Most compact cars are born for a life of efficient, innocuous commuting, plodding along the road well-traveled. The 2025 Mazda3 and 2025 Honda Civic are a different breed. They each carry a glint in their eye and a spark in their soul. Yeah, they’ll commute with the best of them, but they’ve got much more to give. Starting with the fact that both can be had as either a sedan or a hatchback and can deliver serious thrills when you check the box for a turbo engine.
Let’s compare these two standouts.
2025 Mazda3
The Mazda3 has long been a bit of an outlier in its segment. But anyone who’s ever driven one just knows: There’s something special about the way it feels. Crisp. Responsive. Eager. We could go on and on, but maybe the best adjective is simply “fun.” Yet the Mazda3 never forgets the priorities. As a compact car, it’s also highly functional, serving its owners equal doses of convenience and value. Prices start at $25,135.
Mazda3 Highlights
All-wheel drive: The Mazda3 is among the few vehicles in its class offering the extra grip of all-wheel drive (AWD). Moreover, it’s an option the Civic can’t claim.
More standard power: The least-powerful Mazda3 comes with a 191-horsepower engine. That’s significantly more than the 158 ponies a base Honda Civic corrals. Turbo models up the ante with up to 250 hp.
Premium design: Take off the badge, and you might think the Mazda3 is a luxury car. Inside and out, it simply dresses for success.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Mazda3 models for sale near you.
2025 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic needs no introduction. It epitomizes the compact car. The Civic has nabbed oodles of accolades over its decades in service, including our own Best Buy Award. Like the Mazda3, it is the rare compact car that gives buyers the choice of either a sedan or hatchback body style. And like its rival here, the Civic is available in higher-performance models and can even be equipped with a manual transmission. Oh, and Honda also offers it as a hybrid. Prices start at $25,345.
Resale value: The Honda Civic continues to lead the pack in this regard, nabbing our most recent Best Resale Value crown in the segment.
Si, Type R models: If a standard Civic isn’t hot enough for you, Honda offers the Civic in two more spice levels: the 200-hp Si sedan and the track-ready, 315-hp Type R hatchback.
Roominess: The Honda Civic has more rear-seat legroom and cargo space in both sedan and hatchback models than the Mazda3
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Honda Civic models for sale near you.
Similarities
Body styles, starting price, available performance models with turbo engine.
Conclusion
As much as the Mazda3 and Civic have in common, each is notable for its differences. If you live in a cold-weather state or simply want the extra grip of all-wheel drive, the Mazda3 has it. We also think it still has the edge in the fun-to-drive department. The Honda Civic, meanwhile, comes with a bulletproof reputation for resale value and reliability and is no slouch itself if you crave extra scoot. Furthermore, its base engine delivers better fuel economy. Depending on your specific wants and needs, either of these makes a fantastic choice.
New 2025 MAZDA MAZDA3 Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (43085)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$25,335 |
$24,762 |
|||
$26,075 |
$25,381 |
|||
$27,725 |
$27,042 |
|||
$30,795 |
$30,037 |
|||
$32,035 |
$31,246 |
|||
$33,485 |
$32,594 |
|||
$37,185 |
$36,143 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 MAZDA MAZDA3 vehicles and New 2025 Honda Civic vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Mazda3 | 2025 Honda Civic | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 191 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 158 hp @ 6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 186 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm | 138 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 27 city/37 highway/31 combined mpg | 31 city/40 highway/35 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 250-hp turbocharged engine, AWD, 6-speed manual transmission (hatchback) | 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder; 6-speed manual; hatchback, high-performance Si and Type R editions |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 107.3 inches | 107.7 inches |
| Overall Length | 183.5 inches | 183.3 inches |
| Width | 70.7 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Height | 56.9 | 55.7 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 38.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.0 inches | 39.3 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.3 inches | 37.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.3 inches | 42.3 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 35.1 inches | 37.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.7 inches | 57.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 53.5 inches | 56.0 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 13.2 cubic feet | 14.8 cubic feet |
