Sporty hatch scuffle: Honda City Hatchback vs. Mazda3

Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated has already released the updated version of the City Hatchback for the model year 2024. 

The new model of the Honda City Hatchback has undergone a significant transformation, with a plethora of upgrades, including the brand’s cutting-edge advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) and a strikingly redesigned exterior. 

So, how does the new Honda City Hatchback fare against the Maza3 hatchback? Let’s compare the City Hatchback RS with the Mazda3 Sport to find out. 

It's worth noting that the Honda Hatch model has only one variant available locally. For a fair comparison, we've chosen the Mazda3 Sport variant, which is priced closer to its Honda-branded counterpart than the top-spec Mazda3 Hybrid Electric Vehicle. 

Also, Mazda has dubbed the 3 as a “Fastback.” But technically speaking, it belongs to the 5-door compact hatchback segment, just like the Honda model.  

Clash of the hatches: Tale of the tape

To begin, let us compare the dimensions of these two popular five-seater hatchback nameplates. 

For the new Honda City Hatchback, it is 4,369 millimeters long, 1,748-mm wie, an 1,488-mm in height. Its wheelbase spans 2,600-mm, and it has a ground clearance of 134-mm. 

The Mazda3, on the other hand, is 4,460-mm long, 1,795-mm wide, and 1,440-mm in height. Its wheelbase is 2,725-mm long, and it offers a ground clearance of 135-mm. 

Prospective buyers should note a car’s dimensions since they may give one an idea of how roomy its interior will be. Plus, the dimensions alone can determine whether a vehicle can fit in one’s garage. Also, noting a vehicle's ground clearance is important, especially if one is buying a car that will be used on rough roads. 

Exterior

On the outside, the two hatchback models have vastly different design directions. The Honda City Hatchback showcases a sporty look thanks to its sharp headlamps, mesh grille and vents, sporty rear diffuser, and reasonably long tailgate spoiler. The rest of its exterior parts are black as well. 

In contrast to the latter, the Mazda3 shows off a slick and reflective exterior with only a few sharp edges. Sure, some of its bits, like its roof spoiler, wheels, and grille, are also black, but the Mazda nameplate assumes a sophisticated and elegant feel. The latter, of course, contrasts the more urban, sporty appeal of the City Hatch. 

Other than their huge differences in style, both models come standard with LED headlamps with automatic functionality, LED daytime running lamps, LED taillights, and power-folding side mirrors. 

The Mazda3, however, lacks the fog lamps which are available on the Honda model. On the flip side, the Mazda model gets a whole slew of exterior amenities that are absent from the Honda. The latter includes rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamp leveling, and high beam control. 

In addition, the City Hatchback has a single tailpipe setup, while the Mazda3 features dual-type tailpipes. The Mazda model also has a larger set of 18-inch wheels, whereas the Honda rides on a set of 16-inch wheels. 

Interior

For interiors, both hatchback models have well-arranged cockpits with parts mostly colored in black. The City Hatchback, though, does get a splash of color thanks to contrast stitching on its leather steering wheel and red fabric inserts on its leather seats. 

Compare the Mazda3, which mostly uses black. The latter is true for its leather seats, steering wheel, and most of its dash. Both use some measure of black piano plastics, particularly for their center consoles. Likewise, minute quantities of chrome decorative bits are used in the two rides. 

For interior amenities, both the Honda Hatchback and the Mazda3 get a push-to-start button, automatic air-conditioning with rear ventilation, a rear seat armrest, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, and a sufficient number of USB ports. 

On the City Hatch, onboard entertainment is ensured by an eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound, meanwhile, is fed to its cabin by an eight-piece speaker system. 

Meanwhile, the Mazda3 is kitted out with a larger 10.25-inch infotainment display, which also includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On paper, the Mazda model also gets better sound quality thanks to its 12-piece BOSE sound system. In addition, keeping devices topped up inside the Mazda hatch is easier thanks to a wireless smartphone pad, which is absent on the Honda. 

Other driving amenities available to the Mazda3 but not present on the Honda Hatchback are an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heads-up display, and power-adjustability for its driver’s seat. 

On the one hand, the Honda model comes with the “Utility, Long, Tall, and Refresh” modes for its seats. The latter provides the City Hatch with many seat configurations suitable for a variety of situations. 

Safety

Standard safety for the Honda City Hatchback and the Mazda3 hatchback include dual front airbags, side airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, hill-start assist, a reverse camera, and rear parking sensors, among others. 

The Mazda3, however, adds to the said features with its 360-degree view monitor, front parking sensors, and driver’s knee airbag. In turn, the Honda is equipped with agile handling assist, which is not included in the Mazda. 

Concerning ADAS features, both vehicles get adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams.

However, some ADAS bits are unique to each vehicle. On the Honda, these are its lead car departure notification and road departure mitigation. The Mazda3, meanwhile, comes with an object detection and warning system, blind-spot monitoring, a driver monitoring and alert system, and a rear-cross and front-cross traffic alert system. 

Engine

Under the hood of the Honda City Hatchback is a 1.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine capable of producing up to 119 horsepower and 145 Newton-meters of torque. Power is sent to its front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

Meanwhile, the Mazda3 Sport trim uses a 2.0-liter inline-4 gasoline engine that can produce up to 152 hp and 200 Nm of torque. Power is sent to its front wheels through a Mazda’s six-speed Skyactiv-Drive gearbox. 

While both are front-wheel-drive, the Mazda3 will feel peppier as its engine has a much larger horsepower and torque output than the Honda City Hatchback. The Mazda model will likewise feel vastly different from the Honda model as both use dissimilar transmission types. 

To further clarify, the Honda’s CVT will have no gears, while the Mazda3’s transmission is more akin to a traditional torque converter with real gears. 

In addition to the latter, the Mazda3 also has fuel-saving measures, such as an engine idling stop system. 

Other than those differences, both cars use a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam for the rear. 

Variants, price

Honda City Hatchback

• RS 1.5 CVT with Honda Sensing: P1.189 million

Mazda3 hatchback

• Sport 2.0: P1.51 million
• HEV 2.0: P1.79 million

Verdict

As potential daily drivers, we can argue that both the Honda City Hatchback and the Mazda3 Fastback fit the bill. Both get a lot of creature comforts, reasonably sized profiles for tight metro streets, and unique designs that may turn some heads. 

Then again, it is clear that a buyer will get what he or she pays for with regard to the more expensive Mazda3 Sport. It has more safety features, a better infotainment system, and, more importantly, a peppier engine. Then again, remember that the Mazda model targets a vastly different demographic than the Honda City Hatch. 

Like most comparisons, however, we urge serious buyers to give each of their options a thorough test drive to form a more informed final decision. 

Photos from Juan Paolo Papa, Mazda Philippines

Also read:

Introduction of Honda Sensing-equipped City Hatchback spurred by brand’s global safety goal

New Honda City Hatch expected to sell 25% more than previous version

'Refreshed' Honda City Hatchback arrives in PH