10th gen Civic vs. 2017 Mazda3

VarmintCong

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Very informative, thank you!

Since it'll cost me $1000 installed for a 7" Carplay deck in the Sport, it would take something like Waze support to make me do it I think.

Right now I'm enjoying the phone integration of the basic 5" deck, that's all new to me, though it's buggy. I have Waze on my phone mounted to the air vent.
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First_Civic

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I've heard that you can install AA on the Mazda 3. Apparently it's easy to hack, because it uses Linux. It's kind of ironic how you guys put so much emphasis on infotainment, they both have pretty crappy infotainment.
 

tychay

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Sorry, for some reason I thought you meant upgrading a Mazda3 with CarPlay support (while theoretically it should just be a firmware update for post 2914 Mazda3s, it's unlikely, and integration precludes going third party). I think if you have a Civic without CarPlay support and Waze is your favorite/essential driving app, it makes a lot of sense to just have a mount the way you have and save money on not upgrading to the 7" touchscreen) :)

...

Yes, it is so easy that various Linux and Mazda enthusiasts have been hacking the Mazda infotainment for almost three years with nearly everything doable and customized BUT activating Carplay, which was the original impetus for the hack in the first place. And they still can't break open the CarPlay/AA support that is already in the codebase (as I mentioned above). http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/...ronics/104730-index-infotainment-project.html

And maybe, just possibly, "crappy infotainment" is exactly why Carplay/Android Auto is so popular (as evidenced by its popularity in the aftermarket car stereo world)—to cede control of such things from the manufacturer's OEM partner to Apple and Google. To take just a few examples:
  • Subaru are widely considered the furthest behind in interior and infotainment (far "crappier" than Honda or Mazda), and yet no reviewer has dinged their first Global Platform car (2017 Impreza) for that which coincidentally is the only car in their lineup with CarPlay and Android Auto support.
  • Ford (and Toyota/Lexus signed up as a partner) invested a ton of money into a competitor to these systems, yet the latest Sync3 system supports CarPlay and Android Auto while Toyota is the only major manufacturer with no support of CP/AA in any car.
  • Mazda has not announced support yet and their OEM partner purchased a competing system that predates even Carplay, yet Chinese market Mazda 6's have CarPlay support and Linux hackers see disabled code for its support in the operating system.
  • Look up any video for the first time an auto reviewer tried to use it in a car with the system enabled and watch their reaction (here is one example to bring the revelvance back to CivicX: ).
  • Go to a car forum of a car model without it and search for CarPlay or Android Auto and notice the most common word that is in this thread is "when".

More and more (usually younger) people are demanding CarPlay or Android Auto integration in their next vehicle. The market has responding to the tune of what started out three years ago as a gimmick feature in high end Ferraris and BMWs is more common in the standard compact class (standard or option in new Civics, Focus, Golf, Elantra, Impreza, ...) than it is in the luxury class (where Lexus still believes that a combination of Bluetooth, HandsFree, and Scout GPS plus a reviewer-panned control system overcomes this, nothing from Tesla, Acura only has it in the NSX, ...). Beloved features less common in luxury features, now that is ironic!
 
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Dalmi

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So I had this dilemma when I was in the market for a new car. I was torn between the 10th gen Civic and the Mazda3. Both cars drove great and both looked wonderful, especially the Mazda3 in the burgundy/red color! Ultimately I went with the Civic due to the reliability that comes with the Civic name, even though there is no doubt in my mind that the Mazda3 would last for a very long time. The interior is also leaps and bounds better looking in the Civic in my opinion; the Mazda 3 interior looked great the Civic just looked that much better.
 

shire123

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So I had this dilemma when I was in the market for a new car. I was torn between the 10th gen Civic and the Mazda3. Both cars drove great and both looked wonderful, especially the Mazda3 in the burgundy/red color! Ultimately I went with the Civic due to the reliability that comes with the Civic name, even though there is no doubt in my mind that the Mazda3 would last for a very long time. The interior is also leaps and bounds better looking in the Civic in my opinion; the Mazda 3 interior looked great the Civic just looked that much better.
I also ending up choosing the Civic over the Mazda even though I could have had all the features I would have liked in the Mazda. The main reason I chose the Civic was the air/road noise issue with the Mazda. Frankly, I was shocked with level of noise in the Mazda. Civic was very, very quiet. Also the interior features were pretty poor with the Mazda. No center arm rest nor front door pockets that would be useful.
 


tychay

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Frankly, I was shocked with level of noise in the Mazda. Civic was very, very quiet. Also the interior features were pretty poor with the Mazda. No center arm rest nor front door pockets that would be useful.
Out of curiosity, did you test drive a 2017 Mazda3 or an earlier model. I read they updated the door pockets and they claimed they improved the NVH (though they made that same claim in the 6, and CR said they didn't notice any improvement). Still no armrest though.
 

