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2016 Mazda3 vs 2016 Honda Civic: Who Will Win the War of the Compacts?

We like nearly all the cars made by Mazda and Honda, especially the ones aimed at younger people. However, which is the best between the Mazda3 and the Civic? Some people predict that SUVs and compacts will both overtake midsize sedans regarding demand, so it's all on the line.
2016 Mazda3 vs 2016 Honda Civic: Who Will Win the War of the Compacts 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube
Picking a winner between the Mazda3 and the Civic instantly reminds us of the comparison between 10 mini crossovers that Auto Guide did a month ago. People just seem to love comparisons. But I digress; the point is that the previous comparison also found the Honda to be the clear winner, despite Mazda making a bold statement with the fun-to-drive CX-3.

The Civic wins this comparison hands down, but once again, Mazda makes the most enjoyable driver's sedan. But even the youngest of customers will appreciate the way the Civic irons out the road.

Passenger space is not important for everybody. But on that rare occasion when you've got all your friends and their luggage with you, you'll discover Honda has put Aladdin's cave on wheels.

Things are really weird in the powertrain department, where the Civic's 1.5L seems pint-sized compared to the 2.5-liter of the Mazda3. But it's got a turbo, so it's almost as powerful while delivering six more miles to the gallon. What would you do if your fuel bills were 20% lower?

Both Honda and Mazda started out with small, cheap and underpowered cars in America. They were the go-to Japanse automakers for the people who couldn't afford to run a V8 anymore.

But these 2016 sedans are not only class-leading, they are also very expensive. The Civic Touring with all the bells and whistles costs $27,355. For a Civic? You could almost buy a Silverado truck for that.

If you don't like downsized turbo engines and prefer a conventional 6-speed automatic with paddles over a CVT, the Mazda3 Touring is cheaper at just over $24,000. Just when you thought we've reached a conclusion...

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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