2020 Honda Civic RS Turbo vs Mazda3 Comparison: Spec Sheet Battle

Unlike some larger car markets in the world, sedans are still putting up a big fight here in the Philippines. This is especially true with compact class sedans that have a number of heavy-hitting models in the local market. Now, two of those said heavy hitters are the Honda Civic and the Mazda3.

Now from the ‘90s, the Honda Civic has been a significant presence in the Philippine automotive market. From functioning as a reliable family and more recently, as a sporty daily driver, the Civic is a certified mainstay on Filipino roads.

Mazda, on the other hand, had the less prevalent but still notable Mazda Familia/323. It was a no-nonsense vehicle, which also had a notable following here in the country. In 2004, however, Mazda introduced the Mazda3, which replaced the then aging Familia/323 model.

Currently on its fourth-generation model and best-looking yet, how does the Mazda3 sedan match up against the tenth-generation Honda Civic? Here’s a blow-by-blow comparison.

Mazda3 vs Civic

If we compare these two sedans by size, the Mazda3 Sedan is longer at 4,660mm, which is 11mm more than the Civic’s 4,649mm.

The Mazda3

The Honda sedan, however, is a bit wider at 1,799mm, while the Mazda3 is 5mm narrower. In terms of height, the Civic is lower at 1,416mm.

When it comes to wheelbase length, the 2020 Mazda 3 is longer at 2,725mm, whereas the Civic’s is 27mm shorter at 2,698mm. And lastly, the Mazda3 has a minimum ground clearance of 135mm, while the Civic has 133mm.

When it comes to trunk space, though, the Honda Civic has the Mazda3 beat with an impressive 519 liters. The Mazda3 in sedan form only has 419 liters, which is not actually that bad even for long road trips.

Honda Civic RS

In talking about exterior looks, well, the Honda Civic 2020 obviously sports more sharp angles, whereas the Mazda3 sports a smooth, almost reflective exterior surface.

They’re virtually opposites of one another when design language is concerned, so we’ll leave it up to you to tell which is better.

When it comes to comparing the look of the Civic and the Mazda3 sedan’s interiors, you’ll quickly notice the vast differences between the two. As in the Honda Civic 2020 Philippines review, the Civic is full of sharp angles and deep lines, while the Mazda3 has a smoother and more subdued interior.

In terms of driving amenities, both models come with keyless entry with a push to start button, cruise control, leather-clad surfaces, GPS navigation, electronically adjustable seats, tilt and telescopic steering column, and a multifunction steering wheel.

The interior of the Mazda3 is all about elegance and soft corners...

The Mazda3 sedan however has a sunroof, while the Civic does not.

The infotainment system aboard the Mazda3 is also a bit different because aside from the seven-inch touchscreen, it also uses a multi-function commander control, which comes in the form of a center console-mounted dial.

It also has nine Bose surround sound speakers, which is vastly better than the Civic’s 6 speakers. Both the Civic and the Mazda3’s infotainment systems are capable of connecting via Bluetooth, USB, aux jack, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

>>> Related: 

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...while the Honda Civic RS Turbo, like it's exterior, has sharp aggressive lines

And lastly, the Mazda3’s air conditioning has an advantage over the Civic’s by having rear vents. Both cars have automatic climate control though.

When it comes to performance, it’s obvious that the Honda Civic is the more powerful vehicle because of its turbocharged mill.

The Civic’s engine, despite having a smaller 1.5-liter displacement, can make 170 horsepower and 220 Nm of torque. The Mazda3 sedan’s 2.0 liter Skyactiv-G, on the other hand, makes 154 horsepower and 200 Nm.

Both models send power to the front wheels with the Civic using a continuously variable transmission, while the Mazda3 uses the Skyactiv Drive 6-speed automatic.

For safety, the Mazda3 and the Civic RS Turbo are comparable when it comes to the usual safety equipment found on modern cars like an anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and a security alarm. 

The Mazda, however, does have a knee airbag, which the Civic doesn’t. The Mazda sedan also has more driver-assist features like an adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection system and a lane-keeping aid. The Mazda sedan also comes with a 360-degree view camera.

Common on these two models is hill start assist and stability control.

>>> Keep updated with the latest Honda Civic price list with monthly payment details

>>> View full Mazda 3 price list and estimated monthly payment

The difference in price between the Honda Civic and the Mazda3 just goes to show that it’s much more expensive to make a car that produces more power than it is to give it more in the way of safety features. Sure, the Mazda3 is less powerful, but it has more active driver assist devices.

Which looks better from the rear? The Mazda3?...

Note also that the Civic, despite being more powerful, has a CVT. Yes, it has the potential to beat the Mazda3 Sedan in straight-line acceleration but the latter’s Skyactiv-Drive transmission is just so good when it comes to powering out of a corner.

There’s also the Mazda3’s torque vectoring technology called G-Vectoring Control Plus which means that in the hands of a competent driver, it may well beat the Honda Civic, especially on the autocross.

Or the Civic RS?

Honda does have a manual version of the Civic available in the North American market, and if they want to blow Mazda out of the water, then it might do them well to introduce that here. That’s just our opinion, though.

Want more spec sheet comparison articles? Then keep reading here on Philkotse.com. Also, please Honda, bring the manual Civic here to the Philippines. Pretty please?