Compare the2023 Mazda 3VS 2022 Acura ILX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda 3 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Acura ILX doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mazda 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The ILX doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The ILX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Mazda 3 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The ILX doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360-Degree Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The ILX only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Mazda 3 and ILX offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

The Mazda 3’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The ILX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Mazda 3 and the ILX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and available blind spot warning systems.

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

	Mazda 3	ILX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	89	227
Neck Injury Risk	17%	26%
Neck Stress	214 lbs.	257 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	56 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	153	211
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	40%
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	40 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	178/201 lbs.	768/623 lbs.

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 Mazda 3 is safer than the Acura ILX:

	Mazda 3	ILX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	112	234
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	239 lbs.	487 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	620 lbs.	699 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	10 inches	14 inches
HIC	199	299
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	945 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Mazda 3 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The ILX last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 3’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Acura.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Acura is ranked 8th.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 49 more horsepower (250 vs. 201) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 180) than the ILX’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	3	ILX
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	6.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.3 sec	17.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.4 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	94 MPH
Top Speed	134 MPH	133 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Mazda 3 Sedan gets better mileage than the ILX:

			MPG
Mazda 3 Sedan
FWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/37 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
ILX
FWD	Auto	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Mazda 3 Hatchback gets better mileage than the ILX:

			MPG
Mazda 3 Hatchback
FWD	Manual	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/33 hwy
ILX
	Auto	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Mazda 3 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The ILX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Mazda 3 offers an optional system to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The ILX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda 3 higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura ILX (3). This means the Mazda 3 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ILX every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the ILX:

	Mazda 3	ILX
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The Mazda 3 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the ILX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mazda 3’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the ILX (107.3 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mazda 3 is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than on the ILX.

The Mazda 3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (60.2% to 39.8%) than the ILX’s (63% to 37%). This gives the Mazda 3 more stable handling and braking.

The Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the ILX A-SPEC pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mazda 3’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the ILX’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda 3 Sedan is 6.6 inches shorter than the ILX, making the Mazda 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ILX (92.8 vs. 89.3).

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 4.3 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear legroom than the ILX.

Cargo Capacity

The Mazda 3 Sedan has a larger trunk than the ILX (13.2 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The Mazda 3’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The ILX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Mazda 3 Turbo Hatchback has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The ILX doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Ergonomics

The Mazda 3 Premium/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The ILX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Mazda 3’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The ILX has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Mazda 3’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The ILX’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Mazda 3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ILX’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Mazda 3’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the ILX’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Mazda 3 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The ILX doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Mazda 3 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The ILX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Mazda 3’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The ILX offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Mazda 3 Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The ILX doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Mazda 3 and the ILX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The ILX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda 3 offers an available wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The ILX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Mazda 3 comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Acura ILX isn’t available as a four door hatchback.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Mazda 3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Mazda 3 with a number “8” insurance rate while the ILX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Mazda 3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Mazda 3 will retain 49.31% to 50.91% of its original price after five years, while the ILX only retains 44.39% to 46.52%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mazda 3 is less expensive to operate than the ILX because typical repairs cost much less on the Mazda 3 than the ILX, including $68 less for a water pump, $275 less for a starter, $218 less for fuel injection, $141 less for front struts and $211 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda 3 will be $1130 to $7485 less than for the Acura ILX.

Recommendations

The Mazda 3 has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Mazda 3	ILX
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The Mazda 3 outsold the Acura ILX by over four to one during 2022.