2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI vs 2023 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 was a striking vehicle with its rakish headlights and large, menacing grille. Available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, the sedan had conventional proportions, while the hatchback boasted a daring and futuristic design. The clean lines and forward-thinking aesthetics of the hatchback were among the most innovative in the market, excluding some electric vehicles. Inside, the cabin continued this clean futurism with a simple yet elegant design. The infotainment system rose organically from the dash, offering a styling lesson for other automakers. The conventional shifter design was a welcome feature, and the climate controls were straightforward and easy to use. The steering wheel, though elegant, was somewhat cluttered with controls. Canadian trim levels included the GX, GS, GT, and GT Turbo, with various options for manual or automatic transmission and FWD or AWD. Standard features on the GX included 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, and an 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI, a sporty version of the VW Golf, was only available as a five-door hatchback. Its styling was more expressive than its predecessor, featuring a wide-mouth grille and standard LED headlights. The 380 special edition package marked the end of the manual GTI, with gloss black 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires. The GTI's interior blended classic styling with modern tech, including a digital instrument cluster and a large infotainment screen. The front seats featured the GTI's signature plaid upholstery, and the shifter had golf-ball-like dimples. The steering wheel, however, seemed borrowed from a VW Atlas. The GTI was available in base, Autobahn, and Performance trims, with the latter featuring machined 19-inch wheels. The interior offered a mix of standard features like heated front seats and automatic climate control, with optional upgrades such as leather upholstery and a sunroof.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 offered a range of engine options in Canada, starting with a Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre naturally aspirated inline-four was optional on the GS and standard on the GT, delivering 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. This engine could be paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered AWD. The turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, available on the GT trim, produced 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel. The driving experience was engaging, with well-weighted steering and a fantastic engine sound. The Mazda3 excelled in handling, offering a perfect blend of precision and refinement, and the Sport mode enhanced the driving dynamics further.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI was powered by VW's EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It was available with a six-speed manual transmission or a DSG seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GTI featured a standard electronically controlled limited-slip differential and optional adaptive damping. The driving experience was precise and stable, with excellent grip and well-tuned suspension. The GTI was quiet and comfortable, making it a great daily driver. However, it lacked the excitement of some competitors, with linear powertrain response and minimal turbo lag. The GTI was an excellent car for real life, offering a balance between performance and everyday usability.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan provided 374 litres of cargo space, which was small compared to other compact sedans. The hatchback offered 569 litres of cargo space, which was usable but not as spacious as many small SUVs. The rear seating area was cramped, with limited legroom and headroom, making it suitable for occasional use only. The front seating area had a decently sized centre console compartment, though the lid was somewhat frustrating to use. The Mazda3 offered helpful ergonomics and sizable cupholders.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI, with its hatchback body style, offered 563 litres of cargo space, expandable to 977 litres with the rear seats folded. This was more practical than rival sedans. The GTI had slightly more second-row headroom than competitors but less first-row headroom than most. Front-seat legroom was comparable to sedans, but rear-seat passengers might feel squeezed. The GTI was well-equipped, with features like heated front seats, automatic climate control, and ambient lighting. However, the haptic controls for temperature and audio volume were difficult to use while driving, detracting from interior functionality.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came with an 8.8-inch infotainment display operated via a dial in the centre console. This system was a weak point, with clumsy menu navigation and a steep learning curve. The standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration were confusing to use. The Mazda3 included two USB ports, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice control. Our test model featured upgrades like navigation, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose premium stereo system, which delivered great sound quality.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI featured an 8-inch touchscreen on the base model, with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, and a six-speaker audio system. Autobahn and Performance models had a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was generally user-friendly, though there was a delay in displaying satellite radio information. The 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster offered four configurations, but the design was somewhat cheesy. The touchscreen was well-executed, but the driver-centric instrument cluster could have been better.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3's standard safety features in Canada included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The GS trim added features like forward automatic emergency braking, automatic cruise control, and lane-departure warning. The GT grade included adaptive headlights, traffic-sign recognition, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The Mazda3 hatchback had a significant blind spot due to its massive C-pillar. The IIHS rated the 2023 Mazda3 as a Top Safety Pick, and the NHTSA gave it five stars in front crash tests and rollover tests.

The 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI had standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Autobahn trim added adaptive cruise control and Travel Assist, which maintained speed and lane positioning on highways. The GTI also featured Intelligent Crash Response and Emergency Assist. The IIHS reported top "Good" scores in some crash tests, but the headlights received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings. The NHTSA hadn't released safety ratings for the current-generation GTI at press time.