2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2020 Honda Accord was recognized as one of the most stylish iterations in the model's history, despite some mixed opinions on its front styling and rounded roofline. It was designed as a mainstream family sedan but carried an upscale appearance, especially when equipped with the 19-inch alloy wheels available on the Touring, Sport 2.0, and Touring 2.0 trims. Other versions with 17-inch wheels offered a more economical choice for tire replacement, though they lacked the visual impact of the larger wheels. The Accord was available in several trims, including LX, Sport, EX-L, and Touring, with prices ranging from $28,705 to $40,405, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. Inside, the Accord boasted high-quality materials, with soft touchpoints, appealing leather, and realistic matte-finish simulated wood.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, following its award-winning redesign in 2019, was celebrated for its dramatic and sophisticated styling. The sedan version was more conservative, while the hatchback, known as the Mazda3 Sport, had a more aggressive stance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both body styles, featured all-wheel drive and a base price of $34,881 for the sedan. The interior offered a premium feel with white leather upholstery, though it was prone to staining from dark clothing. The Mazda3's design focused on driver engagement, with a cabin that revolved around the driver, featuring metallic accents and clear gauges. Despite some hard plastics, the overall quality and design were impressive, supporting Mazda's move towards a premium market position.

The 2020 Honda Accord offered a standard turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. For those seeking efficiency, the 212-horsepower hybrid powertrain was a standout, achieving 5.5 L/100 km in testing. The more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivered 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. The Accord's driving modes, Economy and Sport, allowed for tailored powertrain responses, with Sport mode enhancing driving pleasure. The Accord Touring 2.0 featured adaptive dampers and 19-inch tires, providing excellent handling and ride comfort, though the brakes could use improvement.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with 93-octane fuel, or 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft with 87-octane. The engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and Mazda's i-Activ AWD system, enhancing corner-exit capability. The Mazda3 Turbo's performance was transformative, with smooth and predictable power delivery. Sport mode adjusted transmission and G-Vectoring Control Plus for improved cornering. The Mazda3's steering and suspension were tuned for sportiness, and the car's dynamic tuning met its engineers' goals for smoothness and predictability. During testing, the Mazda3 Turbo averaged 11.5 L/100 km, reflecting spirited driving rather than powertrain inefficiency.

The 2020 Honda Accord was nearly a full-size sedan, offering more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than its competitors. The 12-way power driver's seat was comfortable, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seat was spacious and comfortable, with heated outboard positions and rear air conditioning vents in higher trims. The trunk offered 473 litres of space, accommodating full-size suitcases. The interior featured ample storage, clear instrumentation, and ergonomic controls, making it a pleasant environment, except for the front passenger seat.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo's interior was luxurious, with leather upholstery and heated front seats, though it lacked some premium features like front seat ventilation and rear-seat amenities. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, but the passenger seat did not. Trunk space was 374 litres, competitive for compact sedans, while the hatchback version offered significantly more utility with 569 litres behind the rear seats and 1,334 litres with them folded.

The 2020 Honda Accord featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with volume and tuning knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and sensible steering wheel controls. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and text-messaging support. A ten-speaker premium audio system was standard on Sport trim, with additional features like HondaLink, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless charging on Touring trim. The system lacked natural voice recognition, requiring specific prompts for accurate responses. A head-up display was exclusive to the Touring trim, and the Accord offered good visibility with a reversing camera.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 used the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The system was not touch-sensitive, relying on voice commands and a control knob, which highlighted the system's poor voice recognition. The 12-speaker Bose audio system offered good sound quality, especially with FLAC files, though satellite radio performance was lacking. The Premium Package included a head-up display, showing speed, speed limits, and safety technology status.

The 2020 Honda Accord was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and earned five stars in NHTSA assessments. Honda Sensing was standard, offering forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was reserved for the Touring trim. The adaptive cruise control and warning systems could be smoother and more refined.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 emphasized driver engagement with its ADAS, offering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and an Adaptive Front Lighting System on GT trim. The Premium Package added a surround-view camera, parking sensors, reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Mazda3 excelled in crash tests, earning top ratings from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from IIHS.