Compare the2022 Acura ILXVS 2021 Mazda 3

Both the ILX 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

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

The ILX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 3’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the ILX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Mazda 3 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the ILX second among small premium cars in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Acura 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

The ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 46 more horsepower (201 vs. 155) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (180 vs. 150) than the Mazda 3’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (201 vs. 186) than the Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Acura ILX is faster than the Mazda 3 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Acura ILX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 3.

The ILX offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the ILX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 3:

For better traction, the ILX has larger standard tires than the Mazda 3 (215/45R17 vs. 205/60R16). The ILX A-SPEC’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (225/40R18 vs. 215/45R18).

The ILX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 3 2.0/2.5 S’ standard 60 series tires. The ILX A-SPEC’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ILX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Mazda 3 2.0/2.5 S.

For superior ride and handling, the Acura ILX has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda 3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The ILX has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The ILX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The ILX has .8 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the ILX offers cargo security. The Mazda 3’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the ILX. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 23rd.

If the windows are left open on the ILX the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mazda 3 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ILX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 3 Turbo.

The ILX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

Insurance will cost less for the ILX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the ILX will cost $145 to $1165 less than the Mazda 3 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the ILX is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because it costs $218 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the ILX than the Mazda 3, including $77 less for a muffler, $8 less for front brake pads, $44 less for a fuel pump and $17 less for a timing belt/chain.