2023 Toyota Corolla Beats the 2023 Mazda3
Are you considering getting behind the wheel of the 2023 Toyota Corolla or the 2023 Mazda3? Find out how these two compact cars compare in this 2023 Toyota Corolla vs. 2023 Mazda3 head-to-head analysis. With its abundance of advantages, the Corolla beats the Mazda3.
2023 Toyota Corolla vs. 2023 Mazda3
In this 2023 Toyota Corolla vs. 2023 Mazda3 compact car comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, safety, passenger and cargo space, warranty coverage, reliability, and price. Both cars offer sedan and hatchback versions, and we note the differences when applicable.
Corolla vs. Mazda3: Performance
On the performance front, the standard 2023 Toyota Corolla model has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which generates 169 horsepower. Additionally, the Corolla offers a hybrid powertrain. The Corolla Hybrid produces 121 horsepower for the front-wheel drive model. However, the specs for the all-wheel drive version are not yet available.
For even greater performance, Toyota offers the first-ever GR Corolla “hot hatch.” The GR Corolla has a 1.6-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged engine, which produces 300 horsepower.
In comparison, the 2023 Mazda3 offers two engine options. The base-level 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates 191 horsepower, while the available turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 250 horsepower. Like the Corolla, the Mazda3 offers a choice of either a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive system.
Corolla vs. Mazda3: Gas mileage
On the efficiency front, the fully gas-powered 2023 Corolla has an estimated gas mileage of up to 31 city/40 highway mpg, while the Corolla Hybrid has a fuel economy of up to 53 city/52 highway mpg. In comparison, the 2023 Mazda3 has an estimated gas mileage of up to 28 city/37 highway mpg.
Corolla vs. Mazda3: Safety
The Corolla and Mazda3 have a solid roster of safety and driving assistance features — and an excellent safety history. For the previous model year, both compact cars earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest possible IIHS rating.
Corolla vs. Mazda3: Passenger and cargo space
Which compact car is bigger: the Corolla or the Mazda3? The Mazda3 offers more passenger space than the Corolla. It has a total passenger volume of 92.8 cu-ft for the Mazda3 Sedan and 92.7 cu-ft for the Mazda3 Hatchback. In comparison, the Corolla Sedan has a total passenger volume of 88.6 cu-ft, while the Corolla Hatchback has 84.6 cu-ft of passenger space.
For trunk storage space in the sedan models, the Corolla Sedan has a cargo capacity of 13.1 cu-ft, compared to 13.2 cu-ft for the Mazda3 Sedan. For the hatchback models, the Corolla Hatchback has a maximum cargo capacity of 23.0 cu-ft, compared to 20.1 cu-ft for the Mazda3 Hatchback.
Corolla vs. Mazda3: Warranty coverage and reliability
For warranty coverage, both the Corolla and Mazda3 have a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, unlike the Mazda3, the Corolla has a free maintenance plan, with two years or 25,000 miles of coverage.
Also, the Corolla is more reliable than the Mazda3. It earned a J.D. Power reliability rating of 85/100, compared to 74/100 for the Mazda3.
Corolla vs. Mazda3: Price
Which compact car costs more: the 2023 Corolla or the 2023 Mazda3? The starting price of the 2023 Mazda3 ranges from $22,550 MSRP for the 2.5 S Sedan trim up to $35,300 MSRP for the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Hatchback trim.
The official price information is not yet available for the 2023 Corolla, but it will likely only cost marginally more than the 2022 model. With this in mind, you can expect the 2023 Corolla to cost less than the 2023 Mazda3.
The starting price of the 2022 Corolla ranges from $20,425 MSRP for the L trim up to $28,710 MSRP for the APEX XSE trim. However, Toyota is discontinuing the L trim for the 2023 model year, so the entry-level model will be the LE trim, which has a starting price of $20,875 MSRP for the 2022 version.
2023 Toyota Corolla vs. 2023 Mazda3: Which compact car is better?
In this 2023 Toyota Corolla vs. 2023 Mazda3 compact car comparison, the 2023 Corolla has the majority of the advantages. This includes advantages for maximum horsepower, gas mileage, hatchback cargo space, a free maintenance plan, and reliability. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Mazda3 include base-engine horsepower and passenger space.
