Honda HR-V vs Mazda CX-3

The Honda HR-V starts from $30,300 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-3 opens at $27,800. That makes the Mazda CX-3 the more affordable entry point by $2,500.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $33,330 and $30,580 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The Honda HR-V features a 9-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Mazda CX-3 gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Honda HR-V stands out with Apple CarPlay and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the Mazda CX-3. The Mazda CX-3 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and head-up display. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Honda HR-V gets cloth upholstery while the Mazda CX-3 offers black cloth.

The Honda HR-V uses a Petrol producing 89kW and 145Nm of torque, sent through a cvt to a FWD layout.

The Mazda CX-3 responds with a 2.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol (Skyactiv-G) with i-stop making 110kW and 195Nm, paired to a 6-speed automatic (skyactiv-drive) driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The Mazda CX-3 has the clear power advantage at 110kW vs 89kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Honda HR-V measures 4,345mm long on a 2,610mm wheelbase, 70mm longer than the Mazda CX-3 at 4,275mm (2,570mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Honda HR-V generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 304L in the Honda HR-V and 264L in the Mazda CX-3, giving the Honda HR-V a 40L advantage.

For towing, the Mazda CX-3 leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 200kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,767/year for the Honda HR-V and $1,796/year for the Mazda CX-3. That is a $29 annual difference in favour of the Honda HR-V.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Honda HR-V) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda CX-3). Both match on warranty length. Capped-price servicing: 5yr (Honda HR-V)—.