2023 Honda Civic vs 2023 Mazda3
2023 Honda Civic vs 2023 Mazda3
Overview
Honda and Mazda both produce high-performing sedans and hatchbacks that are mainstays on the highways and byways. Which, however, is the better vehicle in a direct head-to-head comparison between the 2023 Honda Civic and the 2023 Mazda3? Let's find out.
What's New This Year?
Both Honda and Mazda have discontinued a trim level this year. Honda no longer offers its entry-level LX trim, while Mazda has discontinued its base 2.0 trim. Honda, however, replaces the lost trim level with a returning high-performance Civic Type R hatchback model in the lineup. Mazda has no such model replacement, meaning Honda increases its options while Mazda loses one. Mazda does, however, add a bit more horsepower to its top engine, but it requires premium fuel that will cost you more at the pump to fill up. Honda wins this particular battle.
Engine Power and Performance
Mazda puts a great deal into its engines, and it shows with the Mazda3's 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. This engine powers most of the lineup, but the range-topping 2.5 Turbo model nets a turbocharged engine that gets up to 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. Honda, however, outdoes the top Mazda engine with its Type R model. The Type R nets 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque from its 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC inline-four engine. While Mazda offers more torque, Honda's massive boost in horsepower gives it the edge. In the end, the 2023 Honda Civic wins with the return of its high-performance Type R's massive horsepower.