2019 Honda Civic vs Mazda3

Although we’ve had a few years to warm up to the Civic’s new styling, it’s still somewhat controversial — many editors at the AutoGuide.com office still think it’s ugly, especially the hatchback model.

This hatchback is powered by the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 180 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. It’s a very lively engine with a limited amount of turbo lag, which is minimized further by a smart continuously variable transmission. It can quickly spike the revs into the powerband for extra thrust, and then just as quickly calms things down for improved fuel economy. The powertrain is good for 34 mpg combined, which is a good chunk more than the Mazda3. Then again, the Civic doesn’t have all-wheel-drive.

On the road, the Civic is surprisingly fun to drive, even next to the always stellar Mazda3. While the Mazda features slightly heavier steering, the Civic is a bit lighter in total, letting the Honda feel agile and fun. If anything, it lacks feedback and can feel a bit digital, but the compact hatch certainly feels fun to drive on some windy roads.

Admittedly, the Civic is louder than the Mazda3 and can feel less refined as well. Road noise, wind noise, and engine noise are more prevalent in the Civic than the 3. But there are plenty of modern conveniences and technologies in the Honda. There is adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, and forward collision warning. Less useful is the lane-watch system, which displays an image of what’s happening in the car’s right blind spot on the main display. We think traditional blindspot monitoring is much more useful.