2021 Mazda3 Hatchback vs. 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback: Which is Better?

As 2021 brought about change for many, drivers are looking for a new vehicle to accelerate them forward.

Luckily, consumers seeking a compact, turbocharged joyride have a few choices available to them — including the all-new 2021 Mazda3 hatchback or the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback.

In terms of the best compact cars of this year, the competition really comes down to these two vehicles.

But which hatchback is the best overall?

To help consumers make the right decision, we’ve compared the 2021 Mazda3 hatchback and the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback based on three key categories:

• Trims and specs
• Driving performance
• Safety and technology

Before you head to a dealership for a test drive, consider all of the options between the Mazda3 hatchback and the Civic hatchback.

2021 Mazda3 Hatchback or 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback?

In the 2021 Mazda3 hatchback versus the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback showdown, the Mazda3 comes out on top.

Although the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback accelerates at a faster rate, the vehicle drops the ball when it comes to giving consumers a decent selection of trims, specs, and technological accessories.

Even at the most basic trim level, Mazda3 hatchback drivers can enjoy advanced features that a mid-level Honda Civic hatchback trim is void of.

Which means that a basic trim level from Mazda is anything other than entry-level.

Ultimately, when comparing the models from Mazda and Honda, the Mazda3 hatchback provides both quantity and quality, making it the winner.

1. Trims & Specs

The effort a brand puts into a vehicle’s trim levels is a reflection of the overall quality of the model.

Some brands reserve the most advanced or best features and specs for the highest trim level.

Others equip every trim level with a baseline of high-end features and specs so drivers can experience something great in each trim level.

For both Mazda’s and Honda’s hatchback model trim selection, consumers have quite a few options to choose from.

But the quality of each trim is another story.

To determine whether it’s the hatchback from Honda or Mazda that has the superior trim selection, it’s important to examine how features are distributed between the levels.

Hatchback Trim Levels

As far as quantity goes, Mazda ensures consumers have a greater selection of high-quality trims and specs to choose from.

The new Mazda3 hatchback comes in six trim levels:

• 2.5 S Hatchback
• Select
• Preferred
• Premium
• 2.5 Turbo
• 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus

Although some specs are exclusive to certain trims, all of the Mazda3 hatchback trim levels include the most important features for optimal safety and visibility.

For instance, each of the trim levels for the Mazda3 hatchback include rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers.

Using high-tech sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers automatically adjust the wiping speed for the driver according to the severity of rainfall. This keeps the windshield clear at all times — and allows the driver to focus on the road ahead.

Consumers who are considering the Honda model will find fewer trim levels to explore.

The Honda Civic hatchback has four trim levels: the LX, Sport, EX, and Sport Touring.

And, unlike Mazda, Honda keeps many of the best features, like rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers, exclusive to the highest trim level.

This means consumers who choose the basic LX trim won’t have access to many of the features that a basic Mazda3 hatchback trim possesses.

Alternative Body Types

Consumers interested in sleek alternatives to the hatchback exterior will be pleased to know both the 2021 Mazda3 and the 2021 Honda Civic comes in another body type, a four-door sedan.

Like the hatchback version, the new Mazda3 sedan trim levels are superior to what the Civic sedan has to offer.

2. Driving Performance

Drivers who prioritize fluid steering at high speeds will discover that both the 2021 Mazda3 hatchback and the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback pack a strong punch.

But one model outperforms the other.

Power & Engineering

Consumers who desire a powerful performance will be delighted to know that a turbocharged engine is an option in both models.

A turbo engine can be beneficial as it produces a more powerful and efficient performance than a non-turbo engine of similar size.

To really differentiate the driving experience between the two vehicles, one has to examine the logistical details.

Of the six trim levels Mazda has to offer, the 2.5 S Hatchback, Select, Preferred, and Premium are equipped with a high-performing engine capable of producing 186 horsepower (hp) at 6,000 revolutions per minute (rpm).

Additionally, both the 2.5 Turbo and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus can jump up to 227 hp at 5,000 rpm.

Combined with Mazda’s transmission options of all-wheel drive (AWD) or front-wheel drive (FWD), drivers are destined to experience a smooth, exhilarating ride.

For Honda, the new base-level Civic hatchback has a horsepower of 174 hp at 6,000 rpm. Consumers who opt for the top-tier trim level will experience 180 hp at 5,500 rpm.

Although impressive, it falls short of the horsepower consumers can experience with the Mazda.

Transmission

For the Mazda3 hatchback, the Select, Preferred, Premium, and 2.5 Turbo Premium trims have both an automatic AWD and FWD transmission.

The 2.5 S Hatchback and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus come in six-speed automatic transmission (6AT) with a choice between AWD or FWD.

Depending on the trim, drivers opting for the Mazda3 hatchback can choose the transmission they like best. And there are great benefits to each one.

AWD provides additional weight, grip, and stability to the vehicle. This helps to make driving in bad weather conditions or on uneven terrain safer.

