Compare 2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2020 Volkswagen Golf

2020 Honda Civic
#6 in Compact Cars
X
2020 Mazda MAZDA3
#3 in Compact Cars
X
2020 Volkswagen Golf
#6 in Compact Cars
X
Get Your Price Get Your Price Get Your Price
Select style
EX CVT
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Civic Hatchback EX CVT 31 40 $22,525 $24,250
Civic Hatchback EX-L CVT 31 40 $23,636 $25,450
Civic Hatchback LX CVT 31 40 $20,211 $21,750
Civic Hatchback Sport CVT 29 35 $21,970 $23,650
Civic Hatchback Sport Manual 29 37 $21,229 $22,850
Civic Hatchback Sport Touring CVT 29 35 $26,876 $28,950
Civic Hatchback Sport Touring Manual 29 37 $26,136 $28,150
Civic Sedan LX Manual 25 36 $18,452 $19,850
Civic Sedan Touring CVT 30 38 $25,719 $27,700
Civic Si Coupe Manual 26 36 $23,405 $25,200
Civic Si Coupe Manual w/Summer Tires 26 36 $23,590 $25,400
Civic Type R Touring Manual 22 28 N/A $36,995
Select style
AWD Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Mazda3 Hatchback AWD Automatic 24 32 $24,004 $25,100
Mazda3 Hatchback AWD Automatic w/Preferred Pkg 24 32 $25,437 $26,600
Mazda3 Hatchback AWD Automatic w/Premium Pkg 24 32 $27,636 $28,900
Mazda3 Hatchback FWD Automatic 26 35 $22,665 $23,700
Mazda3 Hatchback FWD Automatic w/Preferred Pkg 26 35 $24,098 $25,200
Mazda3 Hatchback FWD Automatic w/Premium Pkg 26 35 $26,298 $27,500
Mazda3 Hatchback FWD Manual w/Premium Pkg 25 35 $26,298 $27,500
Mazda3 Sedan AWD w/Preferred Pkg 25 33 $24,481 $25,600
Mazda3 Sedan AWD w/Premium Pkg 25 33 $26,679 $27,900
Mazda3 Sedan AWD w/Select Pkg 25 33 $23,049 $24,100
Mazda3 Sedan FWD 26 35 $20,565 $21,500
Mazda3 Sedan FWD w/Preferred Pkg 26 35 $23,143 $24,200
Mazda3 Sedan FWD w/Premium Pkg 27 36 $25,342 $26,500
Mazda3 Sedan FWD w/Select Pkg 26 35 $21,711 $22,700
Select style
1.4T TSI Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Golf 1.4T TSI Automatic 29 35 $23,035 $23,995
Golf 1.4T TSI Manual 28 36 $22,267 $23,195
Golf GTI 2.0T Automaticbahn DSG 24 32 $35,802 $37,295
Golf GTI 2.0T Automaticbahn Manual 24 32 $35,034 $36,495
Golf GTI 2.0T S DSG 24 32 $28,219 $29,395
Golf GTI 2.0T S Manual 24 32 $27,452 $28,595
Golf GTI 2.0T SE DSG 24 32 $31,675 $32,995
Golf GTI 2.0T SE Manual 24 32 $30,907 $32,195
Pricing
Invoice Price
$22,525
$24,004
$23,035
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$24,250
$25,100
$23,995
Monthly Payment Estimate
$404 / month
$418 / month
$400 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
6.7
6.7
6.7
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2020 Honda Civic sets the pace among affordable compact cars. The Mazda 3 punches above its weight class with an upmarket interior, good handling, and optional all-wheel drive. Even with a pared lineup for a short model year, the 2020 Volkswagen Golf is a solid if stoic choice among compact hatchbacks
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
31 mpg 24 mpg 29 mpg
Highway
40 mpg 32 mpg 35 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Compact Cars Mid-Size Cars Compact Cars
Interior Dimensions
Second Head Room (in)
37.4 37.2 38.1
Second Shoulder Room (in)
55 53.4 53.9
Front Leg Room (in)
42.3 42.3 41.2
Passenger Volume (ft³)
94.8 92.7 93.5
Front Hip Room (in)
53.7 54.6 -
Second Leg Room (in)
36 35.1 35.6
Front Head Room (in)
37.6 38 38.4
Passenger Capacity
5 5 5
Second Hip Room (in)
48.8 50.9 -
Front Shoulder Room (in)
56.9 55.7 55.9
Exterior Dimensions
Length, Overall (in)
177.9 175.6 167.6
Height, Overall (in)
56.5 56.7 58.2
Track Width, Rear (in)
61.5 62.2 59.8
Wheelbase (in)
106.3 107.3 103.8
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.8 70.7 70.8
Track Width, Front (in)
60.9 61.7 61
Min Ground Clearance (in)
- 5.5 5.4
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)
25.7 20.1 17.4
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)
46.2 47.1 53.7
Brakes
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
10.2 10.4 10.7
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.1 11.6 11.3
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
12.4 12.7 13.2
Steering
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
35.7 34.8 35.8
Tires
Spare Tire Size
Compact Compact Compact
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P215/50HR17 P215/45VR18 P205/55HR16
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Front Tire Size
P215/50HR17 P215/45VR18 P205/55HR16
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
2961 3255 3023
Wheels
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 X 7 18 X 7 16 X 6.5
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 X 7 18 X 7 16 X 6.5
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact Compact
Engine
Engine Type
Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 Regular Unleaded I-4 Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
162 @ 1700 186 @ 4000 184 @ 1400
Engine Order Code
NA NA NA
Displacement
1.5 L/91 2.5 L/152 1.4 L/85
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
174 @ 6000 186 @ 6000 147 @ 5000
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
31 24 29
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
34 27 32
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
40 32 35
Transmission
Trans Order Code
NA NA M8
Trans Description Cont.
CVT w/OD Automatic w/OD Automatic w/OD
First Gear Ratio (:1)
2.65 - 0.41 3.55 5.07
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
4.81 3.63 3.87
Trans Type
1 6 8
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive All Wheel Front Wheel Drive
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
1.86 3.05 4.00
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
- 1.00 1.47
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
- 0.60 1.00
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
- 1.35 1.95
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
- 0.74 1.23
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
- 2.02 2.97
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
- - 0.67
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- - 0.81
Summary
Body Style
Hatchback i-ACTIV AWD Hatchback Hatchback
Vehicle Name
Honda Civic Hatchback Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback Volkswagen Golf
Suspension
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Torsion Beam Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link Torsion Beam Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Strut Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Strut Strut
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
5.3 6.6 5.5
Electrical
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
- 130 140
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- - 480
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
-
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
-
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
-
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
-
Overall Side Crash Rating
-
Side Barrier Rating
-
Side Barrier Rating Driver
-
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
-
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
-
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
-
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
-
Rollover Rating
-
Next Steps: Get Free Price Quotes!
2020 Honda Civic
  • 2020 Civic is in showrooms
  • Up to $500 off
  • Lease: From $189 for 36 mo.
  • Finance: From 1.9% APR
Get Your Price
2020 Mazda MAZDA3
  • 2020 Mazda3 selection looks great
  • New $1,000 rebate for all buyers
  • Lease from $179 for 36 months
  • Get 0.9% APR for 60 months
      Get Your Price
      2020 Volkswagen Golf
      • 2019 Golf is hard to find in stock; 2020s expected soon
      • Rebates: Unadvertised discounts + $500 credit for select customers
      • Finance: From 1.9% APR for 60 months
      • Lease: From $329 per month for 39 months
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