Driving Performance - Mazda 3 is the most engaging to drive
Facts and Figures
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan
Engine
1.5L 4-cylinder turbo
1.8L 4-cylinder NA
2.0L 4-cylinder NA
Transmission
CVT auto
CVT auto
6-speed auto
Power
173 PS @ 5,500 rpm
139 PS @ 6,400 rpm
162 PS @ 6,000 rpm
Torque
220 Nm @ 1,700 - 5,500 rpm
172 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
213 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Weight
1,327 kg
1,365 kg
1,402 kg
0-100 km/h
8.2 seconds
11.4 seconds
9.9 seconds
100-0 km/h
35.1 metres
37.6 metres
38.3 metres
Power from the 2.0L NA engine isn’t as strong as in the turbocharged Honda Civic, which is why the Mazda 3 didn't get an excellent score in driving performance. But it’s punchy enough at lower revs and will happily climb up to the redline, with a smooth and linear power delivery.
The 6-speed automatic transmission feels more direct than any of its CVT rivals and shifts are crisp. Steering feels natural and the chassis reacts predictably according to driver inputs. The GVC+ works its magic in the background through the corners, ensuring a smooth affair.
Driving Performances Breakdown
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan
Engine
Acceleration
4 / 5
2.5 / 5
3.5 / 5
In-gear Acceleration
3.5 / 5
2.5 / 5
3.5 / 5
Throttle Response
3 / 5
4 / 5
4 / 5
Transmission
Shift Logic
2 / 3
2 / 3
2.5 / 3
Smoothness
3.5 / 5
4 / 5
4 / 5
Sport/Manual Mode
3 / 3
3 / 3
3 / 3
Steering
Accuracy
2 / 3
1.5 / 3
2 / 3
Response
2.5 / 3
1 / 3
2 / 3
Weight & Feel
1.5 / 3
1.5 / 3
2.5 / 3
Braking
Distance
3 / 3
2.5 / 3
2 / 3
Feel
2.5 / 3
2 / 3
2 / 3
Handling
Chassis Balance
2 / 3
2.5 / 3
2 / 3
Grip
2.5 / 3
2.5 / 3
2 / 3
Load Reaction
1.5 / 3
2 / 3
2.5 / 3
Total
36.5 / 50 pts
33 / 50 pts
37.5 / 50 pts
Ride Comfort - Toyota Corolla is the most comfortable
Noise Level
Travelling speed
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan
60 km/h
61 dB
60 dB
61 dB
90 km/h
66 dB
65 dB
64 dB
110 km/h
69 dB
69 dB
67 dB
The Toyota Corolla's suspension is the supplest in its class. Lumps and bumps are soaked up with minimal disruptions in the cabin. Only the sharpest of edges and largest of potholes can send a jolt, otherwise it’s a gentle nudge.
Seats are nicely sculptured and supportive. There’s plenty of adjustments including lumbar to get comfortable. It isn't the quietest in class however, that would be the Mazda 3.
Ride Comfort Breakdown
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0LSedan
Soundproofing
6 / 10
6 / 10
8 / 10
Suspension
7 / 10
9 / 10
6 / 10
Passenger Comfort
7 / 10
9 / 10
7 / 10
Seat Support
3 / 5
4 / 5
4 / 5
Ergonomics
4 / 5
4 / 5
4 / 5
Engine Refinement
8 / 10
8 / 10
7 / 10
Total points
35 / 50 pts
40 / 50 pts
36 / 50 pts
Quality and Features - Winner goes to Mazda 3 again
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Paint thickness (µm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Front Bonnet
119
Front Fender
103
100
Front Door
115
114
Rear Door
105
107
C-Pillar
115
120
Tailgate
109
Roof
115
Average paint thickness: 110 µm
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P - Panel Gaps
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Difference
Bonnet
3.0
3.0
0.0
Front Fender
3.5
4.0
0.5
Front to Rear Door
4.0
5.0
1.0
Rear Door to C-Pillar
3.5
4.5
1.0
Tailgate
4.5
5.0
0.5
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G - Paint thickness (µm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Front Bonnet
102
Front Fender
98
100
Front Door
97
97
Rear Door
97
97
C-Pillar
95
99
Tailgate
102
Roof
88
Average paint thickness: 95 µm
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G - Panel Gaps
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Difference
Bonnet
3.5
3.5
0.0
Front Fender
4.0
4.5
0.5
Front to Rear Door
3.5
4.0
0.5
Rear Door to C-Pillar
4.0
4.0
0.0
Tailgate
4.0
3.0
1.0
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan High Plus - Paint thickness (µm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Front Bonnet
84
Front Fender
78
72
Front Door
94
85
Rear Door
85
85
C-Pillar
92
91
Tailgate
94
Roof
69
Average paint thickness: 85 µm
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan High Plus - Panel Gaps (mm)
Location
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Difference
Bonnet
2.5
3.0
0.5
Front Fender
2.5
3.0
0.5
Front to Rear Door
3.0
2.5
0.5
Rear Door to C-Pillar
3.0
2.5
0.5
Tailgate
3.0
2.5
0.5
The Toyota Corolla Altis showed the lowest standard deviation in both paint thickness and panel gap consistency, which suggest remarkable build quality.
