Price
Winner: 2018 Mazda3
The base 2018 Mazda3 (Sport) sedan starts at $18,095. Hatchback models have a starting price of $19,300. Upper trims include Touring ($20,090) and Grand Touring ($23,145).
The base 2018 Corolla L has a starting price of $18,550. There are multiple trims ranging from the LE to the XSE, with pricing from $18,985 to $22,730. Many packages are also available.
Because of the Mazda3’s lower starting price, it takes the win in this category.
Reliability
Winner: 2018 Toyota Corolla
According to J.D. Power, the 2018 Mazda3 is part of a generation that generally earns average or below-average predicted reliability ratings (2.5 or three out of five). The 2018 Corolla’s current generation of vehicles typically get 4.5 out of five, which is outstanding.
Both automakers cover their vehicles with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Seat Comfort
Winner: Tie
All Mazda3s seat five passengers. The front seats provide good space and comfort, and the rear seats are sufficient for most adults. The Corolla also seats five in spacious, supportive seats.
Interior dimensions are very similar in both compact cars. In fact, front seating dimensions are nearly identical. In the second row, the Corolla offers more legroom while the Mazda3 has more hip room.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2018 Toyota Corolla
The Mazda3 sedan features a 12.4-cubic-foot trunk. If you opt for the hatchback, capacity increases to 20.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. All Mazda3s have standard split-folding rear seats. Interior small-item storage space is minimal.
The Corolla sedan’s trunk measures 13 cubic feet. The Corolla comes standard with split-folding rear seats and a wealth of in-cabin small-item storage. Select the Corolla iM (the hatchback variant), and capacity increases to 20.8 cubic feet with the rear seats in use.
Because the Corolla offers more cargo space in both sedan and hatchback variation, it wins this category.
Interior Features
Winner: 2018 Mazda3
The Mazda3 comes standard with a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system, Bluetooth, two USB ports, and HD Radio. You can choose optional features like satellite radio, navigation, an upgraded Bose audio system, and a moonroof.
Standard features in the Corolla include a 6.1-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Bluetooth, smartphone integration, voice recognition, and Siri Eyes Free. Upgrades include a 7-inch screen, navigation, HD Radio, and satellite radio.
Critics appreciate that both systems are intuitive and responsive. Both offer physical knobs and buttons to control primary functions. Nonetheless, the base Mazda3 has a larger touch screen and comes with more standard interior features. Neither car supports Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Acceleration
Winner: 2018 Mazda3
The Mazda3’s base engine is a 155-horsepower four-cylinder paired with a six-speed manual transmission, which provides ample power for most driving situations. A 184-horsepower four-cylinder is available, as is a six-speed automatic transmission. The base engine provides above-average acceleration, but opt for the upgraded four-cylinder if you want to pick up the pace.
The Corolla comes with a 132-horsepower four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. If you want a six-speed manual transmission, you can only get it in the SE trim. The Corolla is not known for its acceleration. The base engine can’t match the base engines in competitors — particularly not the Mazda3’s.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2018 Toyota Corolla
The base Mazda3 earns 28 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. The upgraded engine gets 27 and 36, respectively.
The base Corolla gets 28 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. Toyota also offers the Corolla Eco trim that returns 29 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway.
According to the EPA, annual fuel costs are a bit higher for the Mazda3 than the Corolla, regardless of model.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2018 Mazda3
Test drivers laud Mazda’s vehicles for their “fun to drive” dynamics. The Mazda3 is highly agile and delivers accurate steering while providing a smooth ride.
The Corolla is not a driver’s car. It provides decent ride quality and is fine for daily driving, though there’s nothing athletic about the experience.
Safety
Winner: 2018 Mazda3
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave both vehicles all Good scores, resulting in Top Safety Pick designations for both cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded both vehicles five out of five stars overall. However, the Mazda3 received four stars in the Rollover tests, while the Corolla earned four stars in both the Rollover and Frontal Crash tests.
The Mazda3 comes standard with a rearview camera and Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support system. At low speeds, it automatically applies the brakes if a collision is imminent. You can opt for features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, adaptive headlights, and a head-up display.
Standard features in the Corolla include a rearview camera and the Toyota Safety Sense suite. The suite includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams.
The the Corolla has slightly lower crash test scores than the Mazda3, but it comes standard with more advanced safety features. Therefore, we’re calling this one a tie.
The Winner Is ...
2018 Mazda3
The 2018 Toyota Corolla is considerably more reliable, returns marginally better fuel economy, and has equally comfortable seats. It also offers more room for cargo and more standard safety features.
Otherwise, the Mazda3 is the better compact car. It’s less expensive, offers a stylish interior with plenty of up-to-date technology features, and it has slightly better crash tests. The Mazda3 also provides stronger acceleration and delivers significantly better driving dynamics.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
To learn more about the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla, check out their reviews. See how they compare to the competition by exploring our compact car rankings.
When you’re ready to buy, use our Best Price Program to find the dealership in your area with the best prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of $3,279 off their new car purchase.
9 Most Fuel-Efficient 3-Row Luxury SUVs
12 Most Fuel-Efficient 3-Row SUVs
21 SUVs with the Best Towing Capacity
15 Best Cars for Tall People
11 Best Luxury Cars for Tall People
Best Minivan Deals in June
2019 Best Cars for the Money
2019 Best Cars for Families
2019 Best Vehicle Brand Awards
Mazda3 vs. Corolla: Which Compact Car Is Right for You?
The Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla are similar in size, though they are very different in design. The Mazda3 is sleeker and sportier, while the Spartan Corolla finds its success in function, practicality, and reliability.
To say that the Corolla has been a success is a blatant understatement. In fact, it’s the best-selling car of all time, having sold over 40 million copies worldwide. In terms of U.S. popularity and sales, few compact cars top the Corolla. However, the Mazda3 has been reasonably popular for over ten years, with sales averaging over 100,000 per year in the U.S. alone.
Toyota completely redesigned the Corolla for the 2017 model year, which was also the car’s 50th anniversary. The 2018 model sees no major changes.
The Mazda3 came to market in 2003 and saw its last full redesign in 2014. It has seen plenty of updates since, as well as a 2017 refresh.
Using U.S. News scoring data, we’ve put the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla head to head in the categories that matter most to compact car buyers. Remember that we update U.S. News scores regularly as new expert reviews and data become available. So, the scores in this slideshow may not match the scores in our rankings.
Read through the following slides to learn which compact car comes out ahead.