2025 Mazda3 Hatchback vs 2025 Honda Civic Hatchbac

Pricing, MSRP

The 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback starts at approximately $24,550 for the base 2.5 S trim and reaches up to $36,300 for the top-of-the-line 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. Mazda positions its hatchback as a more refined, near-premium option in the compact segment. In contrast, the 2025 Honda Civic Hatchback begins around $25,000 and maxes out near $32,000 for the Sport Touring trim. While the Civic Hatchback comes in slightly lower on the high end, the Mazda3 Hatchback justifies its pricing with more upscale appointments and available performance enhancements.

Trim Levels

The Mazda3 Hatchback offers a diverse range of trims including 2.5 S, 2.5 S Select Sport, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Carbon Edition, 2.5 S Premium, 2.5 Carbon Turbo, and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. This wide selection allows buyers to choose between efficiency, style, and power. The Honda Civic Hatchback lineup includes the LX, Sport, EX-L, and Sport Touring. While the Civic trims offer a good spread, Mazda's inclusion of turbocharged variants and available manual transmission on the Premium trim adds an enthusiast-friendly edge.

Engine and Transmission

The 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback offers two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower, and a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with up to 250 horsepower on premium fuel. Most trims use a six-speed automatic, while the Premium trim with front-wheel drive offers a six-speed manual. The Civic Hatchback offers a standard 2.0-liter engine with 158 horsepower and an available 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 180 horsepower. All trims feature a CVT, except for the Sport and Sport Touring, which offer a six-speed manual option. Mazda provides more horsepower, especially for those seeking performance.

Performance

The Mazda3 Hatchback delivers an athletic drive, offering tight steering, a well-damped ride, and a chassis that encourages enthusiastic driving. The turbocharged engine offers robust acceleration, setting it apart from most in the class. The Civic Hatchback also handles well, especially in the Sport and Sport Touring trims, though its power output is more conservative. Both cars are enjoyable to drive, but the Mazda3 Hatchback leans closer to a sporty premium experience.

Fuel Economy

With front-wheel drive and the naturally aspirated engine, the Mazda3 Hatchback achieves up to 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. The turbocharged variants return approximately 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The Civic Hatchback is more efficient overall, with the base 2.0-liter achieving up to 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway, and the 1.5-liter turbo reaching as much as 31 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. Drivers who prioritize fuel economy may lean toward the Civic, but Mazda balances efficiency with significantly more power in turbo models.

Towing

Neither the 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback nor the 2025 Honda Civic Hatchback is rated for towing. Both vehicles are designed for urban commutes, daily driving, and spirited weekend trips, rather than hauling loads or trailers. Buyers looking for towing capability should consider crossover models like the Mazda CX-5 or CX-50.

Interior Design

Mazda emphasizes quality and simplicity inside the Mazda3 Hatchback. The cabin features high-end materials, a clean dashboard layout, and refined finishes across all trims, with available red leather, contrast stitching, and real metal accents in higher trims. The Civic Hatchback also features an attractive and well-constructed interior with its new honeycomb metal mesh accents and a clean horizontal layout, but it lacks the plush touches found in Mazda's upper trims. Overall, Mazda delivers a more premium interior experience in this segment.

Cargo Space

The Mazda3 Hatchback offers 20.1 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Civic Hatchback provides slightly more cargo room at 24.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and approximately 46.2 cubic feet with them down. While the Mazda’s design prioritizes aesthetics and sound insulation, the Civic makes better use of available space for practicality.

Infotainment and Connectivity

In the Mazda3 Hatchback, an 8.8-inch display is standard, while upper trims get a larger 10.25-inch screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, along with a 12-speaker Bose sound system. The Civic Hatchback features a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with a 9-inch display and premium Bose audio system available on higher trims. Both offer wireless smartphone integration and built-in navigation, though Mazda’s interface is more refined visually, while Honda’s offers greater touch functionality.

Technology

The Mazda3 Hatchback offers high-end features like a head-up display, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive front lighting. The Civic Hatchback provides advanced driver assistance and connectivity features, including a digital instrument cluster and Google Built-in (on Sport Touring). While both are tech-savvy, Mazda’s upper trims introduce more premium technology often reserved for luxury vehicles.

Safety

The Mazda3 Hatchback comes equipped with the i-Activsense suite, offering adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Honda’s Sensing suite includes a similar range of features, including collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, and traffic jam assist. Both models offer strong active safety systems across most trims.

NHTSA/IIHS Ratings

The 2025 Mazda3 Hatchback holds a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is expected to retain its IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status. The 2025 Honda Civic Hatchback also received a 5-star NHTSA rating and is a Top Safety Pick for 2024, with strong performance across crash tests and available safety tech. Both vehicles are among the safest in the compact segment.

Warranty

Mazda backs the Mazda3 Hatchback with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Honda offers identical coverage for the Civic Hatchback. Neither brand includes complimentary maintenance beyond the first service visit, though both are known for reliability and long-term durability.