Skoda Fabia vs Mazda Mazda3

The Skoda Fabia starts from $27,990 before on-road costs, while the Mazda Mazda3 opens at $26,490. 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 $30,789 and $29,139 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 Skoda Fabia features a 8.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 8-inch digital dash, while the Mazda Mazda3 gets a 8.8-inch display and 7-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mazda Mazda3 counters with head-up display that the Skoda Fabia does not offer. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

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

The Skoda Fabia uses a Petrol producing 85kW and 200Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.7 seconds.

The Mazda Mazda3 responds with a 2.0 litre in-line 4 cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol with i-stop and cylinder deactivation making 114kW and 200Nm, paired to a 6-speed automatic (skyactiv-drive) 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 Skoda Fabia measures 4,108mm long on a 2,564mm wheelbase, 352mm shorter than the Mazda Mazda3 at 4,460mm (2,725mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mazda Mazda3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 380L in the Skoda Fabia and 295L in the Mazda Mazda3, 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 $1,425/year for the Skoda Fabia and $1,682/year for the Mazda Mazda3. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the Skoda Fabia.

Estimated annual total: $1,425 (Skoda Fabia) vs $1,682 (Mazda Mazda3). The Skoda Fabia saves you roughly $257 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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