Honda Civic vs Mazda 3 ~ station of gear

The new Honda Civic Sport belies its entry-level status a, but is it a better buy than its Mazda 3 rival?

2016-10-15 12:00

Honda pulled the covers off its all-new 10th generation Civic last week at the Paris Motor Show, but that doesn’t mean it’s finished with the current car just yet. In an effort to send the family hatch out on a high, the brand has launched an eye-catchingly priced entry-level model. And this is no ordinary bargain basement buy.

Called the Sport, it gets a racy look inspired by the Type R flagship, plus there’s a kit list you’d expect on much pricier machines. Honda has also fitted the newcomer with its tried-and-tested 1.4-litre engine.

• Best hatchbacks on sale right now

But it’s not the only sporty hatchback with a small-capacity petrol engine and wallet-friendly price tag. Like the Civic, the Mazda 3 is due to be upgraded, but even in its current form, it serves up plenty of style and driving fun for buyers on a budget.

So which of our contenders delivers a better mix of driving thrills, low bills and family friendly usability?

Head-to-head

Versatility

Look beneath the Honda’s angular lines and you’ll discover a versatile family hatchback. Its vast boot packs a healthy 477-litre capacity, plus it gets the brand’s Magic Seats. The Mazda isn’t nearly as versatile, offering a smaller 364-litre boot. And while it’s as spacious inside, smaller windows make it feel claustrophobic.

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Image 19 of 38

Engines

Both our contenders have ignored the current trend for downsized turbocharged units. While the Honda’s 1.4-litre engine is new to the Civic, it has been tried and tested in the Jazz supermini. The Mazda’s 1.5-litre engine is also used elsewhere, even appearing in the MX-5.

Infotainment

The Mazda gets sat-nav as part of its MZD Connect system. There are also a number of apps to choose from, including DAB. Honda’s system does without nav, but the Mirrorlink function allows you to beam your phone display on to the touchscreen.

Verdict

First place: Honda Civic

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Image 4 of 38

A sporty makeover and a sprinkling of extras have helped inject some much-needed showroom appeal into the Honda Civic. It’s also spacious and attractively priced, plus it’s backed by some tempting finance deals. The 1.4-litre engine delivers leisurely performance, making the Sport a dependable, roomy and well equipped family hatchback for not much cash.

Second place: Mazda 3

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Image 5 of 38

Sleek styling, a classy interior and engaging driving dynamics make the Mazda look and feel more expensive than its rival here. And while it’s not as well equipped or practical, it gets all the essentials plus the desirable addition of sat-nav. You should be able to negotiate a healthy discount as dealers look to clear stocks in the run- up to the facelifted model’s arrival.

Other options in this category...

Hyundai i30 1.4 SE Nav

Price: £17,595
Engine: 1.4-litre 4cyl,98bhp

Stylish and well equipped, the Hyundai follows the lead of these contenders by using a naturally aspirated petrol engine. Performance is leisurely, but the i30 is spacious and backed by a confidence-inspiring five-year warranty.

Renault Megane 1.2 TCe Dynamique Nav

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Price: £18,100
Engine: 1.2-litre 3cyl, 128bhp

The Renault gets sat-nav, but lacks much of the Honda’s desirable kit. However, the downsized turbo packs a bigger punch, and boasts greater efficiency, while supreme comfort makes up for lack of driver fun.

Figures

	Honda Civic 1.4 Sport	Mazda 3 1.5 SE Nav
On the road price/total as tested	£18,360/£18,885	£17,695/£17,695
Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000)	£8,629/47.0%	£7,043/39.8%
Depreciation	£9,731	£10,652
Annual tax liability std/higher rate	£836/£1,672	£706/£1,411
Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles)	£1,660/£2,767	£1,824/£3,039
Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost	7/£482/E/£130	13/£572/C/£30
Servicing costs	£555 (5yrs)	£499 (3yrs)

Length/wheelbase	4,370/2,595mm	4,565/2,700mm
Height/width	1,470/1,770mm	1,465/1,795mm
Engine	4cyl in-line/1,339cc	4cyl in-line/1,496cc
Peak power/revs	98/6,000 bhp/rpm	98/6,000 bhp/rpm
Peak torque/revs	127/4,800 Nm/rpm	150/4,000 Nm/rpm
Transmission	6-spd man/fwd	6-spd man/fwd
Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel	50 litres/foam	51 litres/foam
Boot capacity (seats up/down)	477/1,378 litres	364/1,263 litres
Kerbweight/payload/towing weight	1,372/405/1,200kg	1,255/524/950kg
Turning circle	11.9 metres	11.3 metres
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery	3yrs (unltd)/3yrs	3yrs (60,000)/3yrs
Service intervals/UK dealers	12,500 miles (1yr)/196	12,500 miles (1yr)/154
Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos.	20th/8th	9th/19th
NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/stars	94/83/69/86/5 (2012)	93/86/65/81/5 (2013)

0-60/30-70mph	11.4/11.6 secs	10.4/10.2 secs
30-50mph in 3rd/4th	7.1/9.6 secs	6.3/8.3 secs
50-70mph in 5th/6th	14.6/17.2 secs	11.9/18.5 secs
Top speed/rpm at 70mph	116mph/3,200rpm	113mph/2,500rpm
Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph	48.1/33.5/8.3m	51.9/36.8/9.4m
Noise outside/idle/30/70mph	57/39/60/71dB	58/42/63/72dB
Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range	36.8/8.1/405 miles	33.5/7.4/376 miles
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined	42.2/58.9/51.4mpg	43.5/65.7/55.4mpg
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined	9.3/13.0/11.3mpl	9.6/14.5/12.2mpl
Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket	177/131g/km/23%	195/119g/km/20%

Airbags/Isofix/park sensors/camera	Six/yes/yes/yes	Six/yes/£161^/£252^
Auto box/stability/cruise ctrl/AEB*	No/yes/yes/yes	No/yes/no/yes
Climate control/leather/heated seats	Yes/no/no	No/no/no
Metallic paint/xenon lights/keyless go	£525/no/no	£550/no/no
Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/Bluetooth	No/yes/yes/yes	Yes/yes/yes/yes

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