2022 Mazda3 VS 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Mazda3 and the 2022 Honda Civic are both formidable cars that offer buyers the chance to feel like a million bucks without breaking the bank. While both vehicles are great, it is hard to say which one is better, and it may well depend on what you want out of the driving experience. So, let’s take a look at the 2022 Mazda3 versus the 2022 Honda Civic.

With regards to design, both cars are available in hatchback and four-door sedan body styles. The Civic has a more attractive design and is also considered more versatile. However, with that being said, the current-generation of the Mazda3 is probably more likely to turn heads. In fact, it was the winner of the 2022 World Car Design of the year. With available wheels from the Mazda catalog or an aftermarket parts company make the Mazda3 look cool, and a bit more distinguished to top it off.

While design and how a car looks on the outside is important, if you are the driver, you are probably going to think more about how it feels on the inside. The 2022 Civic was transformed and refined, and in fact, it’s quieter than the Mazda3 on the inside, but not by a lot. The Civic offers a 7 or 10.2-inch digital instrument, which depends on the model. It also offers ergonomic controls and a pleasant feel for the driver, all with unique touches and sculpted seats. The Mazda3 certainly feels like the more luxurious car, especially if you invest in the GT trim. The center display is a breeze for the driver, and the steering wheel feels responsive and a joy to grab onto. As far as room, the Civic wins in that as both the hatchback and four-door options offer more room versus the Mazda3.

Tech is important when it comes to car buyers. As mentioned, the Civic offers, depending on the model, a 7 or 9 inch touchscreen. It’s intuitive and user-friendly, although some settings require a little more messing around with. Both Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, along with a wireless hotspot, as many as four USB ports and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. One negative of the Civic is that the back-up camera doesn’t have the best resolution. As far as a display goes, the Mazda3 offers an 8.8 inch center display, though it’s not touchscreen. Instead, you must use the rotary controller and nearby buttons, which are located on the console. This can be a cumbersome experience for those accustomed to touchscreens. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay require a cable, and the Mazda3 comes with only two USB ports. As far as technology, the Civic would be a slight winner.

Both cars offer three engines. The first two motors are pretty even; the Civic offers 158 or 180 horsepower, while the Mazda3 offers 155 or 186 horsepower. The Civic Si, hatchback only, offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that is rated at 200 horsepower and offers 192 lb-ft of torque. The Mazda3, on the other hand, offers a turbocharged 2.5 liter engine, both in sedan and hatchback, that delivers an impressive 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. As far as transmissions go, the Civic offers the fun-to-drive six-speed manual transmission in more of its lineup. On the other hand, the Mazda3 is still fun to drive, but not as fun as the Civic when it comes to smoothness. Overall, the Mazda3 wins when it comes to engine power, if you get it with the 250 horsepower, turbocharged version, that is.

Both cars are fun to drive and come with a host of driver assistance and safety features to make the experience all that more enjoyable. The Civic offers better visibility and a smoother ride, and steering is more firm during more sporty driving. On the other hand, the Mazda3 is a bit of a stiffer ride and has more blind spots. However, the steering is very sharp, and the Mazda3 offers a tighter turning circle than the Civic. With the available all-wheel drive system, along with G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, the Mazda3 is certainly the more fun to drive in the end.

As far as safety is concerned, both cars offer a host of safety features that will protect you and your family and help you avoid collisions in the first place. With Honda Sensing, drivers will enjoy lane departure warning, lane keep assist, auto high beams and automated emergency braking. More than that, the Touring trim offers cross-traffic alert, low-speed brake control and blind spot monitoring. After its 2022 redesign, the Civic scored an impressive rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It garnered the Top Safety Pick+. With the Mazda3, you get lane departure warning, lane keep assist, automated emergency braking and driver attention alert. The Select trim also includes rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring. The Mazda3 gets the same Top Safety Pick+ rating at the IIHS, as well as a perfect five-start retaining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Civic hasn’t been tested yet, but its 10th generation model also scored a perfect rating with the NHTSA. Really, as far as safety goes, you can’t go wrong with the Honda Civic or Mazda3.

The verdict is a complicated one in the battle of the 2022 Mazda3 and the 2022 Honda Civic. The better car is more up to the buyer’s individual wants and needs. If you need the AWD, then go with the Mazda3. Not only that, budget concerns might push you to the Mazda3 as it’s the cheaper of the two. Both are fun to drive, offer a host of tech and safety features and have a legacy of great models in the past. The best option is to consider your budget and take both for a test drive. If you want to see what the Mazda3 is all about, head on down to Seacoast Mazda, where you can check one out in person and see for yourself.