2025 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2025 Honda Civic

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 Hatchback was characterized by its organically shaped design, featuring a long hood, tapered greenhouse, and a stubby rear. Its sheetmetal swells created S-shaped reflections along the car's sides, hinting at its capability for handling mountain switchback roads. Depending on the light and angle, the car's proportions could appear odd, a common trait among hatchbacks. The test model, painted in Polymetal Gray with red leather interior, presented a striking appearance. The interior was driver-focused, with a clean design and high-quality materials, although the gloss black plastic trim on the center console showed wear easily. The test vehicle was well-equipped, featuring classy metal speaker grilles, analog climate controls, and clear gauges.

In contrast, the 2025 Honda Civic's exterior updates were subtle yet effective. The lower grille area was widened, creating a more aggressive look, complemented by slimmer air inlets at the front corners. The Civic Si enhanced its sporty appearance with a new honeycomb grille texture. Standard LED headlights and daytime running lights, along with darker tail lights featuring a smoked effect, elevated the rear styling. New color options were introduced, including Solar Silver Metallic and Urban Gray Pearl, with body style-specific choices like Blue Lagoon Pearl for the sedan and Sand Dune Pearl for the hatchback. The Civic Si featured a new 18-inch matte black wheel design, inspired by the Acura logo, adding to its special character. Inside, the Si's red accents and seats stood out, though the styling did not extend to the back row, creating a distinct difference between the front and rear cabin areas.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 offered two engine options. The 2.5 S models were equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 186 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Turbo models featured a turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 250 hp at 5,000 rpm and 320 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm on premium gas, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. The standard engine was smooth and refined, providing ample power across its rev range. Most Mazda 3s came with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the Premium trim offered a manual gearbox. The manual version achieved an EPA rating of 30 mpg combined, with our test averaging 29.1 mpg. The Mazda 3's handling was enhanced by G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, though the torsion-beam rear suspension could magnify road imperfections.

The 2025 Honda Civic's base model featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 150 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The Civic Si, however, boasted a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque between 1,800 and 5,000 rpm. The Si's six-speed manual transmission offered short throws and a light clutch, providing a comfortable yet responsive ride. The Civic Si included three drive modes—Normal, Sport, and Individual—though Sport mode's increased throttle sensitivity was not always beneficial. A new feature for the Si was the Formula One-inspired shift indicator on the digital driver-information display, enhancing the driving experience. While the Civic Si was user-friendly, it lacked some features like a traditional manual e-brake and gear indication on the dash, which might deter new manual drivers.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 felt compact, with snug seating and limited stretch-out room. The seats were comfortable, and the test car's eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat allowed for an ideal driving position. The red leather upholstery was soft, and the heated front seats were effective. Forward visibility was excellent, but the design compromised rear visibility. The reversing camera lacked guidance lines, and the surround-view camera was reserved for the top trim. Rear-seat legroom was tight, with complaints about the lack of air vents, USB ports, and storage. The cargo space was practical, accommodating two full-size suitcases and additional carry-ons, though Mazda did not provide a maximum cargo space measurement.

The 2025 Honda Civic offered 39.3 inches of headroom and 42.3 inches of legroom in the front, with the Civic Si's headroom reduced to 37.6 inches due to the moonroof. Rear passengers had 37.1 inches of headroom and 37.4 inches of legroom. The Civic Si's trunk provided 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than other Civic Sedans. The Civic Hatchback excelled with 24.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Heated front seats were standard on the Civic Si, though leather seats were exclusive to the Hybrid Sport Touring. The Si's front cabin was well-decorated, emphasizing sportiness over economy.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, with an 8.8-inch or 10.25-inch display, depending on the model. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be used via touchscreen, other functions required physical controls or voice recognition, which was not always reliable. Alexa Built-in was available, but connectivity issues were noted. The test car's 12-speaker Bose audio system provided excellent sound quality. Additional features included Wi-Fi hotspot access, mobile 911 emergency notification, and a one-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services. A wireless charging pad was present but non-functional.

The 2025 Honda Civic Si was equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen, Google Built-In, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Si also featured a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster with F1-inspired shift lights and navigation instructions. Lower trims received a 7-inch touchscreen and two front USB-C ports. The Civic Si's tech offerings positioned it as the top trim among gas-only Civic models.

The 2025 Mazda MAZDA3 excelled in safety, earning a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and five stars in all NHTSA crash tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The test car's adaptive cruise control lacked stop-and-go capability due to the manual transmission. Some safety features, like lane departure warning, were overly sensitive, but the adaptive cruise control was smooth and composed.

The 2025 Honda Civic also received top safety ratings, with a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA. Honda Sensing was standard, with enhancements to the collision-mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The Civic's improved frame rigidity contributed to its excellent safety performance.