Mazda Mazda3 vs Skoda Fabia

The Mazda Mazda3 starts from $26,490 before on-road costs, while the Skoda Fabia opens at $27,990. That makes the Mazda Mazda3 the more affordable entry point by $1,500.

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 $29,139 and $30,789 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Skoda Fabia by roughly $1,285 in fuel alone.

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

The Mazda Mazda3 features a 8.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Skoda Fabia gets a 8.3-inch display and 8-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mazda Mazda3 stands out with head-up display — features our data doesn't list for the Skoda Fabia. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Mazda Mazda3 gets black cloth upholstery while the Skoda Fabia offers cloth. Climate control is 1-zone in the Mazda Mazda3 and 2-zone in the Skoda Fabia.

The Mazda Mazda3 uses a 2.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol with i-stop and cylinder deactivation producing 114kW and 200Nm of torque, sent through a 6-speed automatic (skyactiv-drive) to a FWD layout.

The Skoda Fabia responds with a Petrol making 85kW and 200Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.7 seconds.

The Mazda Mazda3 has the clear power advantage at 114kW vs 85kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mazda Mazda3 measures 4,460mm long on a 2,725mm wheelbase, 352mm longer than the Skoda Fabia at 4,108mm (2,564mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda Mazda3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 295L in the Mazda Mazda3 and 380L in the Skoda Fabia, giving the Skoda Fabia a 85L advantage.

For towing, the Mazda Mazda3 leads with a 1,200kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 450kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,682/year for the Mazda Mazda3 and $1,425/year for the Skoda Fabia. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the Skoda Fabia.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda Mazda3) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Skoda Fabia). The Skoda Fabia has longer coverage.