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Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla vs Mazda3

879 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2008 at 2:57 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda MAZDA3, Sedan


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#704 of 879
2008 Editors' Most Wanted by ahightower
Jan 09, 2008 (8:36 pm)
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Mazda3 won again! Granted your priorities might differ, but I always enjoy a little validation.
 
I just rolled over 2,000 miles in my new 2008 3i Touring, and love it. The steering is just perfect. The gas mileage gets a little better on each tank, recently did very close to 34 mpg. Granted I've managed to avoid heavy traffic lately (going into the office pretty early), and have been driving like a grandpa (never over the 65 mph speed limit) just to see how high I can get it. I'm very satisfied so far.
#705 of 879
Re: 2008 Editors' Most Wanted [ahightower] by steve333
Jan 09, 2008 (8:42 pm)
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Replying to: ahightower (Jan 09, 2008 8:36 pm)

How does your car handle bumps and potholes?
Im also curious how much you paid for it. Thanks.
#706 of 879
FWIW by nvbanker
Jan 09, 2008 (8:46 pm)
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I certainly agree with the comments about suspension, tire & road noise on the Civic. Especially in the rear seat, it's nearly deafening.
#707 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [sandman46] by gene2
Jan 10, 2008 (6:17 am)
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Replying to: sandman46 (Jan 07, 2008 6:36 am)

May I suggest you take a peek at the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety's Website (IIHS.org)? Compare Civic, Mazda3, and Elantra side impact crash test results. The Civic's superb crash test scores is why I bought it and not the Mazda3 or Elantra. I intend to drive the Civic for a few years and then pass it down to my oldest daughter. Because my daughter will be someday driving this car, economy, reliability, practicality, and SAFETY were very important factors in my decision to buy the Honda. Surprise - after 21,000 miles, I'm still astounded at how much FUN the '07 Civic LX is to drive. Also got 39 mpg (highway) on a trip from Delaware to North Carolina during Christmas break. No fluke - also got 39 mpg on the return trip.
#708 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [gene2] by aviboy97
Jan 10, 2008 (10:11 am)
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Replying to: gene2 (Jan 10, 2008 6:17 am)

The Civic's superb crash test scores is why I bought it and not the Mazda3 or Elantra.
 
Did you happen to see the notation "2005-08 models mfg. after Aug. 2004 without side airbags" in reference to the Mazda3? This is a major problem as to the rating on this car, it has not been tested with the same equipment as others in its class. How is that a fair comparison?
#709 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [aviboy97] by gene2
Jan 10, 2008 (2:21 pm)
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Jan 10, 2008 10:11 am)

Yes I did. You're right, it's not a fair comparison, but that's Mazda/Ford's problem, not mine. I'm left to wonder why Mazda/Ford will not give the IIHS a side air bag equipped Mazda 3 to test. If I were running Mazda/Ford and I were confident about my car's crash-worthiness, I would happily give the IIHS another vehicle to destroy. I would pay any price to prove that my product deserves a test score other than POOR. Since Mazda/Ford will not do this, I'm forced to make my buying decisions with the facts that I have to work with. Oh, and just because a car has side-mounted airbags does not necessarily mean that the vehicle (and passengers) will do well in a side impact. For example, take a look at how the 2006 Hyundai Elantra (with side airbags) did in the IIHS's side impact test - POOR. Am I being too cynical? Perhaps.
 
Finally, one anecdote - I was speaking to a woman who owns a 2006 Honda Civic sedan. She was T-boned on her side of the car. The impact was so violent that witnesses were sure this lady was dead. Once the paramedic/rescue people cut her out of her smashed Civic, they discovered she was only suffering from minor cuts and bruises.
 
Please forgive me if I sound harsh; I don't mean to. You asked a very valid and reasonable question. I simply suspect that Mazda/Ford is intentionally not offering a side air-bag equipped car to the IIHS because Mazda/Ford already knows it will not do well. Therefore, due to my perhaps unfounded cynicism, I would rather put my family in a car that I know does well in a crash based on various tests.
 
Finally, did I mention the Honda's fun to drive?
#710 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [aviboy97] by autonomous
Jan 10, 2008 (2:21 pm)
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Jan 10, 2008 10:11 am)

Did you happen to see the notation "2005-08 models mfg. after Aug. 2004 without side airbags" in reference to the Mazda3? This is a major problem as to the rating on this car, it has not been tested with the same equipment as others in its class.
 
My understanding is that the manufacturers are asked to submit a model for testing. If that's the case, why does Mazda not submit theirs with side airbags?
#711 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [gene2] by backy
Jan 10, 2008 (5:58 pm)
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Replying to: gene2 (Jan 10, 2008 6:17 am)

FWIW the current Elantra has not been tested yet by the IIHS for side impact. So it's unfair to compare the scores of the current Civic and Mazda3 to those of the Elantra, since they reflect an old design that hasn't been sold in the U.S. since the fall of 2006.
#712 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [backy] by gene2
Jan 10, 2008 (8:16 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Jan 10, 2008 5:58 pm)

I also agree with you that it's unfair to compare scores of the current Civic and Mazda3 to those of the Elantra, since they reflect an old design that hasn't been sold in the US since the fall of 2006.
 
However, I am forced to make buying decisions using old crash test data because that's the only data available on Mazda3s and Elantras. The new Mazda3s and Elantras might do very well in IIHS side impact crash tests. Until I know that for a fact, however, I would rather drive a vehicle I know will do well in a side impact versus driving a vehicle that MIGHT do well in a side impact.
 
BTW, just to muddy the waters, I will point out that you cannot buy a Civic with electronic stability control (ESC) unless you buy the Si. In a Mazda3 "S" line and above, ESC is available. This is a big deal to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS), as they won't even recommend a vehicle unless it's equipped with ESC. They feel so strongly about ESC because the IIHS claims that roughly half of all fatal vehicle accidents are single-vehicle accidents. In other words, the driver lost control of the car. The IIHS believes that ESC MAY reduce those fatal accidents by fifty per cent.
 
Pick your poison. If you're more concerned about surviving a side-impact collision, then buy a Civic. If you're more concerned about maintaining control of your vehicle, and possibly avoiding an accident entirely, then buy a Mazda3.
 
IF the new Mazda3's get a GOOD rating after the IIHS's NEXT round of crash testing, then to me, if one is concerned about buying the safest vehicle that's also a hoot to drive, then buying a Mazda3 would be a no-brainer. Good crash test scores AND electronic stability control! Wouldn't that be cool!
#713 of 879
Re: Own The 3 And The Civic [gene2] by roadburner
Jan 11, 2008 (8:10 am)
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Replying to: gene2 (Jan 10, 2008 8:16 pm)

Good crash test scores AND electronic stability control! Wouldn't that be cool!
 
Learning how to drive is even cooler...

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