Compare 2018 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2018 MINI Cooper vs 2018 Volkswagen Golf

2018 Mazda MAZDA3
X
2018 MINI Cooper
X
2018 Volkswagen Golf
X
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 $18,321 $19,145
Mazda3 4-Door Sport Manual 28 38 $17,319 $18,095
Mazda3 4-Door Touring Automatic 27 36 $20,230 $21,140
Mazda3 4-Door Touring Manual 25 34 $19,226 $20,090
Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring Automatic 27 36 $23,864 $24,945
Mazda3 5-Door Grand Touring Manual 25 34 $22,862 $23,895
Mazda3 5-Door Sport Automatic 28 37 $19,518 $20,395
Mazda3 5-Door Sport Manual 28 38 $18,514 $19,345
Mazda3 5-Door Touring Automatic 27 36 $20,945 $21,890
Mazda3 5-Door Touring Manual 25 34 $19,941 $20,840
Select style
Cooper FWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Convertible Cooper FWD 28 37 $24,765 $26,700
Convertible Cooper S FWD 23 32 $28,170 $30,400
Convertible John Cooper Works FWD 22 31 $33,870 $36,600
Hardtop 2 Door Cooper FWD 28 38 $20,070 $21,600
Hardtop 2 Door Cooper S FWD 23 32 $23,385 $25,200
Hardtop 2 Door John Cooper Works FWD 23 32 $29,455 $31,800
Hardtop 2 Door Oxford Edition FWD 28 38 $19,000 $21,600
Hardtop 4 Door Cooper FWD 28 37 $20,990 $22,600
Hardtop 4 Door Cooper S FWD 23 32 $24,305 $26,200
Select style
1.8T S Automatic
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Golf 1.8T S Automatic 24 33 $21,129 $22,010
Golf 1.8T S Manual 25 34 $20,073 $20,910
Golf 1.8T SE Automatic 24 33 $23,765 $24,755
Golf 1.8T SE Manual 25 34 $22,709 $23,655
Golf Alltrack 1.8T S DSG 22 30 $25,973 $27,055
Golf Alltrack 1.8T S Manual 21 30 $24,918 $25,955
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SE DSG 22 30 $29,630 $30,865
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SE Manual 21 30 $28,574 $29,765
Golf Alltrack 1.8T SEL DSG 22 30 $34,234 $35,660
Golf GTI 2.0T Automaticbahn DSG 24 32 $34,723 $36,170
Golf GTI 2.0T Automaticbahn Manual 25 33 $33,667 $35,070
Golf GTI 2.0T S DSG 24 32 $26,414 $27,515
Golf GTI 2.0T S Manual 25 33 $25,357 $26,415
Golf GTI 2.0T SE DSG 24 32 $30,308 $31,570
Golf GTI 2.0T SE Manual 25 33 $29,252 $30,470
Golf R 2.0T DSG w/DCC/Nav 22 29 $39,250 $40,885
Golf R 2.0T Manual w/DCC/Nav 21 29 $38,193 $39,785
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Automatic 24 33 $21,874 $22,785
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Automatic 4MOTION 22 29 $24,033 $25,035
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Manual 25 34 $20,818 $21,685
Golf SportWagen 1.8T S Manual 4MOTION 22 31 $22,977 $23,935
Golf SportWagen 1.8T SE Automatic 24 33 $26,227 $27,320
Golf SportWagen 1.8T SEL Automatic 24 33 $29,035 $30,245

Pricing

Invoice Price
$23,149
$24,765
$21,129

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$24,195
$26,700
$22,010

Monthly Payment Estimate
$403 / month
$445 / month
$367 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating
7.2
6.3
6.5

TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2018 Mazda 3 adds standard active safety features to an already compelling value. Among compact cars, this is one to consider. The 2018 Mini Cooper is an icon made better by nimble handling and infinite customization. There's a VW Golf for everyone, and they're even better for 2018 thanks to a big tech upgrade inside.

TCC Likes

TCC Dislikes

Fuel Economy

City
27 mpg 28 mpg 24 mpg

Highway
36 mpg 37 mpg 33 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification
Compact Cars Minicompact Cars Compact Cars

Interior Dimensions

Passenger Volume (ft³)
96.3 76.3 93.5

Second Hip Room (in)
53.5 - -

Front Shoulder Room (in)
57.2 51 55.9

Second Head Room (in)
37.5 39 38.1

Passenger Capacity
5 4 5

Second Shoulder Room (in)
54.4 39.7 53.9

Front Leg Room (in)
42.2 41.4 41.2

Front Hip Room (in)
55.5 - -

Second Leg Room (in)
35.8 30.9 35.6

Front Head Room (in)
37.6 39.8 38.4

Exterior Dimensions

Track Width, Front (in)
61.2 59.1 61

Min Ground Clearance (in)
6.1 - 5.4

Length, Overall (in)
180.3 151.1 167.6

Height, Overall (in)
57.3 55.7 58.2

Track Width, Rear (in)
61.4 59.1 59.8

Wheelbase (in)
106.3 98.2 103.8

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
70.7 68 70.8

Cargo Area Dimensions

Trunk Volume (ft³)
12.4 - -

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Up (ft³)
- - 17.4

Cargo Volume with Rear Seat Down (ft³)
- - 53.7

Brakes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.6 11 11.3

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)
10.4 10.2 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

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
13.2 11.6 13.2

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
34.8 35.4 35.8

Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion

Tires

Front Tire Size
P215/45WR18 P175/65HR15 P195/65HR15

Spare Tire Size
Compact Compact Compact

Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Rear Tire Size
P215/45WR18 P175/65HR15 P195/65HR15

Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3100 2855 3023

Wheels

Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact Compact

Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum

Rear Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7 15 X 5.5 15 X 6

Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7 15 X 5.5 15 X 6

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
100 150 140

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- - 480

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM
185 @ 3250 162 @ 1250 199 @ 1600

Engine Order Code
NA NA NA

Displacement
2.5 L/152 1.5 L/91 1.8 L/110

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
184 @ 5700 134 @ 4500 170 @ 4500

Engine Type
Regular Unleaded I-4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-3 Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
30 32 28

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
36 37 33

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
27 28 24

Transmission

First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.55 3.62 4.46

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.39 3.42 3.87

Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.45 1.24 1.56

Trans Type
6 6 6

Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.71 0.81 0.85

Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA

Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.89 3.54 3.19

Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.02 1.93 2.51

Trans Order Code
NA NA NA

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 0.97 1.14

Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD Manual w/OD Automatic w/OD

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.60 0.68 0.67

Summary

Vehicle Name
Mazda Mazda3 4-Door MINI Convertible Volkswagen Golf

Body Style
Sedan Convertible Hatchback

Suspension

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Strut Strut

Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front
Strut Strut Strut

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
5.8 5.5 6.3

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

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