Mazda3 Touring 2.5 or Honda Civic Sport?

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
10/03/2017 at 01:05 • Filed to: Mazda3, Honda Civic Sport, Comparisons

IF I were to get a brand-new car, it’d really be down to one hatchback or the other. What does Oppo think of the Mazda3 2.5 vs the Civic Sport hatchback? And which one is easier to find with a manual gearbox?

I configured a Civic Sport and the MSRP came out to $22,375.

I configured a Mazda3 Touring and it came out to $23,215.

These vehicles are within $1000 of each other in price, and only 4 horsepower separate their peak outputs. The naturally aspirated Mazda is actually ahead in torque as well, at 185 lb-ft versus the Civic’s 177. (An extra LITER of displacement makes that little turbo look less compelling.) 25/33 MPG for the Mazda vs 29/38 for the Civic. Mileage under “Enthusiast Pace” driving not known for either, though the Civic’s MPG lead probably lessens under boost.

So, which one is the better pick? The hypothetical purpose is to find the best daily that can also autocross acceptably when equipped with nice tires. Which one is more fun? And is there any chance of finding either with a manual transmission without doing a special order?

DISCUSSION (9)

promoted by the color red > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 01:23

Where’s your approximate geographical location? I look up 6MT 2.5 Mazda3 hatchbacks for shits and giggles every now & then here in SoCal and there’s always a healthy supply. Same for the Civics per Car Gurus.

Though I haven’t tried the Civic, I’ve heard good stories about it. Same for the 3, though the 2.0 isn’t bad either. My friend has one in his 3 and I have one in my Miata - neither of us is wanting for power and I love the fat mid-range torque curve.

Steve in Manhattan > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 02:34

Also Volvo C30, which I think came w/ a stick before they killed it off.

Bytemite > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 02:41

Uh, just get a Civic Si? You’re looking for a manual anyway and you want to autocross. My friend just got one for 22k, and even if you don’t haggle and get it for MSRP, it’s only $24k. Sedan or coupe, forget the hatch.

But you can haggle, because they only come in manual and there’s no one else that can drive those. Much better autocrosser than either of those 2 and will be just as DD-able.

I’d rather get the Elantra GT Sport because those things are sexy as hell. Just take a look at the Elantra GT Sport inside and out. It’s incredible nice and Volvo-like.

nerd_racing > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 06:55

I have a 2015 6MT 3 hatch sport with the 2.0 and it is pretty peppy and gets great mileage. It handles very well too. The 2.5 should be even better. I have had zero issues with it yet in the 10k miles I have owned it.

Arrivederci > Bytemite
10/03/2017 at 08:24

Agree with this - the Si sounds like it’s what he really needs. Hell, that adaptive suspension more than makes it worth the price difference anyway. Biggest bummer is that it doesn’t come in the hatch.

Funktheduck > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 08:43

I can vouch for the 2.0 mazda3. Mines a manual hatch as well. Worlds better looking than the civic. Also, the hatch is actually a hatch. The civic is closer to a lift back.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 09:38

I have a 6MT Mazda 3 hatch with the 2.0L in Soul Red (THE CORRECT COLOR!) Love it and I get pretty good mileage though I’d like the extra power from the 2.5. I think all the 3's take regular gas so if the civic takes premium your cost per mile might be lower in the Mazda. It was a little hard to find one when I bought mine in 2014 but the local dealer found one within 500 miles so I had it in a week. Hopefully you can find one on the lot though. MT’s are hard to move in anything but high performance cars so the dealer is more likely to cut a deal on that, imo.

gawdzillla > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 09:44

mazda

just looks so much better

wafflesnfalafel > way2blu does a rev update
10/03/2017 at 09:46

the Mazda is an excellent car - I test drove one and strongly considered buying one - but it is pricey. You can’t get the zippier 2.5 motor without getting a bunch of other stuff I didn’t want. I found you end up nearly at base WRX territory for what I wanted. That Honda “sport” hatch seems like the better buy at this point.