8 Cars Like The Mazda3: Similar Rides Worth Checking Out

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Red Mazda3

Mazda3 by Vauxford — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Mazda 3 came out with a bang and was a great release overall for Mazda. This model addressed some of the issues with previous releases, like the lack of device space in the center console while maintaining the feel and maneuverability Mazda owners love. 

As a compact hatchback with the option of manual control (at the top trim level), the Mazda 3 is a solid contender in its market. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only car you should consider. 

Here are some of the Mazda 3’s top competitors. These are the cars you should be looking at if you like the Mazda 3 but aren’t completely sold or if you want to know what other options are out there. 

1. Honda Civic Hatchback

  • Latest Release: 2022
  • MSRP: $22,900
  • MPG: 38⁄30 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 180
  • Manual Or Automatic: 6-speed manual OR constantly variable 

The Honda Civic Hatchback is a great addition to the Civic line and helps the Civic appeal to outdoors enthusiasts and others who are looking for something a little bigger than a sedan but smaller than a traditional SUV. 

The latest model Civic Hatchback is sleek and stylish, if a little boxy. It features LED headlights and a few other design features that are becoming standard but still nice to see. 

Inside, the Civic feels bigger than it is, which is great for long road trips and drivers who spend a lot of time in their car. The low opening on the hatchback helps give you more cargo space, while the slanted rear windshield lets in plenty of light and gives you good rear visibility. However, the slanted design does cut into your cargo space a little. 

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2. Toyota Corolla

  • Latest Release: 2022
  • MSRP: $20,075 Gas, or $23,650 Hybrid
  • MPG: 30⁄38 Gas, 53⁄52 Hybrid, HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 139 to 169
  • Manual Or Automatic: 6-speed manual transmission, OR constantly variable

The Toyota Corolla has managed to remain one of the most popular and effective commuter vehicles in the United States for decades. There are a lot of reasons that the Corolla is so popular, which makes it a good alternative to the Mazda 3. 

One of the advantages you get if you’re considering a Corolla is a lot of choices. There are many different models of Corolla available in the 2022 release, and plenty of older models of Corolla are also still available and effective. 

3. Kia Forte

  • Latest Release: 2021
  • MSRP: $17,890
  • MPG: 37⁄27 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 201
  • Manual Or Automatic: 6-Speed Manual Transmission OR Intelligent Variable Transmission

The Kia Forte is a closer competitor with the Mazda 3 than most earlier Kia models. For one thing, the latest Forte looks better than many Kia models, inside and out. With a more modern design and some beautiful color options, this latest Forte looks great on the road. 

It’s also a slightly more affordable option than many other Mazda competitors, which makes this a good choice if you’re looking for a better deal on your next vehicle. Of course, that comes at the cost of being one generation behind models coming out with a 2022 release. 

The improvements in the intelligent variable speed transmission are also a nice addition to this vehicle and help make driving smoother and easier. 

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4. Volkswagen Golf

  • Latest Release: 2021
  • MSRP: $23,195
  • MPG: 39⁄29 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 147
  • Manual Or Automatic: Turbo 6-speed manual OR Turbo 8-speed automatic

Volkswagen is a little more of a luxury brand than some of the other vehicles on this list, but that’s not a bad thing! The Golf might be one model year behind, but it’s got all of the most up-to-date technologies working to help make it a safer and more enjoyable car to drive. 

This car might not look as sleek as American eyes are used to, but it’s comfortable, has plenty of cargo room, and offers impressive performance on the road. 

The interior of the Golf is also exceptionally comfortable, which makes it an excellent option for people with long commutes or who plan on spending a lot of time in their vehicles. 

5. Hyundai Elantra GT

  • Latest Release: 2020
  • MSRP: $20,650
  • MPG: 32⁄25 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 161 to 201
  • Manual Or Automatic: 6-speed manual transmission, seven-speed automatic

The Hyundai Elantra is a little older than some of the other vehicles we’ve mentioned, and it’s the first where its age is beginning to show. The biggest difference is in your vehicle’s average MPG; the Elantra offers just slightly lower performance than other Mazda 3 competitors. 

That said, the Elantra’s older release also means that this vehicle has a little more on the road testing, which makes it easier to find reliable user reviews from real drivers. 

Stylish and with reasonable performance, this vehicle does lack speed for the most adventurous drivers. You might want to look elsewhere if you’re looking for something with a lot of get up and go, but it’s a great choice for drivers who want consistency and plenty of space in a performance sedan. 

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6. Honda Fit

  • Latest Release: 2015 in North America, 2020 elsewhere
  • MSRP: $16,190
  • MPG: 40⁄33 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 128 to 130
  • Manual Or Automatic: 6-speed manual or continuously variable transmission

The Honda Fit is a good option if you’re looking for an affordable hatchback with good performance, but you don’t need a lot of flash. The Fit is a great budget option, but it can be more difficult to find since the 2015 release in the United States wasn’t as successful as Honda hoped. 

However, with the increasing popularity of Hatchback models since then, the Fit performs better now in some ways than it did then. 

Good MPG performance and good transmission performance in both types are huge plusses to this model, but its low horsepower and the lack of availability can be serious drawbacks. 

7. Mazda CX-3

  • Latest Release: 2021
  • MSRP: $20,790
  • MPG: 34⁄29 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 148
  • Manual Or Automatic: SRX speed automatic transmission OR 6-speed manual

We couldn’t talk about Mazda 3 competitors without talking about at least one other vehicle from Mazda. The CX-3 is the most obvious choice as a smaller and more efficient SUV; it’s basically one size up from the hatchback design. 

It’s also got great performance in terms of MPG and how comfortable the Mazda CX-3 is to drive. This vehicle doesn’t feel as big as it is when you’re in the driver’s seat, which can be a good thing if this is your first time getting an SUV. 

However, the Mazda CX-3 still has relatively low horsepower, especially for the size of this vehicle. That means that it can be a little slower to accelerate than some options but still a great commuter. 

8. Ford Focus

  • Latest Release: 2018
  • MSRP: $17,950 (original)
  • MPG: 40⁄30 HWY/City
  • Horsepower: 123 to 350
  • Manual Or Automatic: 6-speed automatic, 5 & 6-speed manual

The Ford Focus is retiring after more than 10 years of being one of the more reliable options out there. But, just because Ford is moving on to new things doesn’t mean that the 2018 Focus isn’t still a great car. 

Widely variable options on the Focus are actually one of the biggest advantages of this vehicle. Its long history with Ford means that there are more things to choose from than the average vehicle. Just as importantly, the Focus is reliable at all trim levels and performs particularly well on the highway considering its age. 

The biggest problem with the Focus is that they may be getting harder to find as Ford moves on to new vehicle lines, and Ford owners are likely to drive them longer and harder-use than some other competitors.

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