Design

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I also ending up choosing the Civic over the Mazda even though I could have had all the features I would have liked in the Mazda. The main reason I chose the Civic was the air/road noise issue with the Mazda. Frankly, I was shocked with level of noise in the Mazda. Civic was very, very quiet. Also the interior features were pretty poor with the Mazda. No center arm rest nor front door pockets that would be useful.
I have noticed this as well in quite a few Mazda's, including my own 09 MS3. Cracking the window generates quite a bit of noise. Something Honda seems to have engineered out in a majority of their lineup. Opening the rear window past halfway generates a pulse-type vacuum that I never experienced when test driving the Accord or Civic.
 

shire123

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Out of curiosity, did you test drive a 2017 Mazda3 or an earlier model. I read they updated the door pockets and they claimed they improved the NVH (though they made that same claim in the 6, and CR said they didn't notice any improvement). Still no armrest though.
It was a 2017. The noise was SO noticeable especially after having driven a civic the day before. The door pockets were a round hole so I'm guessing they were supposed to serve as beverage holders? I couldn't believe there was no armrest. For the long trips I tend to drive that is a necessity.
 

ElGatoGordo

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I'm a big guy, 6'1 210lbs, and although the Mazda 3 is technically bigger on the inside it felt much smaller to me. The placement of the center console is terrible and their choice of angling the driver side armrest up with the window controls was a really bad choice. I felt the drive was a little sportier with the 3 but the overall comfort and styling of the Civic made it the easy choice.
 
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Ethan

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All fair reasons to choose the Civic over the 3. We have a 2016 Mazda 3 in the household but I've my eyes on an EX-T manual Civic sedan. Though when I decide to buy the next generation 3 will be definitely be out.
 


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From everything I've read about the '17 3 the only reason to choose it over the Civic is driving dynamics. That's basically the same reason as before the '17 model.
 

Design

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From everything I've read about the '17 3 the only reason to choose it over the Civic is driving dynamics. That's basically the same reason as before the '17 model.
The 3 has a much better feature set combination than the Civic. Mazda followed VW's lead and started offering packages on all the trims vs. limiting things like LEDs and navigation for their top trims only.

I can get a fully load Mazda 3 GT with leather, corner vectoring, and a 6MT for around 24K after incentives. I'd have to wait for the Si Sedan and manually swap out the LEDs to get anything remotely similar. And that still doesn't get me the premium interior/infotainment. :(

They are both definitely worth driving. I actually prefer the powertrain in the EX-T over the Mazda 3's NA 2.5. But steering response and chassis tuning go to the Mazda 3. Both great cars for different reasons.
 

shire123

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The 3 has a much better feature set combination than the Civic. Mazda followed VW's lead and started offering packages on all the trims vs. limiting things like LEDs and navigation for their top trims only.

I can get a fully load Mazda 3 GT with leather, corner vectoring, and a 6MT for around 24K after incentives. I'd have to wait for the Si Sedan and manually swap out the LEDs to get anything remotely similar. And that still doesn't get me the premium interior/infotainment. :(

They are both definitely worth driving. I actually prefer the powertrain in the EX-T over the Mazda 3's NA 2.5. But steering response and chassis tuning go to the Mazda 3. Both great cars for different reasons.
I agree with the features issue. I too could get a Mazda 3 with all the features I would like in a variety of trims. But Honda limits things so much. I would like to know why. But I guess maybe they are doing something right because they are the top seller in that type of car.

But then as stated for me I just could not handle the noise level of the interior.
 

tychay

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I agree with the features issue. I too could get a Mazda 3 with all the features I would like in a variety of trims. But Honda limits things so much. I would like to know why. But I guess maybe they are doing something right because they are the top seller in that type of car.
It's a cost-cutting move that allows Honda better margins. Because they buy in volume and sell in volume, they do very well. As the market becomes saturated, they'll offer manual on more and more trims. Lower volume cars like the Mazda3 and Subaru Impreza can't get away with this so they offer more options in order to fine niches that Honda and Toyota overlook.
 

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I'm looking at purchasing a 2017 EX-T manual or a 2017 3 Touring 2.5 manual hatchback. I'm not considering the Civic Hatchback...it's just too ugly in my opinion. I've taken extensive test rides in both vehicles, and they are both great cars. Overall, I think the Mazda has a much nicer interior and (to me) looks better overall. Both manuals are a pleasure to drive. The civic has great low end torque and is a blast to drive, but the cloth interior and seats are low quality and terribly uncomfortable with minimal adjustment available on that trim level. It's like there is no support under your thighs. I couldn't tell the difference between road noise between the two. Mazda feels more planted on the road and sportier. Civic has less blind spots to me. I think both infotainment systems stink, but I don't really care about phone connectivity or navigation so it's a wash to me. I do like the Mazda knob better than the touchscreen Civic. The Civic looks are polarizing at best, but I've come to appreciate the sedan and find it attractive now. With that being said, I can't help but wonder how this generation Civic will age over the next 3 years. My wife thinks the Civic looks like a "fast and furious" 16 year old boy car (I'm 40 by the way)! Will I wake up in 2 years and look at the Civic and despise the looks? I don't have kids, so I don't care about how comfortable the back seat may or may not be. The Civic trunk space is enormous! I'm used to hatchbacks and wagons, so the Mazda 3 would fit me perfectly as well. Civic is cheaper by about $1500. Price isn't an issue to me, and I don not care about perceived future trade in value. I don't buy cars to sell in 3 years, plus Civics and Mazdas are a dime a dozen on used car lots...definitely not investments!

At this point, I really think both cars would suit me just fine. I'll be making a purchase by the end of the month. Right now I'm on the fence...
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