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
Show Only Differences
Volkswagen Golf vs. Mazda 3: Compare Cars
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.
$23,149
$20,155
$24,195
$20,995
$403 / month
$350 / month
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.
Attractive exterior
Balanced chassis
Good base equipment
Functional, spacious interior
Good base powertrain
Better handling
Behind the times infotainment
Small-ish space
Mixed interior materials
Styling is too conservative
Golf R can be pricey
Rear seats don't fold quite flat
27 mpg
25 mpg
36 mpg
35 mpg
Compact Cars
Compact Cars
96.3
93.5
53.5
-
57.2
55.9
37.5
38.1
5
5
54.4
53.9
42.2
41.2
55.5
-
35.8
35.6
37.6
38.4
61.2
61
6.1
5.4
180.3
167.5
57.3
57.2
61.4
59.8
106.3
103.8
70.7
70.8
12.4
-
-
22.8
-
52.7
11.6
11.3
NA
NA
4-Wheel
4-Wheel
Yes
Yes
10.4
10.7
4-Wheel Disc
4-Wheel Disc
NA
NA
Yes
Yes
13.2
13.2
34.8
35.8
Rack-Pinion
Rack-Pinion
P215/45WR18
P195/65HR15
Compact
Compact
NA
NA
NA
NA
P215/45WR18
P195/65HR15
NA
NA
3100
3023
Compact
Compact
Aluminum
Aluminum
18 X 7
15 X 6
Aluminum
Aluminum
Steel
Steel
18 X 7
15 X 6
100
140
-
480
185 @ 3250
199 @ 1600
NA
NA
2.5 L/152
1.8 L/110
184 @ 5700
170 @ 4500
Regular Unleaded I-4
Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4
Gasoline Direct Injection
Gasoline Direct Injection
30
29
36
35
27
25
3.55
4.46
3.39
3.87
1.45
1.56
6
6
Front Wheel Drive
Front Wheel Drive
0.71
0.85
NA
NA
3.89
3.19
2.02
2.51
NA
NA
1.00
1.14
Automatic w/OD
Automatic w/OD
0.60
0.67
Mazda Mazda3 4-Door
Volkswagen Golf
Sedan
Hatchback
Strut
Strut
Multi-Link
Multi-Link
Multi-Link
Multi-Link
Strut
Strut
5.8
6.1
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