Topic: Comparison Test: 2014 Mazda3 vs 2014 Toyota Corolla

[Autos_Editor]

Curb your enthusiasm ' taking a logic-only look at two redesigned compact sedan sales leaders.

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[hemusbull]

So you compare the most sophisticated Corolla with CVT and Eco mode instead the four gear auto equipped, against 3. Does this means Corolla customers adopted CVT?

[redman]

It was all but a forgone conclusion that the Mazda 3 is a superior car in nearly every aspect.
Considering the Mazda3 has a 6.1% duty added, being built in Japan the Mazda3 still beats the Corolla at most price points, incredible !!
Clearly Toyota has to re-evaluate their price point with the locally built Corolla and at least price it for Canadians for what U.S. buyers are paying for our Cambridge Ont. built cars.
The average Canadian has access to more car reviews than ever before. I have yet to see praises by any publication favouring the Corolla over the Mazda3. Demographics will soon change and maybe so will Toyota.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/japans-canadian-auto-units-want-ottawa-to-strike-free-trade-deal/article554815/

[Blueprint]

"As someone who is physically incapable of walking past a Hot Wheels display without checking to see if there’s anything good hanging on it (it’s for my kid! I swear! I’m totally a grown-up!)"

I'm not alone!

I had my Mr. Spock ears on when I bought the Sentra - the 3 kids / 2 seats combo had to fit in the rear. That flushed out the Civic and Mazda3. At the time, the only compacts that worked were the Corolla and the Sentra. Corolla S looked best on paper, had same features / pricing than Sentra 2.0S...and then I drove the Corolla.

Today's Mazda3 still imposes compromises with the rear seat room, alas. Mazda's rep for rust will hurt sales, too, at least for awhile (a car's rep from 5 years ago will just catch the general population...who still thinks only VWs are made in Mexico).

Meanwhile, kids have grown, no more child seats, and they get bused home now. Plus, Sentra's paid for. Shopping time, no more Mr. Spock ears 

[johngenx]

So you compare the most sophisticated Corolla with CVT and Eco mode instead the four gear auto equipped, against 3. Does this means Corolla customers adopted CVT?

Very, very few Corolla will be 4AT equipped.  Only the very base model has it.  Almost all will be CVT equipped.

[drive67]

The down side of the Mazda3 is the high maintenance cost. I know 2 Mazda 3 owners that had to get their engines replaced before the car was 4 years old and under 100,000km. The yearly maintenance was over   $600 not including 1 had a $1500 brake job. It was my first choice sporty with Japanese reliability but if the cost of ownership is so high I'll take a VW instead. 

[quadzilla]

The down side of the Mazda3 is the high maintenance cost. I know 2 Mazda 3 owners that had to get their engines replaced before the car was 4 years old and under 100,000km. The yearly maintenance was over   $600 not including 1 had a $1500 brake job. It was my first choice sporty with Japanese reliability but if the cost of ownership is so high I'll take a VW instead.

These kind of posts always make me laugh. I had a friend......

Funny how some people have the worst luck with cars. Engines replaced, major brake jobs. I always wonder how these owners really take care of their cars.

[aquadorhj]

The down side of the Mazda3 is the high maintenance cost. I know 2 Mazda 3 owners that had to get their engines replaced before the car was 4 years old and under 100,000km. The yearly maintenance was over   $600 not including 1 had a $1500 brake job. It was my first choice sporty with Japanese reliability but if the cost of ownership is so high I'll take a VW instead.

....mazda's engine's based on Ford Duratec.. (not the new sky active stuff, but until couple years ago) and i haven't heard that many ford's engine failure, so your friend either didn't maintain the car or that was an outlier.

[aquadorhj]

These kind of posts always make me laugh. I had a friend......

Funny how some people have the worst luck with cars. Engines replaced, major brake jobs. I always wonder how these owners really take care of their cars.

i know.   statistically, it's a certainty that some cars will fail within warranty period..   but when people ask "do I have to change oil?  how's that different from oil we get from gas station?" i wonder how the used cars they sell are maintained....

[mixmanmash]

The down side of the Mazda3 is the high maintenance cost. I know 2 Mazda 3 owners that had to get their engines replaced before the car was 4 years old and under 100,000km. The yearly maintenance was over   $600 not including 1 had a $1500 brake job. It was my first choice sporty with Japanese reliability but if the cost of ownership is so high I'll take a VW instead.

These kind of posts always make me laugh. I had a friend......

Funny how some people have the worst luck with cars. Engines replaced, major brake jobs. I always wonder how these owners really take care of their cars.

Agreed.  I never had huge maintenance costs on my Protege, aside from the timing belt change every 96k kms.  Makes me laugh.

