-Inch Display Audio touchscreen, remote entry start system with Smart Entry, and a one-touch power moonroof to open up your cabin.
  • EX-T: Starting at $22,200,* the EX-T provides sporty acceleration and pinpoint handling beyond even the standard Civic thanks to its 1.5L turbocharged engine. You’ll also find heated front seats and a dual-zone climate control system as standard.
  • EX-L: Starting at $23,700,* the EX-L comes with leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering-wheel and shift knob, automatic-dimming rearview mirror, and an 8-way power driver’s seat.
  • Touring: Starting at $26,500,* the Touring trim features rain-sensing wipers, a 450-watt, 10-speaker sound system, and the driver-assistance features of the Honda Sensing suite.

The 2016 Mazda3 starts at $17,845. However, features remain uncompetitive, with standard features including such basic amenities as a height-adjustable seat and cruise control. At the top end, the $24,745 Mazda3s Grand Touring provides xenon headlights, LED taillights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a lane departure warning system

Powertrains and MPG

The Honda Civic features two all-new engines for 2016, so Boulder and Denver drivers will experience modern performance and forward-thinking efficiency.

  • 2.0L Four-Cylinder: The standard engine makes up to 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, all while allowing drivers to achieve up to 27 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway** with a six-speed manual or 31 mpg city and 41 mpg highway** with a CVT (continuously variable transmission).
  • 1.5L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder: Rated at 174 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. A CVT comes as standard to ensure a stunning 31 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway.**

The 2016 Mazda3 also offers two engines: either a 155-hp 2.0L four-cylinder or a 184-hp 2.5L four-cylinder. The less-powerful standard engine matches the Civic’s 2.0L in terms of efficiency, but its available engine only returns up to 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. If you need both power and efficiency, you should pick up a Civic.

2016 Honda Civic Sedan

Interior

The Civic’s recent refresh saw a lot of attention paid to the interior, and it shows. Now boasting a modern sense of style and soft-touch materials throughout the cabin, it offers a surprising amount of luxury for a compact sedan.

It also outperforms the 2016 Mazda3 when it comes to space, and to quite a significant degree. The new Civic has been lengthened to improve interior space, essentially creating the interior of a mid-sized vehicle in the sleek exterior of a compact. That means you’ll have up to 15.1 cubic feet of storage space in the Civic vs a meager 12.4 in the Mazda3.

Comfort and Convenience Features

The 2016 Honda Civic remains on top when it comes to onboard technology, complementing those generous dimensions by providing plenty of features for drivers to choose from. Many of them aren’t available with the 2016 Mazda6, and that’s sure to make a difference when you’re behind the wheel.

  • Multi-Angle Rearview Camera: The Mazda3 also fits a rearview camera, but the Civic’s offers three viewing modes to let you back up with confidence in all environments.
  • Heated Rear Seats: The Mazda3 only lets you heat the front seats; the Civic extends that year-round comfort to those in the rear.
  • Apple CarPlay®/Android Autoâ„¢: Use either Android Autoâ„¢ or Apple CarPlay® to sync up your smartphone to the Civic, then use apps, take calls, or stream music through the vehicle’s systems.
2016 Honda Civic interior features

The 2016 Honda Civic Offers Boulder and Denver Drivers More Than the 2016 Mazda3

With a more compelling engine lineup, larger interior, and stronger set of standard features, the 2016 Honda Civic is able to edge ahead of the 2016 Mazda3 enough to become a top pick for Colorado drivers. To find out more, just come down to the showroom at Fisher Honda in Boulder, CO today.

* MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $835.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

** Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.