Two of the best compact cars come from Mazda and Toyota. The two automakers have a long history of making excellent cars, and the 2024 Mazda3 and 2024 Toyota Corolla are just the latest examples.
Well-made, with a potent powertrain and excellent fuel economy, the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla offer a potential buyer great value and an excellent driving experience. Let’s take a closer look at how these two models compare.
2024 Mazda3
Mazda has a reputation for building spirited, fuel-efficient small cars, and the 2024 Mazda3 certainly fits that description. It’s powered by an lively 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that puts out 191 horsepower. An optional turbocharged powertrain boosts the ponies to 250. All-wheel drive (AWD) comes standard on turbocharged Mazda3 models and is available on non-turbo Carbon trims.
The Mazda3 is offered in half a dozen trims, and as a sedan or a hatchback. The entry-level Mazda3 is the 2.5 S, which is only available as a sedan.
The Mazda3 is comfortable and fun to drive, plus it offers good fuel economy — as is the case with most of Mazda’s lineup. Pricing starts at $25,335, including destination fees.
Mazda3 Highlights
Plenty of go: The base engine in the Mazda3 is the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, producing 191 hp. It’s an excellent powerplant with impressive fuel economy to match. But if you’re looking for a little extra from your small car, moving up to the turbo model gets you a potent 250-hp engine.
AWD: The Mazda3 is among the few compact cars to offer all-wheel drive, which enhances traction and performance in both wet and dry conditions.
Safety features: Mazda’s iActivesense offers a suite of impressive standard safety tech, such as automatic emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring is also standard, and an adaptive front lighting system is available.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Mazda3 models for sale near you.
2024 Toyota Corolla
Now in its 12th generation, the 2024 Corolla confirms Toyota knows how to build small cars that last. Keeping up the tradition, this latest edition offers good looks, excellent fuel economy, and lots of technology at a great price. Not only that, if a sedan isn’t your thing, you can slide over to the hatchback, and if 35 mpg combined isn’t good enough, you can move up to the Corolla Hybrid and its EPA-estimated 50 mpg combined. There’s even the high-performance, track-oriented GR Corolla that comes exclusively with a manual transmission.
The sedan has four trim levels: LE, SE, Nightshade, and XSE. The Corolla Hatchback is available in three: SE, Nightshade, and XSE. Each offers more options as you move up the ladder. Pricing for the LE starts at $23,145, including destination charges.
Toyota Corolla Highlights
Intelligent Assistant: A feature typically found on much more expensive vehicles, the available tech package allows you to say, “Hey Toyota,” and you ask for directions, turn up the radio volume, change the cabin temperature, and more. “Hey Mazda” isn’t a thing yet in the Mazda3.
Safety first: Corolla comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, and automatic high beams.
Nightshade: Toyota made its Nightshade appearance package available on the Corolla for this model year. It features blacked-out badging, a sport mesh gloss-black front grille, black sport rocker panels, black-capped side mirrors, and 18-inch bronze wheels for some contrast.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Corolla models for sale near you.
Similarities
These are among the best choices in the compact segment, with good engines, plenty of room, and strong reputations. We love that both are available as a sedan or hatchback.
Conclusion
The Mazda3 typically outruns and outguns every small sedan in the segment, which makes it the lively and athletic one in this competition. The Mazda is slightly bigger and much more powerful but less efficient than the Toyota. If you want as much performance as possible in a practical, affordable car, the Mazda3 is the choice. However, the Corolla brings Toyota’s sterling reputation, slightly higher resale value than the Mazda3, and the choice of a very efficient hybrid powertrain. Both of these compact cars are exemplary. Determining one’s unique set of traits fulfills your desires and meets your budget will help you choose the best one for you.
| 2024 Mazda3 | 2024 Toyota Corolla | |
| Starting Price | $25,335 | $23,145 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder FWD/AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 191 hp @ 5,600 rpm | 169 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 186 lb-ft @ 2,800 rpm | 151 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 27 city/37 highway/31 combined mpg | 32 city/41 highway/35 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder, AWD | Hybrid, AWD, 1.6-liter turbo 3-cylinder |
| 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 |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 107.3 inches | 106.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 183.5 inches | 182.3 inches |
| Width | 70.7 inches | 70.1 inches |
| Height | 56.9 inches | 56.5 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 35.4 feet | 35.6 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.0 inches | 38.3 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 37.3 inches | 37.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.3 inches | 42.0 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 35.1 inches | 34.8 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.7 inches | 54.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 53.5 inches | 51.7 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 13.2 cubic feet | 13.1 cubic feet |
