Compare 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2017 Volkswagen Golf

2017 Mazda MAZDA3
2017 Volkswagen Golf
 Add Vehicle
Select style
Grand Touring Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Mazda3 4-Door Grand Touring Automatic 27 36 $23,149 $24,195
Mazda3 4-Door Grand Touring Manual 25 34 $22,144 $23,145
Mazda3 4-Door Sport Automatic 28 37 $18,084 $18,895
Mazda3 4-Door Sport Manual 27 37 $17,080 $17,845
Mazda3 4-Door Touring Automatic 28 37 $20,568 $21,495
Mazda3 4-Door Touring Manual 27 37 $19,564 $20,445
Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring Automatic 26 35 $23,864 $24,945
Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring Manual 25 33 $22,862 $23,895
Mazda3 5-Door Sport Automatic 28 37 $19,278 $20,145
Mazda3 5-Door Sport Manual 27 37 $18,275 $19,095
Mazda3 5-Door Touring 2.5 Automatic 26 35 $22,431 $23,445
Mazda3 5-Door Touring 2.5 Manual 25 33 $21,429 $22,395
Mazda3 5-Door Touring Automatic 28 37 $21,284 $22,245
Select style
1.8T 4-Door S Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Golf 1.8T 4-Door S Automatic 25 35 $20,155 $20,995
Golf 1.8T 4-Door S Manual 25 36 $19,099 $19,895
Golf 1.8T 4-Door SE Automatic 25 35 $24,427 $25,445
Golf 1.8T 4-Door SEL Automatic 25 35 $26,875 $27,995
Golf 1.8T 4-Door Wolfsburg Edition Automatic 25 35 $21,761 $22,795
Golf 1.8T 4-Door Wolfsburg Edition Manual 25 36 $20,705 $21,595
Golf Alltrack 1.8T S DSG 22 30 $25,873 $26,950
Golf Alltrack 1.8T S Manual 22 32 $24,817 $25,850
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SE DSG 22 30 $29,308 $30,530
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SE Manual 22 32 $28,252 $29,430
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SEL DSG 22 30 $31,575 $32,890
Golf GTI 2.0T 2-Door S DSG 24 32 $25,051 $26,095
Golf GTI 2.0T 2-Door S Manual 24 34 $23,995 $24,995
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door Automaticbahn DSG 24 32 $33,707 $35,195
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door Automaticbahn Manual 24 34 $32,651 $34,095
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door S DSG 24 32 $25,627 $26,695
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door S Manual 24 34 $24,571 $25,595
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door SE DSG 24 32 $30,611 $31,990
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door SE Manual 24 34 $29,555 $30,890
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door Sport DSG 24 32 $27,931 $29,095
Golf GTI 2.0T 4-Door Sport Manual 24 34 $26,875 $27,995
Golf R 4-Door DSG 23 30 $35,285 $36,755
Golf R 4-Door DSG w/DCC/Nav 23 30 $38,768 $40,475
Golf R 4-Door Manual 22 31 $34,229 $35,655
Golf R 4-Door Manual w/DCC/Nav 22 31 $37,712 $39,375
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Automatic 25 34 $21,773 $22,680
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Automatic 4MOTION 22 30 $23,932 $24,930
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Manual 25 35 $20,718 $21,580
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Manual 4MOTION 22 32 $22,877 $23,830
Golf SportWagen 1.8T SE Automatic 25 34 $25,948 $27,030
Golf SportWagen 1.8T SEL Automatic 25 34 $28,772 $29,970

Volkswagen Golf vs. Mazda 3: Compare Cars

John Voelcker John Voelcker

Among the growing plethora of compact hatchbacks, the Volkswagen Golf is the endurance champ, now more than 40 years old over seven generations. While the Mazda 3 is only on its third generation, Mazda has sold other small hatchbacks, so both are contenders of long standing on the sporty end of the small-car scale.

You'll immediately recognize the VW Golf, whose shape remains true to its upright origins as the 1974 VW Rabbit. It's a handsome, rectilinear hatchback, slightly larger than previous generations and better integrated than the model it succeeded. The Mazda 3 is far swoopier, with a long hood and a "cab-back" style that truncates the cabin and makes its proportions distinct from any other small car.

 
Pricing
Invoice Price
$23,149
$20,155
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$24,195
$20,995
Monthly Payment Estimate
$403 / month
$350 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
7.3
6.5
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2017 Mazda 3 is near the top of our favorite compact cars on sale today. Its good performance, good fuel economy, and good value make for a very good car. There's a Golf for nearly every taste and need—Golf, Golf GTI, Golf SportWagen— and don't forget about the EV eGolf, which is very balanced and fun to drive.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
27 mpg 25 mpg
Highway
36 mpg 35 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Compact Cars Compact Cars
Interior Dimensions
Passenger Volume (ft³)
96.3 93.5
Second Hip Room (in)
53.5 -
Front Shoulder Room (in)
57.2 55.9
Second Head Room (in)
37.5 38.1
Passenger Capacity
5 5
Second Shoulder Room (in)
54.4 53.9
Front Leg Room (in)
42.2 41.2
Front Hip Room (in)
55.5 -
Second Leg Room (in)
35.8 35.6
Front Head Room (in)
37.6 38.4
Exterior Dimensions
Track Width, Front (in)
61.2 61
Min Ground Clearance (in)
6.1 5.4
Length, Overall (in)
180.3 167.5
Height, Overall (in)
57.3 57.2
Track Width, Rear (in)
61.4 59.8
Wheelbase (in)
106.3 103.8
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.7 70.8
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
12.4 -
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)
- 22.8
Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)
- 52.7
Brakes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.6 11.3
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
10.4 10.7
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
13.2 13.2
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
34.8 35.8
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Tires
Front Tire Size
P215/45WR18 P195/65HR15
Spare Tire Size
Compact Compact
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P215/45WR18 P195/65HR15
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3100 3023
Wheels
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7 15 X 6
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7 15 X 6
Electrical
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
100 140
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- 480
Engine
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
185 @ 3250 184 @ 1600
Engine Order Code
NA _VC20_
Displacement
2.5 L/152 1.8 L/110
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
184 @ 5700 170 @ 4500
Engine Type
Regular Unleaded I-4 Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection
Mileage
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
30 29
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
36 35
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
27 25
Transmission
First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.55 4.46
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.39 3.87
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.45 1.56
Trans Type
6 6
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.71 0.85
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.89 3.60
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.02 2.51
Trans Order Code
NA _5MT01
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 1.14
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Manual w/OD
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.60 0.67
Summary
Vehicle Name
Mazda Mazda3 4-Door Volkswagen Golf
Body Style
Sedan Hatchback
Suspension
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Strut Strut
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
5.8 6.0
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
--

Get FREE Dealer Quotes

From dealers near you
Go!
Related Head to Head
View more head to heads »

Add a Vehicle to Compare

Select a vehicle below
Please choose a make.
Please choose a model.
Please choose a year.
Continue