With AWD, hilly or mountainous roads are not challenging. Adventurers can safely explore areas that are not easily accessible to vehicles without the powertrain.

FWD is a perfect transmission choice for daily commutes. This transmission option projects most of the engine’s power onto the front wheels.

By allocating power to the front wheels, the hatchback can save on gas and produce less carbon emissions.

The 6AT system of both the 2.5 S Hatchback and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus uses six different gears to shift the power of the hatchback for optimal fuel economy and power based on the terrain it’s on. Essentially, the car decides when and how to shift gears so the driver can just drive.

Honda’s new Civic hatchback is available in a manual transmission (MT) option or an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT), depending on the trim. All of the Civic hatchback trims are only FWD.

An automatic CVT system is lighter and more fuel efficient than a traditional automatic transmission.

But repair for a CVT system is impossible because unlike other transmission systems, it relies on a single, specific gear rather than multiple gears like a 6AT system to accelerate or shift power.

Should the CVT gear stop working, the entire system would need to be replaced, meaning higher service costs for the owner

Taking efficiency, power, and performance into account, the Mazda3 hatchback is not only the more versatile option but, in some ways, it can also be the more cost-efficient one.

Acceleration

Acceleration and speed come naturally to both the 2021 Mazda3 and 2021 Honda Civic hatchbacks.

However, it’s not easy to declare whether the hatchback from Mazda or Honda would win in a race as each has different strengths.

But neither the Mazda3 hatchback nor the Honda Civic are slow.

The 2021 Mazda3 hatchback reaches top speeds of 131 miles per hour (mph). And the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback follows close behind, at 125 mph. In terms of speed, Mazda and Honda certainly deliver.

As far as acceleration goes, the Mazda3 hatchback can jump from zero to 60 mph in a mere eight seconds.

The Civic hatchback barely outperforms the Mazda3, going from zero to 60 mph in just under seven seconds.

But for overall maximum speed of the 2021 Mazda3 versus the 2021 Honda Civic, the Mazda3 hatchback is the all-around better choice.

3. Safety & Technology

To suit today’s interconnected world, both Mazda and Honda offer technological features that provide added safety and entertainment for any journey.

But Honda misses the mark in several vital areas, especially when it comes to driver-centered and driver assistive technologies.

Driver-Centered Features

All Mazda3 hatchback trim levels come equipped with the suite of Mazda Connected Services.

The brand-exclusive control system allows drivers to seamlessly access the suite of technological features or sync their mobile devices without taking their eyes off the road.

This has been achieved thanks to the manufacturer installing the intuitive Multifunction Commander Control panel within easy reach of the driver as well as placing operational buttons on the steering wheel.

With the turn of a dial or push a button, drivers can manage audio entertainment, contacts, and navigational services throughout the vehicle.

Honda offers a similar service, called HondaLink. This technological feature lets drivers connect their smartphone or Alexa device to their car using in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities.

However, HondaLink operations are controlled through an app, rather than an in-vehicle panel like Mazda Connected Services.

As a system, HondaLink is not as driver-centric. It’s also not available to the Civic hatchback’s most basic trim, the LX.

Unlike Honda, Mazda incorporates comparable advanced features in each trim level.

Even the 2.5 S Hatchback, which is the baseline trim level for the Mazda3 hatchback, is equipped with additional infotainment features like:

• SMS text message audio delivery and reply
• HD Radio™
• Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration
• USB audio inputs

Meanwhile, the baseline Honda Civic hatchback LX trim level does not incorporate any of these technologies.

In order to gain access to anything but the most standard of features, Honda consumers must upgrade to the higher trim levels.

Driver-Assistive Features

Safety is extremely important to Mazda, which is why every trim level includes a bevy of driver-assistive technologies to help the driver remain aware of everything on the road.

Advanced features like Rear Cross Traffic Alert are available in each of the Mazda3 hatchback trim levels — except for the 2.5 S Hatchback.

The Rear Cross Traffic Alert is a bonus safety feature that helps Mazda drivers safely back out of parking spots or driveways.

And even without Rear Cross Traffic Alert, the 2.5 S Hatchback still comes with plenty of other essential services such as the Lane Departure Warning System, Smart Brake Support, a rearview camera, and Lane-Keep Assist.

For the Civic hatchback, important driver assistive technology like Honda LaneWatch™ is reserved only for the two most advanced trims, the Sport and Sport Touring.

There’s really no comparison between the two models in terms of safety since Honda reserves most of its safety features for the top-tier trim levels.

Take a Test Drive at DePaula Mazda

Love driving again with the 2021 Mazda3 hatchback, a vehicle designed for all types of consumers.

A perfect combination of speed, style, and efficiency, the new Mazda3 hatchback inspires drivers to enjoy their commute, no matter the length.

Whether you know which trim level is best suited to your lifestyle, or you have questions about the hatchback — our team will be delighted to help you get behind the wheel of your dream vehicle.

Get a feel for this exhilarating vehicle first-hand. Visit DePaula Mazda or schedule a test drive today.