[drive67]

The down side of the Mazda3 is the high maintenance cost. I know 2 Mazda 3 owners that had to get their engines replaced before the car was 4 years old and under 100,000km. The yearly maintenance was over   $600 not including 1 had a $1500 brake job. It was my first choice sporty with Japanese reliability but if the cost of ownership is so high I'll take a VW instead.

These kind of posts always make me laugh. I had a friend......

Funny how some people have the worst luck with cars. Engines replaced, major brake jobs. I always wonder how these owners really take care of their cars.

Agreed.  I never had huge maintenance costs on my Protege, aside from the timing belt change every 96k kms.  Makes me laugh.

If you don't own a Mazda you go by people you know 1 engine problem I can see but two and both no help from the dealership I would think twice before I buy a Mazda. I know someone who said the Protégé was the best car they ever had but things change. Lemon aid Mazda has a high parts cost. Mazda ranked very high what I see not for long

[JRM]

I test drove a new Mazda 3 with the 2.0 l engine.  I was not impressed with the power band.  It was sluggish and underpowered IMO.  But then I drive a VW Golf 2.5 with more hp and tourqe.  However, I find that even my wife's 04 Vibe seems more powerful than the 3.  It would be interesting to know the 0 t0 60 times of both tested vehicles.

Otherwise the 3 is a quiet, pleasant car to be in.  I haven't driven a new Corolla, but it's styling doesn't grab like that of the 3.  Other than the dash top display screen, I prefer the 3's interior styling too.

[WRX_Pilot]

No comment about the LED lights on the corolla?

I really don't like that 'glued on iPad' in the 3.  How could they think that looks good?

Also that note about the digital gauges, they do suck the big one.  Are they really cheaper than mechanical gauges?  Automakers are getting so cheap, the temp gauge is disappearing from most small cars these days too.

[tooscoops]

this class of car really has come a long way. sure it's not automotive nirvana behind the wheel, but to really appreciate it, go sit in a compact/subcompact from 20 years ago. while some of them were built well, even those have some brutal driving dynamics and nvh. the thought put into these cars now is amazing.

i think we all expect a bit much from these cars. i'd almost prefer them to be crappier and cheaper... keep up with the north american car buyer mentality... start small and keep buying a bigger car as we get older and hopefully have more cash.

as for the 1500 brakes jobs and such... yeah... while i don't doubt that's what you were told by your friend(s), i would feel quite certain that there is more to that story... also... lemon aid i have found to be one of the worst automotive reads i have ever looked upon. still sometimes worth a look, but by no means base opinions solely on it. (disclaimer: i haven't read it in like 8 years... so maybe it's better now)

[PJ]

So you compare the most sophisticated Corolla with CVT and Eco mode instead the four gear auto equipped, against 3. Does this means Corolla customers adopted CVT?

Very, very few Corolla will be 4AT equipped.  Only the very base model has it.  Almost all will be CVT equipped.

I think quite a few will be.  Corollas are common in base trim, more so then any other brand that I've noticed.  My guess is Corolla owners mostly just want cheap transportation and are less likely to buy expensive options.

[Nuttygent]

  The only fly in the ointment for that beautiful Mazda is...RUST! If they haven't done anything to improve over the last 2 generations, your pretty car will have lots of brown highlights in 5-7 years.

[quadzilla]

It took 16 replies before the whole rust thing was brought up AGAIN. People must be getting slow around here. 

[Travel360]

Aging!

[Brendan McAleer]

So you compare the most sophisticated Corolla with CVT and Eco mode instead the four gear auto equipped, against 3. Does this means Corolla customers adopted CVT?

Very, very few Corolla will be 4AT equipped.  Only the very base model has it.  Almost all will be CVT equipped.

I think quite a few will be.  Corollas are common in base trim, more so then any other brand that I've noticed.  My guess is Corolla owners mostly just want cheap transportation and are less likely to buy expensive options.

True, but a LE with CVT is only 1200 more than an A/C-equipped base car, and the fuel-economy figures speak for themselves. It's not like Navigation, it's a mechanical advantage.

Is rust actually still a thing for Mazdas? I know old ones were problematic, but as a West Coaster, my neighbour has been daily-driving a Datsun since 1976.

[kenm]

Mechanically speaking, the Mazda is ahead on horsepower by 155 hp compared to Corolla’s 132 hp, as well as having one extra cog in the manual gearbox and two extra gears if you option an automatic transmission.

Has Mazda come up with a 7 speed manual? The base Corolla manual is 6 speed, and the 5M is history. I looked at at 2 of them last weekend and I was amazed that they even had manual Corollas on the lot.