Exterior Material Use
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan
Bonnet
Soundproofing Material
Thin
Thick
Thin
Struts
Manual
Manual
Manual
Front Fenders
Soundproofing Material
Yes
Yes
Yes
Doors
Front Windows
Single-glazed
Single-glazed
Single-glazed
Rear Windows
Single-glazed
Single-glazed
Single-glazed
Construction
Multiple-piece
Multiple-piece
One-piece
Tailgate/Boot
Opening
Manual
Manual
Manual
In terms of cabin material and build quality however, the Mazda 3 is noticeably more upmarket, class-leading in fact. There’s soft leather across the middle of the dashboard and door panels as well as parts of the centre console.
Cabin Material Use
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L sedan
Seat
Seat Cover
Leather
Leather
Leather
Armrest
Armrest Cover
Leather
Leather
Leather
Dashboard
Upper Section
Soft Plastic
Soft Plastic
Soft Plastic
Lower Section
Hard Plastic
Hard Plastic
Hard Plastuic
Front Doors
Upper Section
Soft Plastic
Soft Plastic
Soft Plastic
Middle Section
Leather
Leather
Leather
Lower Section
Hard Plastic
Hard Plastic
Hard Plastic
While the Mazda 3 has the Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), it doesn’t feature low speed follow, which rivals like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Altis have. So, it gets 1 point knocked off in the ADAS section. But overall, the Mazda 3 still pulls ahead in this aspect.
Quality & Features Breakdown
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 sedan
Exterior
Paint Finish
4 / 5
5 / 5
4 / 5
Panel Gaps
3 / 5
3 / 5
2 / 5
Interior
Build Quality
3 / 5
4 / 5
4.5 / 5
Materials Used
3 / 5
3 / 5
4.5 / 5
Features
Safety
9 / 10
8 / 10
10 / 10
ADAS
5 / 5
5 / 5
4 / 5
Luxury
2 / 5
2 / 5
3 / 5
Convenience
3 / 5
2 / 5
3 / 5
Infotainment
3 / 5
4 / 5
5 / 5
Total
35 / 50 pts
36 / 50 pts
40 / 50 pts
Space and Practicality - None can rival the Honda Civic
Despite a fastback profile, the Civic manages to provide more headroom than the Corolla Altis, just about matching the Mazda 3 Sedan.
But kneeroom is vastly superior to both cars. While the numbers appear similar, do note that the Civic's seat bench is longer than the other two, which affects the measurements.
Interior Space Breakdown
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L sedan
Front Row
8 / 10
7 / 10
6 / 10
Middle/Back Row
7 / 10
6 / 10
7 / 10
Third Row
0 / 5
0 / 5
0 / 5
Boot Space
4 / 5
3 / 5
2 / 5
Practicality
4 / 5
2.5 / 5
3 / 5
Storage Space
4 / 5
2 / 5
4 / 5
Visibility
3.5 / 5
4 / 5
3.5 / 5
Storage Flexibility
4 / 5
2 / 5
4 / 5
Total
34.5 / 50 pts
26.5 / 50 pts
27.5 / 50 pts
Fuel Consumption - Mazda 3 is the most efficient
Fuel consumption test
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L sedan
Distance travelled
100 km
100 km
100.2 km
Amount refuelled
7.9 litres
7.7 litres
7.59 litres
Calculated figure
7.9-litre/100 km
7.7-litre/100 km
7.6-litre/100 km
The Mazda 3 Sedan returned the lowest fuel consumption figure, making it the most fuel-efficient C-segment sedan we've tested so far.
However, it does not have any Eco Mode/Assist, which penalised its overall score and the overall winner is the Corolla Altis.
Fuel Consumption Test Breakdown
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L Sedan
Fuel Consumption
10 / 15
11 / 15
12 / 15
Eco Mode
2 / 2
2 / 2
0 / 2
Indicator Accuracy
1.5 / 3
2 / 3
1.5 / 3
Total points
13.5 / 20 pts
15 / 20 pts
13.5 / 20 pts
Purchase and Cost - Honda Civic is the best value for money
Being a CKD model, the Honda Civic is more attractively priced than both the Altis and the Mazda 3. The Civic also comes with a 5 year and unlimited mileage (within 5 years) warranty which is a plus point in our books.
In terms of maintenance cost, the Civic can't top the Mazda 3's 5-year free maintenance or its fuel efficiency however.
Purchase & Cost Breakdown
2020 Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
2020 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G
2019 Mazda 3 2.0L sedan
Purchase
Car Price
13 / 15
11 / 15
6 / 15
Warranty
4 / 5
4 / 5
3 / 5
Cost
Maintenance
4 / 5
3 / 5
5 / 5
Fuel Cost
3 / 5
3.5 / 5
4 / 5
Total
24 / 30 pts
20 / 30 pts
18 / 30 pts
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the Honda Civic is has the most powerful engine, the most spacious and practical interior. The Mazda 3 Sedan is the most engaging to drive and has the best overall quality and features. The Toyota Corolla Altis is the most comfortable car and still manages to handle well.
Overall, the Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P leads the segment with its superior interior packaging and value proposition.
The quest for automotive knowledge began as soon as the earliest memories. Various sources information, even questionable ones, have been explored including video games, television, magazines, or even internet forums. Still stuck in that rabbit hole.