This is a very autojournalist-ish thing to say, but I think the 2024 Mazda3 Sport GT—with the base powertrain, front-wheel-drive layout, and six-speed manual transmission—is the connoisseur’s compact car. From its surprisingly engaging driving dynamics to its sense of style inside and out, I’m smitten with it in a very nerdy way. So much so that, if it were my money, I’d probably pick it over the 2024 Honda Civic Si—which is supposed to be the connoisseur’s compact car.
First off, I think the Mazda3 is a knockout style-wise. It’s a sensuous shape that blends Mazda’s very distinct, very successful Kodo design language with a sprinkling of Italian verve. I see a lot of Alfa Romeo in the rear three-quarter, personally. But Mazda makes significant concessions on rear-seat accommodations, cargo space, and even visibility in the name of style. Honda on the other hand, is and always has been masterful about the use of space in their cars. That’s especially prevalent here; despite being a sedan, the Civic Si has a much more spacious and comfortable back seat. But despite fulfilling a similar mission statement as the Mazda3, I felt a little let down by the drive.
If I’ve gone out of my way to choose one of the very rare little compacts that still offers a manual gearbox, chances are I probably don’t care that much about straight-line performance. Neither of these are fast cars, but the Civic Si is supposed to be the engaging driver’s car. I don’t feel like its turbo engine is meaningfully punchier, and its admittedly sweet shifter is ruined by the eternal rev hang that interrupts your flow between those crisp shifts. I felt a little let down by it.
Whereas the Mazda3 just felt right, right away. Its normally aspirated 2.5L inline-four is less potent on paper—it puts out 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque—but it’s far from lacking in practice. It feels more natural and sharper in its response, it’s smooth and quiet—maybe a touch too quiet—and eager to rev. It pairs well to the six-speed manual, which is exclusive to the hatchback, but it runs out its six forward gears perhaps too quickly. I found myself tapping the rev limiter with some regularity, equally caught off-guard by the almost-too-quiet engine.
That’s not for any reluctance to change gears. The shifter in the Mazda3 is a gem. It’s short, sweet and slick, with just enough notchiness in its action to feel substantial. Personally, I prefer it to the dainty action in the Civic Si, but I won’t die on that hill. Different strokes for different folks. Similarly, the clutch is light and easy to read. I find it just as satisfying to drive quickly as it is to putter around town. It’s effortless and flexible.
Similarly, the Mazda3’s chassis is a treat. Both handle themselves very well and somewhat similarly, but despite the Mazda3 feeling maybe a tiny bit more relaxed, it’s fun to flick around. It just feels right. Just like how Mazda nailed the throttle/clutch/shifter interface, the chassis is sweet, playful, and feels natural. There’s a clear through-line connecting the Mazda3 to the MX-5 Miata.
Moreover, the 2024 Mazda3 Sport GT rides well and is very well-hushed—much more so than the Civic Si, which lets a fair bit of road noise into the cabin. Both cars are well-built and well-thought-out, but the Mazda3 feels nicer inside, partly because it’s quite a bit quieter, and partly due to its sinuous aesthetic. As with the sedan, the hatch receives an upsized 10.25-inch display atop its dashboard. The new display is snappier, sharper, and finally has full-touch support when you’re running wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—which was the only real thing holding it back tech-wise.
You can’t go wrong with either one. The Civic Si is admittedly a better choice if you regularly have backseat drivers, but with everyone getting into crossovers these days, you’ve probably landed here because the joy of driving matters to you more. To me, the Mazda3 Sport GT is so much more satisfying, with its seamless engine and its slick design inside and out. It’s a pleasure to behold; I care about how a car makes me feel above all else, and the Mazda hits the right notes better than just about anything. It’s very avant-garde for a commuter car and I love it for that.
Take Two: Honestly, it’s too close to call
I was expecting the 2024 Honda Civic Si to walk away the winner. Over the years, there’s a very good reason why these have become the de-facto choice as a reasonably fun daily driver that won’t break the bank. It ticks all but a couple of the boxes—more on that in a bit—but the current-gen Mazda3 is aging like fine wine.
On paper, the Si is the enthusiast’s choice. It shares its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with the Civic Touring, but massaged to pump out 200 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired to a six-speed manual transmission and nothing else—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just like Principal Skinner steams a good ham, Honda time and again makes a good manual shifter. The Si is no exception, with short, crisp, and smooth throws, as well as just enough resistance to make traffic tolerable while avoiding feeling like you’re churning butter.
But despite its sporting intentions, the Si is let down by a couple of things. True, you don’t buy one for the straight-line speed, but come on, Honda: the 2025 Civic Hybrid feels way punchier and quicker than this Si in a straight line. A hybrid! And then there’s the rev hang: we’ve bemoaned Honda about its clutch/shifter/engine combo ever since the Si went turbo in 2017, and to their credit, they have listened and smoothed it out over the years. But it’s still prevalent all these years later, so much so that when you’re driving the Si with any sort of gusto, it’ll still trip up your go-fast flow.
And that’s a shame, because everything else is a treat. Its chassis is a gem, delivering a damn-near-perfect balance between comfort and sportiness. Understeer is minimal, only really making itself known when you really take a tight on-ramp hot. There’s more than enough mechanical grip, the steering is sharp and feels natural, and did I mention the shifter itself is an absolute gem?
When the current-gen Mazda3 came out, it was (and still is) a slam-dunk in interior quality and design. Well, game recognizes game: Honda answered by stepping up its material choices, fit-and-finish, and overall design when this 11th-gen Civic first came out. Two years later, its aging well: the minimalist dash layout is clean, there’s a satisfying solidity to everything you touch, and there’s much less of a learning curve to Honda’s infotainment.
Yes, the 2024 Honda Civic Si is obviously a sedan, and yes, the 2024 Mazda3 Sport GT is obviously a hatchback. But look past their obvious differences for a second, and you’ll see they fulfill similar mission statements: these are both front-wheel-drive, fun-to-drive commuter cars that punch in above their weight. Heck, coming in at $35,640 as-tested for the Honda, and $32,450 for the Mazda, they’re even priced similarly. But the Mazda3 fulfills that mission statement a smidge better—and you’ll save a few bills, too.
