Honda Civic or Mazda 3

I will soon be going back into the office for work which will require a 700 mile a week all highway commute.
My main focus is reliability as I plan on keeping it for many years. This vehicle won't see any other use.
I'm looking at the base models for both of these. 2022 Honda Civic or 2021 Mazda 3?

 

More bang for your buck and higher MPG with a Kia Forte...

 

Do you have a local source for CNG? I think Rob was wanting to sell his CNG Civic a while back.

 

I'm concerned about Kia reliability and not much cheaper.

 

No local source for CNG.

 

Personally I would recommend a low mileage used Toyota Corolla. I am not a Mazda fan as their recent stuff seems to be lackluster. Honda is the same as always, boring but reliable. Whatever you get make sure you DO NOT GET A CVT TRANSMISSION!

 

Over the past few years, the Kia/Hyundai/Genesis family of auto's are always in the top for reliability and dependability - this latest report has them basically tied with Mazda and ahead of Honda.

https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2020-us-vehicle-dependability-study

15+ years ago - I'd have agreed with you, not any longer.

Plus they offer a 5 year full warranty vs a 3 year one for the other 2 brands you are considering.

Value - Kia Forte or Hyundai Elantra far exceed the competition for bang for buck with features if that's a consideration.

 

I drove a new Corolla and it felt cheaper than the others. Honda has the cvt, Mazda doesn't.

 

FWIW, I bought a 2010 Forte for my daughter when she was in high school. Once she graduated college, she bought herself a new car. We had zero problems with it.

Sold the Forte to my best friend for his daughter and it ended up having a ticking noise within a year or so. Kia still covered the cost of a replacement engine or rebuild, surprisingly I think it was piston slap, but I don't remember my friend telling me what the issue was? We just provided proof of oil change services and it was covered.

He still owns it and it is going strong.

 

Any winter/foul weather considerations?

To make the choice easier, the Honda is a girlie girl's car, the Mazda is a man's version of a girl's car.
To break it down a bit tho'...
Honda...
- pros: slightly better fuel mileage, more comfortable passenger seats, slightly more cargo space - trunk or hatchback, possibly better looking front end.
- cons: no AWD option, bored to tears driving tho' it does handle well, craplastic interior.
Mazda...
- pros: drive it like you stole it handling, still get near the same mileage as the Honda - but with a smile, who gives a shit about passenger/cargo space - this is a solo commuter, luxurious interior compared to the Honda, and the biggest pro - AWD option (pretty much the only brand to offer it in this category). Almost forgot - better safety ratings.
- cons: the front end is kinda meh, but the hatchback looks bitchin', might not be as comfortable as you drone down the highway to work on Monday morning but you'll look forward to whippin' it to the local eatery come lunch time.

Don't know what Kia offers in this segment but they've come a long way and are here to stay. Toyota prolly has something, too.

 

I wonder how that warranty claim would go changing your own oil?

 

The 2022 Civic is pretty much all new. It looks awesome and has very nice features. Honda reliabilty takes it over Mazda in my book.

 

Get the fucking Honda...no wait a minute this is the beebs...get a Brickland.

 

I haven't driven the civic, 3, or forte. That should happen this week. Maybe the choice will be more clear afterwards.
The Mazda 3 is harder to find than the others, as least near me.
It needs to be comfortable, for me. Don't care about trunk room or backseat room, it's a compact car afterall.

 

Honda?
GoldWing...and an Aerostitch.

 

Don't know, but I would suspect if you kept your records of oil purchases and miles documented they would cover it, especially for the original owner.

Since I sold the car to my buddie, the warranty had expired.....it looks like the warranty converts from 10/100 to a 5/60K powertrain warranty when sold. It was definitely over 5 years old, don't remember the mileage, but KIA covered it anyway and were not difficult to deal with. Left me impressed and I even told my daughter to look at their Telluride/Palisade SUV's in the future when she wants a bigger SUV.

 

The Honda is a way better choice. Especially if your gonna keep it. 700 miles a week and the Mazda will be out of warranty in two years...
I wouldn’t own one out of warranty.

 

700 miles a week? I’d get the one that’s comfortable and does not crush my soul with boredom. And that doesn’t have a CVT.

 

This was my excat initial thoughts but I'm not sure CVT and reliability go together. Even if it's a Honda.

 

Yeah, avoid the CVT stuff like the plague... So neither is a great choice.
I'd be looking at a four cylinder Camry.