Compare the2025 Toyota CorollaVS 2025 Mazda 3

The Corolla has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Corolla and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Toyota Corolla 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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Mazda 3:

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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Mazda 3 Sedan:

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 38 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 7th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Mazda is ranked 7th.

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

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

The Corolla has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Corolla stops much shorter than the Mazda 3:

For better traction, the Corolla SE/FX/XSE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (225/40R18 vs. 215/45R18).

The Corolla LE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 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 Corolla SE/FX/XSE’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s 45 series tires.

For superior ride and handling, the Corolla SE/FX/XSE 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 solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Corolla handles at .89 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Corolla SE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Corolla has .3 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The power windows standard on both the Corolla and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Mazda 3 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Corolla’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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

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

The Corolla will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Corolla will retain 58.21% to 60.79% of its original price after five years, while the Mazda 3 only retains 51.44% to 55.76%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corolla is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because it costs $246 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Corolla than the Mazda 3, including $8 less for a water pump, $19 less for a muffler, $27 less for front brake pads, $124 less for a fuel pump, $20 less for front struts and $72 less for a power steering pump.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its October 2019 issue and they ranked the Toyota Corolla XSE higher than the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Mazda 3 by almost 8 to one during 2023.