Compare the2019 Chevrolet SonicVS 2018 Mazda 3

Both the Sonic and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Sonic is safer than the Mazda 3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Sonic is safer than the Mazda 3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Sonic’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Mazda 3’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Chevrolet pays for the first scheduled maintenance on the Sonic. Chevrolet will pay for the first oil change, lubrication and any other required maintenance in the first year. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are almost 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sonic’s warranty.

The Chevrolet Sonic’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Mazda 3’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

The Sonic stops shorter than the Mazda 3:

The Sonic has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Sonic RS Hatchback handles at .84 G’s, while the Mazda 3 5-Door pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sonic is shorter than the Mazda 3, making the Sonic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The Sonic Sedan has .1 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Mazda 3 4-Door.

The Sonic Sedan has a much larger trunk than the Mazda 3 4-Door (14.9 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The Sonic Hatchback has a larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the Mazda 3 5-Door with its rear seat folded (47.7 vs. 47.1 cubic feet).

The Sonic has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Mazda 3 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The power windows standard on both the Sonic and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sonic is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Sonic LT/Premier’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its front windows also automatically close, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Mazda 3’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Sonic has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Mazda 3 only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

Insurance will cost less for the Sonic owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Sonic with a number “1” insurance rate while the Mazda 3 is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sonic is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because it costs $252 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Sonic than the Mazda 3, including $15 less for a starter, $160 less for fuel injection, $175 less for a fuel pump, $49 less for front struts and $53 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Sonic will be $933 to $1050 less than for the Mazda 3.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Sonic and the Mazda 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sonic second among small cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three.