Compare the2024 Honda Civic Type RVS 2024 Mazda 3

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic Type R deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic Type R’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Mazda 3’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Civic Type R and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

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

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Civic Type R for 2 years or 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are almost 2 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Civic Type R’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 2 places higher in reliability than Mazda.

The Civic Type R’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 124 more horsepower (315 vs. 191) and 124 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 186) than the Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Civic Type R’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 65 more horsepower (315 vs. 250) than the Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Civic Type R is faster than the Mazda 3 4 cyl. (manual transmissions tested):

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the Civic Type R has a standard up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The Civic Type R’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Civic Type R stops much shorter than the Mazda 3:

For better traction, the Civic Type R has larger tires than the Mazda 3 (265/30R19 vs. 205/60R16). The Civic Type R’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (265/30R19 vs. 215/45R18).

The Civic Type R’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 3 2.5 S Sedan’s standard 60 series tires. The Civic Type R’s tires are lower profile than the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic Type R has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Mazda 3 2.5 S Sedan. The Mazda 3’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Civic Type R 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 Civic Type R has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Civic Type R flat and controlled during cornering. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Civic Type R has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Civic Type R 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.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Civic Type R is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Mazda 3.

The Civic Type R Touring handles at 1.03 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Civic Type R Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 3.6 seconds quicker than the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD (24.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Civic Type R a Large car, while the Mazda 3 is rated a Compact.

The Civic Type R has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 3 Sedan (99 vs. 92.8).

The Civic Type R has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Civic Type R has a much larger trunk than the Mazda 3 Sedan (24.5 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Civic Type R’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Mazda 3’s useful trunk space (except wagon).

The Civic Type R’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Mazda 3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the Civic Type R 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 close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Civic Type R’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium.

The Civic Type R 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 Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Civic Type R has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Mazda 3.

The Civic Type R will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Civic Type R will retain 59.77% of its original price after five years, while the Mazda 3 only retains 51.44% to 55.76%.

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 9 more times in the last 40 years. The Mazda 3 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Civic outsold the Mazda 3 by almost seven to one during 2023.