Impromptu faceoff: New Honda Civic vs. Mazda 3

[mbt]

Impromptu Face-off: Civic 1.8 S squares off against Mazda 3 1.6 V
Does the new Civic reclaim the sporty throne from the Mazda 3?

By Marvin Tan

Note: This isn’t a full test or review. Definitely not a comprehensive, definitive evaluation. Take it as it is: a collection of driving impressions from brief test drives on public roads.

My cousin has a problem: she can’t choose between a Honda City and a Mazda 3. She asked me about it, and I said that she should consider the new Civic, if only by default. But does the Civic indeed have the right stuff to topple the mighty Mazda 3?

It’s obvious from the waiting time to book a test drive for the new Civic at the Honda booth at the Auto Focus People’s Choice show at the Fort that interest in the Civic is reaching a fever pitch. The Civic is of course all-new, and with the car market hopelessly prone to the flavor-of-the-month syndrome, that alone should arouse some curiosity. But more than that, the Civic is a make-or-break model for Honda. It’s Honda’s best-selling model. It brings home the bacon to daddy Honda. And lately, the Civic has been eclipsed by such smashing entrants into this extremely competitive segment as the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus.

Fortunately, the Auto Focus show allowed back-to-back test drives the Mazda 3 and the new Civic along the same roads. So with brief seat time in these two fine steeds, does the Civic knock the Mazda 3 off the sporty throne?

Second Place
Mazda 3 1.6 V



There are just two things about the Mazda 3 1.6 V that makes it lose to the Civic: engine and price. With only a piddling 105 horses to show from its 1.6-liter engine, the Mazda 3 is hopelessly outgunned. You’ll need to rev it like mad to get it going, and even then, velocities climb more gradually than in the Civic.

Which is a pity, because the Mazda 3 is otherwise easy to fall in love with. The handling is superb and grip feels abundant. The steering wheel feels great in your hands and turns a rack that is free of slop. Your fingers rejoice at marvelously direct steering that is weighted agreeably firmly. Very European in feel. The controls feel very good: the brakes, the transmission, the throttle… all are smooth and gratify the senses. The car doesn’t clomp over bumps and surface irregularities and there’s a sense of solidity to the structure. No creaking or groaning or cheap-sounding noises.

European also describes the Mazda 3’s fabulous styling. Two years on, the shape is still as dashing as ever, and it feels like the car will be beautiful forever. Such timelessness is the mark of a car that is truly beautiful. Quite unlike the Civic, which is handsome but in a trendy, faddish way. And fads go away quickly.

The interior of the Mazda 3 is exemplary and appropriately sporty. Knobs and switches are easy to reach, and the tunneled gauges with red lighting fits the zoom-zoom theme perfectly. Space is quite generous front and back, with perhaps rear headroom for tall passengers the only potential problem.

It’s therefore easier to appreciate the Mazda 3 with it sitting still in the garage. But too bad that motoring is about being on the move, and the Civic offers more car for less money.

First place
Honda Civic 1.8 S



Honda walked the wild side with this new Civic. The shape is controversial. The instrument panel is straight from Picard’s Enterprise. Even the interior hue is blue. This is a bold design, and frankly, Honda needed one. With car makers unleashing more and better cars to fight for a slice of the pie, Honda needs a car that stands out from the crowd instead of trying to be everything to everyone like it did with the last Civic.

And stand out it does. The engine is superb and all 140 horses are on call with Honda’s trademark i-VTEC song. With five forward gears in its auto box, the power flows smoothly and potently to the road. This one’s got the drivetrain to back up the snarling look. I still think the Mazda remains the sportier car, but the Civic isn’t about to give up without a fight. The steering is lighter but just as fluid and precise. The floor-hinged throttle pedal and the fat steering wheel respond instantly to input. My only complaint with the controls is a brake pedal that was too sensitive at the top of its travel.

There’s only one thing that’s truly disagreeable with this Civic, and that is the appallingly gigantic dashboard. It stretches a mile away like a minivan’s. It blocks your view of the road. It makes jockeying for position on the road dicey. It feels decidedly un-sporty, exactly the opposite of the Mazda 3’s forward view where you can feel in total control of the road. With the Civic, placing the corners of the car takes guesswork and a Hail Mary. The newfangled instrument panel will reliably draw oohs and aahs, but I prefer the straightforward classic layout of the Mazda 3’s gauges. And finally, the buttons and knobs on the console takes a long arm reach to actuate.

