Mazda 2 vs Honda Civic
What's the difference?

Mazda 2

$14,500 - $26,998

2024 price

View pricing & specs

Honda Civic

—

2025 price

View pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz A35

Mercedes-Benz A45

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz CLA

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Summary

2024 Mazda 2

2025 Honda Civic

By Chris Thompson

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 1.5L

Inline 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

5.4L/100km (combined)

4.2L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Still dynamically fun
Manual remains
Ergonomically sensible

Impressive driving dynamics
Truly frugal powertrain
Svelte exterior styling

Dislikes

Interior is dating
Engine noise under load
Pricing not quite 'first-car'

Engine sounds harsh under heavy acceleration
Cabin tech fiddly and hard to quickly understand
Middle seat in the back mostly ornamental

2024 Mazda 2 Summary

The entry-point into one of Australia's most popular brands has been around for almost 10 years in its current generation, but the Mazda2 has had a refresh.

Possibly for the last time in its current lifespan, the small hatchback gets a facelift to remain appealing, Mazda hopes, to first-car-buyers.

Mazda's up against not only direct rivals, like the Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris, but also the shifting market.

Mazda has sold just over 3500 Mazda2s so far this year, but almost 11,000 CX-3 small SUVs, the latter based on our friend here's platform.

It's a name with a little over two decades behind it, but can it be a first-car-favourite in an increasingly difficult small car market?

View full pricing & specs

2025 Honda Civic Summary

I’m just going to cut to the chase here. This Honda Civic hybrid is a good car. A great one, even.

But for some reason, nobody is really buying it. And it’s not just because it’s not an SUV – it has been outsold in its segment this year by the the BMW 1 Series, the Mercedes A-Class, the MG4 EV, and the VW Golf. Premium and non-premium alike, they’ve all got the little Honda licked.

So, what’s going on? A CarsGuide investigation is required. Stick around and we’ll try to figure this out together.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2024 Mazda 2 2025 Honda Civic

Verdict

While Mazda's insistence that the Mazda2 is a 'first-car' could be very limited by the incomes of most teenagers or early-20s city-dwellers, the starting price being close enough to $20,000 for a dynamically enjoyable and convenient small car isn't to be scoffed at.

The new styling of the Mazda2 is well executed, and as an alternative to small SUVs (which continue to become more popular) it's a sensible option, especially considering its efficiency and ease of use.

The lower specifications in the range are probably the best in terms of value, as even the features on the higher grades aren't groundbreaking, and the Pure SP definitely exudes the most style cred.

Verdict

Talk about your new-car unsung heroes – I can't believe Honda's not selling more of these. So, if you can get over the price, and you worry it might be too small for you, I encourage you to check the Civic out. The back seat and boot are both bigger than you might expect, and the drive experience leaves most SUVs in the rear view mirror.

Mazda 2 vs Honda Civic What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mazda 2 vs Honda Civic
What's the difference?