Compare the2024 Mazda 3VS 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Toyota GR Corolla 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 GR Corolla doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 GR Corolla doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 GR Corolla only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Mazda 3 and GR Corolla have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Mazda 3Turbo Premium Plus has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The GR Corolla’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Mazda 3 and the GR Corolla have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GR Corolla has not been tested, yet.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 295) than the GR Corolla Morizo Edition’s standard 1.6 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Mazda 3 Sedan
FWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/37 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
GR Corolla
AWD	Manual	1.6 turbo 3-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

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

			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
	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/33 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
GR Corolla
AWD	Manual	1.6 turbo 3-cyl.	21 city/28 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 GR Corolla 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 GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda 3 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The GR Corolla requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Mazda 3 has a standard automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

The Mazda 3 stops shorter than the GR Corolla:

	Mazda 3	GR Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	167 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 GR Corolla; 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 3.4 inches longer than on the GR Corolla (107.3 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Mazda 3’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GR Corolla’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback is quieter than the GR Corolla Circuit Edition:

	3	GR Corolla
At idle	40 dB	52 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	81 dB
70 MPH Cruising	69 dB	72 dB

Passenger Space

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 8.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GR Corolla (92.8 vs. 84.6).

The Mazda 3 Sedan has .3 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 5.2 inches more rear legroom and 5.4 inches more rear hip room than the GR Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The Mazda 3’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

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 GR Corolla doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

The Mazda 3 Auto offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Mazda 3 Premium 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 GR Corolla 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 GR Corolla 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 standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The GR Corolla’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

When the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The GR Corolla’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 GR Corolla offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Mazda 3 has a standard center folding armrest for the driver and front passenger. A center armrest helps combat driver fatigue. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a front seat center armrest.

The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s 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. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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

Model Availability

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

The Mazda 3 is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

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

	Mazda 3	GR Corolla
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	n/a
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a