The Volkswagen Golf is a very good compact car, but is only available as a hatchback and can get pricey in upper trims.
Still we like the Golf's smart interior and clean lines and would consider it to be a good value next to the Mazda 3.
Ford's Focus has been around for a while, and can be opulently trimmed with leather seats and an upgraded infotainment.
The Focus isn't as fun to drive as the Mazda 3, but it's no slouch either.
The Honda Civic was our Best Coupe to Buy for 2017 and its fuel economy and turbo engine are tough to beat.
The new Hyundai Elantra could rival the Mazda 3 in terms of value, but it's relatively dullsville to drive outside of the sport model.
The new Subaru Impreza hasn't yet arrived, but we'll update this space once it does.
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 2017 Mazda MAZDA3Browse Used Listings |  2017 Ford FocusBrowse Used Listings |  2017 Honda CivicBrowse Used Listings |  2017 Hyundai ElantraBrowse Used Listings |  2017 Subaru ImprezaBrowse Used Listings |  2017 Volkswagen GolfBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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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. |
The 2017 Ford Focus has great road manners and scorching high-performance editions, but it's compromised by a small back seat. |
The 2017 Honda Civic gains a hatchback body this year, but we were already sold. It's a very good compact car. |
We miss the brash, buzzy looks, for sure—but the 2017 Hyundai Elantra is now one of the most refined economy cars on the road. |
The 2017 Subaru Impreza blends sensible road manners with all-wheel drive and a digestible price. It's right in line with compact competitors, all of which offer something different in the segment. |
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. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $17,845 | $16,775 | $18,740 | $17,150 | N/A | $19,895 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 25 MPG City / 37 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 42 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 40 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | |
| Engine | |||||
| Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | Regular Unleaded I-4 | N/A | Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Compact Cars | Mid-Size Cars | N/A | Compact Cars |
| Style Name | |||||
| Sport Manual | S Sedan | LX Manual | SE 2.0L Manual (Ulsan) | N/A | 1.8T 4-Door S Manual |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | N/A | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | N/A | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | Sedan | N/A | Hatchback |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | Manual w/OD | N/A | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 vs. 2017 Ford Focus | 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 vs. 2017 Honda Civic | 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 vs. 2017 Hyundai Elantra | 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 vs. 2017 Subaru Impreza | 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 vs. 2017 Volkswagen Golf | |
