“Long considered the standard by which all other compacts are measured, the Civic continues to lure buyers with its impressive fuel economy, unrivaled reliability and repair history and class-leading resale values.”

- kbb.com

When comparing the base trim level Civic Sedan (DX) to the base MAZDA3 i Sport, note that the MAZDA3 does not come standard with Side Airbags, Side Curtain Airbags, or ABS (a $395 option) – all of which are standard on Civic Sedan DX. (Note: Adding ABS to MAZDA3 i Sport also requires the addition of the $880 air conditioning option. Air conditioning is available as a Dealer Accessory Item on Civic DX.) Of course, Civic Sedan DX still maintains a commanding advantage over MAZDA3 in both safety and fuel economy.

According to the September issue of Motor Trend, the 2008 MAZDA3 sedan will be essentially the same as the 2007 model. The only major additions are standard front-side and side-curtain airbags for the Sport trim level.

Here are the top reasons why Consumers should buy the 2008 Honda Civic EX AT instead of the 2008 MAZDA3 s Sport 4-Door.

Advanced Safety Technology and Superior Safety Ratings

Civic’s Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) deactivates the front passenger seat-mounted side airbag if special height and position sensors in the seat determine that a child or small-statured adult is leaning in the deployment path of the airbag. MAZDA3’s front passenger seat has passenger weight sensors to control deployment of the passenger-side front airbag but nothing comparable to OPDS for the optional passenger side airbag.

Civic features active head restraints for the driver’s and front passenger’s seats, which are designed to help prevent whiplash in the event of a rear impact. The restraints are designed to lift up and tilt forward in a fraction of a second to decrease the space between the back of the occupant’s head and the head restraint. Active head restraints are an advanced safety feature usually found only on expensive luxury vehicles. They are not available on MAZDA3.

Civic Sedan is a recognized safety leader in its class. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash tests, the 2007 Civic received 5-star driver and front passenger frontal impact ratings, a 4-star front seat side impact rating and a 5-star rear seat side impact rating. The 2007 MAZDA3 has received 4-star frontal impact ratings for both front seating positions and 3-star front seat and rear seat side impact ratings.1

Honda Civic Sedan was an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2006 “Top Safety Pick” for the small car category. Civic received “Good” ratings (the best possible) from IIHS for frontal offset, side impact, and rear crash protection. MAZDA3 received a “Good” rating for frontal offset but a “Poor” rating for side impact (models equipped without side impact airbags) and a “Marginal” overall rating for rear crash protection.

Superior Overall Value

The 2008 Civic Sedan comes standard with a power moonroof that is optional on the MAZDA3 s Sport.

Civic, with its lower curb weight, gets significantly better fuel economy than MAZDA3, achieving 25 mpg in the city and an astonishing 36 mpg on the freeway, compared to 22/29 (respectively) for MAZDA3.3

The MAZDA3 s Sport starts at a low base MSRP. Yet, when similarly equipped, the Civic Sedan EX is comparably priced and actually costs less to own. Civic has lower 5-year maintenance and repair costs ($2,010 vs. $2,065) and higher ALG residuals (58% after 36 months/39% after 60 months vs. 52%/34%) for the 2007 models. Consequently, Civic Sedan EX has an “Excellent” IntelliChoice ownership cost rating vs. “Average” for MAZDA3 s Sport.

Despite huge strides made by Mazda in the past couple years, the MAZDA3 cannot compete with the exceptional build quality of the Honda Civic Sedan. J.D. Power and Associates rates the 2007 Honda Civic Sedan EX AT 4.5 Power Circles™ for Overall Quality Rating – Mechanical and 4.5 Power Circles™ for Overall Quality Rating – Design. The 2007 MAZDA3 rates 2.5 and 2.0 Power Circles™, respectively. Both models remain structurally unchanged for 2008.

Civic Accolades
The awards just continue to roll in for the Civic Sedan, including:

2006 “Top Safety Pick – Gold” Award from IIHS
Highest Ranked in Initial Quality in Compact Car Segment by J.D. Power and Associates
“Consumers’ Most Wanted Sedan Under $20,000″ Award from Edmunds.com
“Best New Car for First-Time Drivers” Lifestyle Award from Cars.com
“Best Buy” Award from Consumer Guide
Top 3 in Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL) in Compact Car Segment according to J.D. Power and Associates

Remember that Civic was the “North American Car of the Year” in 2006

Honda has an advantage over the competitors in this area.

Engine (Displacement,
Horsepower & Torque)
i-VTEC® 1.8L I4
140 hp @ 6,300 rpm
128 lb-ft @ 4,300 rpm
2.3L I4
156 hp @ 6,500 rpm
150 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm

Transmission
5-speed Automatic
5-speed Automatic

OPDS
Standard
Not Available

Active Head Restraints
Standard
Not Available

Power Sunroof/Moonroof
Standard
Moonroof & 6CD Package
($890)2

Navigation System
Available on Civic EX w/ Navi
Not Available

Curb Weight
2,806 lbs.
2,959 lbs.

Fuel Economy, City3
25 mpg
22 mpg

Fuel Economy, Highway3
36 mpg
29 mpg

Overall Quality Rating – Mechanical (J.D. Power)
(2007) 4.5 Circles
(2007) 2.5 Circles

Overall Quality Rating – Design (J.D. Power)
(2007) 4.5 Circles
(2007) 2.0 Circles

Maintenance & Repair Costs (IntelliChoice)
(2007) $2,010
Excellent
(2007) $2,065
Average

NHTSA Frontal Star Rating
(Driver/Passenger)1
(2007) 5/5
(2007) 4/4

NHTSA Side Star Rating
(Front/Rear)1
(2007) 4/5
(2007) 3/3

NHTSA Rollover Rating1
(2007) 4
(2007) 4

IIHS Frontal Offset Test Results
Good
Good

IIHS Side Impact Test Results
Good
Poor

IIHS Rear Crash Protection
Good
Marginal

ALG Depreciation Rating
(2007) 5 Stars
(2007) 4 Stars

ALG Residual (36/60 months)
(2007) 58%/39%
(2007) 52%/34%
(with Manual Transmission)

Base MSRP
$19,510
$18,385

Destination Charge
$635
$595

Cost Comparably Equipped
$20,145
$19,870

Sources: Automobiles.Honda.com, Mazdausa.com, Safercar.gov, IIHS.org, ALG.com, Intellichoice.com, ConsumerGuideAuto.howstuffworks.com, JDPA.com, New Car Cost Guide (July/August issue), Motor Trend (September 2007 issue), 2008 MAZDA3 s Sport information from Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com).

1 Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov) . Civic model tested with standard side-impact airbags (SABs).
2 Moonroof & 6CD Package includes in-dash 6-disc CD changer, according to Mazdausa.com.
3 Based on 2008 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.