2010 Corolla S vs. 2009 Mazda3 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Lbear · 08-13-2009, 11:04 AM

I have had the pleasure to drive both of these cars (2010 Corolla S vs. 2009 Mazda3). Here is my review:

MPG:
Corolla wins - I was getting around 37mpg on the highway with the Toyota. The Mazda3 was getting around 31mpg.

Handling:
Mazda3 wins - The 4-wheel independent suspension handles well and takes the corners a lot better than the Corolla.

Ride Quality:
Corolla wins - The Corolla ride is more supple and the Mazda3 is a little bit harsher (stiff). For long trips, the Corolla is more comfortable.

Acceleration:
Mazda3 wins - The engine is more peppy and it feels more zippier than the Corolla S. The 5-speed auto trans in the Mazda3 adds to this.

Braking:
Mazda3 wins - The car has large 4 wheel disc brakes. It stops very well. The Corolla's rear drum brakes continue to be a negative on the cars stopping power.

Exterior Styling:
Corolla wins - The lines and look of the Corolla are very nice. The 10th generation Corolla has a "Camry" look to it. The Mazda3 is OK, but not as nice as the Corolla.

Interior Styling:
Corolla wins - This was a hard one, so I broke it down to sub-groups, but the Corolla is nicely appointed. I believe the Mazda3 has better fit and finish with the interior components.

Stereo/Speakers:
Mazda3 wins - The Corolla S has the upgraded JBL package, but even then, the Mazda 3 stereo setup is louder, clearer and better sounding.

Trunk Space:
Corolla wins - The trunk is much larger than the Mazda3.

Interior Room:
Corolla wins - It has more rear seat leg room and the car sits a little wider than the Mazda3.

Fun Factor:
Mazda 3 wins - Hands down, the Mazda3 is A LOT more fun to drive. I can see why Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Edmunds and every other car mag has reported the same. The Mazda3 is a really fun car to drive.

Luxury Factor:
Corolla wins - The Corolla is more of what I term a "cruiser". It is relaxing and comfortable to drive in for long trips. The road noise is lower than the Mazda3. The Corolla seems to seal out the wind and noise better than the Mazda3. The suspension on the Corolla is more forgiving.

Seating:
Mazda 3 wins - The seats seem to work better and hold you in comfortably. I feel like I can't get the seat right in the Corolla. Might change with time.

Fit & Finish - Reliability:
Both cars are head to head. Time will tell. The Mazda3 is built in Hiroshima, Japan and shipped over. The Toyota is built here in the USA. The Mazda3 contains 95% Japanese parts, while the Corolla S contains 60% Japanese parts, the remaining 40% is American and Canadian parts.

Consumer reports show both cars to be pretty close. Depending on the study, the Mazda3 sometimes does better. I think both cars will do well in the long term.

I hope this review was informative. I love both cars, but they are different, as they have different "personalities".

FirstXrs · 08-13-2009, 02:24 PM

I'm in a picky mood, so I'm going to pick at this.

Quote:

Braking:
Mazda3 wins - The car has large 4 wheel disc brakes. It stops very well. The Corolla's rear drum brakes continue to be a negative on the cars stopping power.

Drum brakes stop just as well as discs, stock. Unless you performed a stopping test and measured, this is just bashing on the styling.

Quote:

Stereo/Speakers:
Mazda3 wins - The Corolla S has the upgraded JBL package, but even then, the Mazda 3 stereo setup is louder, clearer and better sounding.

Details, or this is entirely subjective (which is not the point of a review). Based on only this sentence, I would argue that the JBL package sounds fantastic.

Quote:

Trunk Space:
Corolla wins - The trunk is much larger than the Mazda3.

You can fit two adult bodies back of the Corolla.

sinnaever · 08-13-2009, 02:58 PM

which model Mazda 3 were you driving... that also has a lot to do with how it performs...

it would be like someone saying the 2009 Corolla is peppier than the 2009 Mazda 3 GX.
Meanwhile they test drove a XRS trim Corolla.

was it the 2.0L Mazda3 or the 2.3L Mazda3?

Different specs on both cars... not just in Engine Power Either.

Lbear · 08-13-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstXrs

Drum brakes stop just as well as discs, stock. Unless you performed a stopping test and measured, this is just bashing on the styling.

That is NOT true. If that was the case, then sports cars would come with 4 wheel drum brakes.

Even the Toyota engineer told me that the reason why they use rear drum brakes is to save money. A rear disc would make the car stop a lot better.

Here is a scientific article explaining why disc brakes are better than drum:

http://cars.about.com/od/thingsyoune...discvsdrum.htm

Also, the Corolla (non-XRS) which has rear drums stops from 70 to 0 in 194 feet VS. the XRS, which has rear DISCS, stops from 70 to 0 in 175 feet. The reason? rear disc brakes.

wildcard50 · 08-13-2009, 04:04 PM

Maybe you should be comparing the 2010 Corolla to the 2010 Mazda 3 for a fair comparison.My Friends 2010 Mazda3 has a way better interior than my corolla, wish toyota would stop cutting corners when it comes to interior plastics and fit and finish.

