Compare the2025 Mazda 3VS 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross

Safety
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Mazda 3 has standard Whiplash Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Corolla Cross only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Mazda 3 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Mazda 3 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Turbo Premium Plus automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Corolla Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Mazda 3	Corolla Cross
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	89	191
Neck Injury Risk	17%	33.6%
Neck Stress	214 lbs.	297 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	205/212 lbs.	324/279 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	153	330
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	32.9%
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	36 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	178/201 lbs.	592/372 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Mazda 3 is safer than the Corolla Cross:

	Mazda 3	Corolla Cross
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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 Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Mazda 3	Corolla Cross
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	239 lbs.	330 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	10 inches	12 inches
HIC	199	239
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	32 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	623 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda 3 Sedan is safer than the Corolla Cross:

	Mazda 3	Corolla Cross
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	122	193
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Pelvis Force	1004 lbs.	1539 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	.87 in	1.06 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	335 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda 3 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Corolla Cross was last only a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023 but no longer qualifies.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (191 vs. 169) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 150) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 81 more horsepower (250 vs. 169) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 150) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda 3 is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross (automatics tested):

	3 4 cyl.	3 turbo 4 cyl.	Corolla Cross
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	5.6 sec	9.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.7 sec	6.4 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	14.1 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	99 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Brakes and Stopping

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Corolla Cross:

	Mazda 3	Corolla Cross
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Mazda 3 2.5 S Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corolla Cross L/LE’s standard 65 series tires. The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Corolla Cross XLE’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mazda 3’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross (107.3 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

The Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the Corolla Cross XLE AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mazda 3’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Corolla Cross’ (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda 3 is 8.1 inches shorter in height than the Corolla Cross, making the Mazda 3 much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The Mazda 3 Hatchback has 4.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross (92.7 vs. 88.4). The Mazda 3 Sedan has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross (92.8 vs. 88.4).

Ergonomics

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 Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Mazda 3 has standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers a Smart Key System.

The Mazda 3 2.5 S’ standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Corolla Cross L’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Corolla Cross LE/XLE’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Mazda 3 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Corolla Cross has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the LE/XLE.

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

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

Compared to the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Mazda 3 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Recommendations

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

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