2022 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic was available in familiar LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trim levels, with prices starting at $21,700 for the Civic LX and reaching up to $28,300 for the Civic Touring, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was also set to return later in the year, while the two-door coupe was discontinued. The primary evaluation vehicle was a Civic Touring in Morning Mist Blue, priced at $29,690, including destination charges. Another model tested was a Civic Sport with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, estimated at just under $25,880. The redesigned 2022 Civic had a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. The interior featured a minimalistic approach with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a more mature look.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, with prices ranging from $20,800 to $34,400, excluding a $1,015 destination charge. The test car was a top-of-the-line hatchback in 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim with Polymetal Gray Metallic paint, carrying an MSRP of $35,810, including destination charges. The Mazda3’s appearance was not universally appealing, with deeply sculpted flanks and a hatchback design that some might find unattractive. However, it had a certain artistry that could be appreciated. The interior was refined, with sophisticated design and polished metallic finishes, presenting an upscale and elegant environment. The Mazda3 was seen as a more cost-effective alternative to entry-level luxury cars, offering more value except in perceived cachet.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engines in its redesigned sedan. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The EX and Touring trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) with new Step Shift programming to mimic traditional automatics. The Civic’s handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel. The Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile driving loop, slightly below the EPA estimate of 34 mpg. The Civic’s predictable and trustworthy demeanor made it a satisfying compact sedan for various driving scenarios.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 offered three engine options. The base 2.0 sedan had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, returning 31 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, with fuel economy ratings between 27 mpg and 30 mpg. The 2.5 Turbo model had a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, producing 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87-octane gas, or 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft on 93-octane fuel. The turbocharged Mazda3 averaged 23.1 mpg during testing. The Mazda3’s driving experience was enjoyable, with smooth power delivery, nimble handling, and excellent balance. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during aggressive driving on challenging roads. Despite this, the Mazda3 was praised for its exceptional quality, unassuming style, and attainable price.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered redesigned front seats with better support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim. The power driver’s seat provided a perfect position behind the steering wheel, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The back seat had more legroom than most in the segment, but the backrest angle might feel too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lost its heated rear cushions. The new center console had less storage space and flexibility, but the trunk volume remained generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 had a snug but comfortable fit once settled into the front seats. The driver’s seat was eight-way power-adjustable with heated front seats and leather upholstery in the test vehicle. The back seat offered decent comfort and legroom for shorter passengers, but taller occupants would be uncomfortable. The Mazda3 lacked rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. Storage space was adequate, with large door panel bins, a big glove compartment, and a sizable center console bin. The hatchback offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with a 10-inch display in the Touring trim offering greater customization and driving environment data. The Vehicle Activity display showed when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on. The standard infotainment system had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim had a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The Touring trim also included a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium surround-sound audio system.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 used an 8.8-inch static infotainment display with controls on the center console, steering wheel, and voice recognition system. Mazda Connect was not a touchscreen system, which Mazda believed was less distracting. However, the lack of a physical tuning function and a voice recognition system that required specific commands were drawbacks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, and Mazda Connected Services provided remote access to some vehicle functions. An eight-speaker audio system was standard, with a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system available in higher trims. An Active Driving Display projected data onto the windshield, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured an upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic EX and Touring trims had a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic’s vehicle architecture was stronger, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 had standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings in NHTSA crash tests and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.