Lbear · 08-13-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinnaever

which model Mazda 3 were you driving... that also has a lot to do with how it performs...

It was the 2.3L NON-turbo Mazda3.

2010 Corolla S
0 - 60 MPH = 8.6 seconds
70 - 0 = 194 feet
0.79 g
Standing ¼-mil = 17.4 @ 79.4

2010 Corolla XRS
0 - 60 MPH = 7.9 seconds
70 - 0 = 175 feet
0.84 g
Standing ¼-mile = 15.9 sec @ 88 mph

2009 Mazda 3 Speed (2.3L)
0 - 60 MPH = 8.3 seconds
70 - 0 = 167 feet
0.87 g
Standing ¼-mile = 17.1 @ 81.7

2009 Mazda 3 Speed (2.3L - turbo)
0 - 60 MPH = 5.4 seconds
70 - 0 = 167 feet
0.87 g
Standing ¼-mile = 14.4 @ 99 mph

Lbear · 08-13-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcard50

Maybe you should be comparing the 2010 Corolla to the 2010 Mazda 3 for a fair comparison.My Friends 2010 Mazda3 has a way better interior than my corolla, wish toyota would stop cutting corners when it comes to interior plastics and fit and finish.

It's all about $$$$. All the car mags, including myself, agree with you about the Mazda3's interior plastics. They are much better than the Toyota's. Car and Driver stated that they are "German-like" quality. The Toyota did not fair as well and they noted the plastics were cheaper quality.

In the end, it's all about how to save $$$.

pwain · 08-13-2009, 06:16 PM

Hmm, I somehow thought the first corolla vs. 3 thread was sufficient, I guess not.

They are both competent econo-boxes. You can slice it which ever way you like, but they will both get you from a to b in the end.

IceXRS · 08-13-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcard50

Maybe you should be comparing the 2010 Corolla to the 2010 Mazda 3 for a fair comparison.My Friends 2010 Mazda3 has a way better interior than my corolla, wish toyota would stop cutting corners when it comes to interior plastics and fit and finish.

Indeed...the 2010 Mazda's interior has stepped it up a notch. Although I have to say not everywhere. The interior on my XRS is quite good...I like the ergonomics, I like the solid feel of everything, and while there is more hard plastic its not bad quality. The older Mazda 3 had a neat interior but the fit and finish was not as good as my 2009 XRS. The 2010 Mazda 3 seems to match the fit and finish and take the quality feel up a notch.

No car is perfect

trucknut1 · 08-13-2009, 06:43 PM

god not another one of these threads.... corolla vs mazda3 vs civic vs ford pinto vs amc gremlin etc etc

here's a previous one.... (minus the pinto and gremlin

)
How does Corolla compare to Mazda 3?

this is sure to turn into a flame war before long

bus106 · 08-13-2009, 07:19 PM

my goddddd 17,4@79 mph for the corrola S 2010 just like my old hunydai accent ,,, who drive this corrola ,, my grand mother???

sinnaever · 08-13-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trucknut1

god not another one of these threads....

this is sure to turn into a flame war before long

The Mazda '3' series lost its edge when they eliminated their AWD system.

My 323GTX was only beaten by the 323GTR model. Mazda '3' series cars (even the Speed3) are a waste without their AWD like the late 80s ad early 90s editions...

Same with the Corollas and their RWD...

but we don't buy these cars for the fun of driving. We drive them because they make sense to drive from point a to b.

but seriously though... they are both great cars... both have pros, and both have cons... thus in the end they are equal... just not in every category. Just accept that some like Mazda and some like Toyota. deal with it

***mmasse*** · 08-13-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lbear

That is NOT true. If that was the case, then sports cars would come with 4 wheel drum brakes.

Also, the Corolla (non-XRS) which has rear drums stops from 70 to 0 in 194 feet VS. the XRS, which has rear DISCS, stops from 70 to 0 in 175 feet. The reason? rear disc brakes.

You are comparing apple to oranges XRS has the 4 disc brakes because it also has the upgraded engine not to mention the base corolla is an econobox so it doesn't need all the sharks with lasers. BTW I counter your article with an excerpt from edmunds:

Remember that both disc and drum brake design has been vastly improved in the last 20 years. In fact, the current rear drum brake systems on today's cars would provide better stopping performance then the front disc setups of the '70s. And today's front disc brakes are truly exceptional in terms of stopping power. Combined with the fact that between 60 and 90 percent of a vehicle's stopping power comes from the front wheels, it's clear that a well-designed, modern drum brake is all that's required for most rear wheel brake duty.

High performance cars like the Viper, 911 and Corvette can justify a four-wheel disc brake system, especially if their owners participate in some form of sanctioned racing activity on the weekends. The rest of us get more of a benefit from the lower cost of drum brakes. Expecting every vehicle built today to come with four-wheel disc brakes would require an across-the-board increase in purchase price, and that could stop new car buyers much quicker than any brake system.

Lbear · 08-14-2009, 12:14 AM

They are both nice cars, that is WHY I own both of them. Each car has pros and cons.

10 out of 10 mechanics & engineers believe disc brakes are better than drum...