The Mazda 3 feels like the sportier drive, but the Civic is the better package. There’s more power. There’s better quality to be felt, the doors slam more solidly for example. It’s roomier, and the rear seat boasts a completely flat floor. At resale time, the Civic would certainly command a higher price. And the clincher: this Civic is less expensive than the equivalent Mazda 3, although Mazda dealers would surely be happy to give discounts to close sales. Until the Mazda 3 finds more power, it takes only a long and sharp prod of the accelerator to know who’s boss between these two heavyweights.

[niky]

Nice review!

I've finally driven the Civic 1.8, and I share many of your sentiments... especially the complaints about the dash and the brake pedal... in addition:

I still like the steering and handling of the Mazda better, though. The Civic has a quick rack, but lacks road feel and steering tactility and rolls more than the Mazda. The 1.8 is really, really quick... a much more convincing 140 horses than Toyota's 1.8 and miles better than Ford's 1.8, though still not as torquey as the 2.0 Focus or Mazda3, which are more expensive.

At first, I thought the Civic was smaller than the Mazda3, but after the test drive, I rate rear space as equal. The Mazda has a bigger trunk, though, and the lack of fold down rear seats on all Civic variants is still a problem.

Despite this, I really think Honda has a hit on their hands. It's really a car worth considering... and the long waiting list shows it.

[mbt]

niky,

Right, the Mazda 3 steers and corners better than the Civic. I was actually quite surprised at how well the Mazda 3 compares to the Civic even with the engine handicap. With a more powerful engine under the hood, the Mazda 3 would be a tough competitor.

But as it is, there are chickens rather than horses under the Mazda's hood.

[niky]

That said, my first impression of the Civic's steering was good. If you've never driven a Ford/Mazda product, you wouldn't understand, really, what was missing. And the short rack (around 2.6 or 2.7 turns, lock-to-lock) makes it very easy to steer.

About the chickens... :lol:... they're not that small... I'd say Shetland Ponies versus the Arabian steeds under the Civic's hood. I was worried that the 1.8 would be faster than my Lynx, but if the shove from the 1.8 MT is similar to the AT, it probably isn't (still not enough torque). Thank God.

Still, this could be the incentive FGP needs to bring in the Mazda 3 1.6 MT.

But the 1.8 AT is good enough to make you wonder how strong the 2.0 MT will be. I think it'll be monstrous.

[carlocaraddict]

well, both cars are good and i definitely agree that both cars steers well. The rear headroom in the Mazda 3 is kinda cramped while the Civic's headroom is good. And yes, Civic has a responsive engine. Mazda 3 looks athletic while the Civic looks kinda futuristic.

Again, both cars are good but my vote goes to the new Civic.

[oldblue]

Impromptu Face-off: Civic 1.8 S squares off against Mazda 3 1.6 V
There’s only one thing that’s truly disagreeable with this Civic, and that is the appallingly gigantic dashboard. It stretches a mile away like a minivan’s. It blocks your view of the road. It makes jockeying for position on the road dicey. It feels decidedly un-sporty, exactly the opposite of the Mazda 3’s forward view where you can feel in total control of the road. With the Civic, placing the corners of the car takes guesswork and a Hail Mary. The newfangled instrument panel will reliably draw oohs and aahs, but I prefer the straightforward classic layout of the Mazda 3’s gauges. And finally, the buttons and knobs on the console takes a long arm reach to actuate.


.

if that's the only problem. I drive a minivan thrice a week hehehe. no big deal! i've seen brand new civics in metrowalk, megamall and eastwood. all i can say stand out talaga ang hitsura nya. refreshing can be another term. but of course, refreshing din ang Mz3 noon bago ito nilabas.

yun na nga lang malamang a lot of people grew tired of the Mz3 design.

[miLes]

if that's the only problem. I drive a minivan thrice a week hehehe. no big deal! i've seen brand new civics in metrowalk, megamall and eastwood. all i can say stand out talaga ang hitsura nya. refreshing can be another term. but of course, refreshing din ang Mz3 noon bago ito nilabas.

yun na nga lang malamang a lot of people grew tired of the Mz3 design.

actually its the opposite, i appreciated the 3's design much more
now that ive seen the civic up close but id have to agree, the 3 will probably eat dust vs the civic but we have to consider that the 3 is a 2 year old model, lets wait for the reengined 3 to match this civic's horses

[kimpOy]

galing talaga ng mga impressions mo mbt....
more cars please marvs...

[mbt]

finally got some pictures up...

Check out that grand piano of a dashboard on the civic...



and compared with the Mazda 3's:




kimpoy,

thanks, more cars and trucks coming in the next few months hehe

[OTEP]

Dashboards with their own flight decks are quite annoying. At least that's how I feel everyime I drive the MB100 wherein they used an extra long dashboard to cover the engine.

Why the extra long dash on the Civic? Beats me.