The Honda Civic Si has a luxurious and engaging rival that nobody talks about

There aren’t all that many cars left on the market that feel affordable, practical, and fun to drive. For enthusiasts on a budget, it is becoming harder and harder to find something that truly satisfies all three of those pillars. The Honda Civic Si is often seen as one of the last bastions in its segment. It doesn’t stand alone, though, and it has a Japanese rival that few actually know about.

Hidden in the trim lineup of Mazda’s compact car exists a setup that has become quite rare. It offers a plush interior loaded with high-end features, a lithe chassis that comes alive in the corners, and a six-speed manual transmission. Priced similarly to the Civic Si, it feels like it was born to do battle with Honda’s sporty compact, even if it doesn’t get the same amount of attention from enthusiasts.

One trim in the Mazda3 lineup makes the Civic Si hard to justify

It’s the only trim to offer this desirable feature

Those looking for an affordable but practical car that still feels engaging to drive aren’t offered a lot of choices on the market right now. The Honda Civic Si has become one of the default options, with it being fun to drive without compromising on everyday usability. If you’re looking for an alternative with a little more style, Mazda offers a setup hidden in the Mazda 3 trim lineup that feels like a worthy rival for Honda’s little sports compact.

You don’t have to spring for the turbocharged engine

The Mazda3 is one of our favorite little compact cars. It might be a little more expensive than some of its rivals, but it features one of the most luxurious interiors in the segment. On top of this, the little Mazda is a ton of fun to drive, with it being more entertaining and engaging than you’d expect. While the 250 horsepower Turbo Premium Plus model is tempting, we think another trim in the lineup is the better choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2.5 S Premium trim comes with a unique feature that no other trim in the lineup offers, and that is a six-speed manual transmission. It is also priced super close to the Civic Si, which starts at $31,495, making it a strong competitor to Honda’s sporty compact car. Climb inside, and you’ll find that it feels much more premium as well, coming with luxuries that you wouldn’t really expect at this price point. More importantly, though, it delivers an impressively engaging driving experience.

It might not be the quickest, but the manual Mazda 3 is the embodiment of fun

Mazda prioritizes the driving experience

Credit: Mazda

Buying a car on a budget often means that you have to make compromises. Often, getting something practical means that you have to sacrifice any kind of fun behind the wheel. That is exactly why cars like the Honda Civic Si exist, giving you a taste of sportiness in the car that you drive every day. It is exactly what makes the manual Mazda3 so appealing as well. While it might not rocket off the line, it delivers a driving experience that is becoming increasingly rare at this price point.

Mazda knows how to make cars fun to drive

Mazda Mazda 3 Hatchback

Hatchback

2026

Base:
$25,550

Base Trim Engine

2.5L SKYACTIV-G I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

186 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

186 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

26/34/29 MPG

Make

Mazda

Model

Mazda 3 Hatchback

Segment

Compact Hatchback

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The 2.5 S Premium trim comes equipped with the same 186 horsepower naturally aspirated inline-four that most models use. Where other trims offer all-wheel drive as an option, this trim is front-wheel drive only. More importantly, though, it comes with a six-speed manual transmission, where every other model gets a six-speed automatic instead.

The manual Mazda3 isn’t the quickest car in the world, taking seven seconds to get to 60 miles per hour from a standstill. This makes it a couple tenths slower than the Honda Civic Si. While not fast, we think it is perky enough to be fun. More important than its acceleration, it handles fantastically well, and its steering is well weighted and communicative. It feels composed along twisty back roads, and it is eager to be pushed.

If you are after something a little quicker, and you don’t care much for the manual transmission, the Turbo Premium Plus model comes equipped with a turbocharged engine that puts down 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. It gets to 60 miles per hour in as little as 5.6 seconds.

A hatchback that feels much more luxurious than its price suggests

The Mazda3 is impressively plush

The Mazda3 can be had as either a sedan or a hatchback. Unfortunately, you don’t get that choice with the 2.5 S Premium, which only comes in hatchback form. Body styles aside, we think Mazda’s compact car is one of the nicest looking cars in its class, with a sleek exterior and a well-furnished interior. It is practical, comfortable, and loaded with luxuries that you wouldn’t expect.

Far more luxurious than the Civic Si

As mentioned, the only trim with the manual transmission is only offered as a hatchback. The sedan is a little more spacious in the back, offering a little more headroom, but you can still easily fit adults in the back seats of the hatch without any issue. The hatchback also comes with a much more spacious trunk, with plenty of room for a couple of suitcases or a large grocery haul.

The Civic Si is only available as a sedan. While its rear seats are more spacious, the Mazda offers a lot more space in the trunk.

In terms of interior design, the Mazda3 feels leagues ahead of most cars in its segment. The Japanese automaker delivers a cabin that feels fit for a luxury car, with swooping lines and nice materials covering every surface. The 2.5 S Premium comes equipped with a ton of luxuries as well, including things like leather upholstery, heated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, and a sliding moonroof.

A unique tech setup that keeps your eyes on the road

Most Mazda3 trims, including the 2.5 S Premium, come equipped with an 8.8-inch infotainment screen. The most expensive Turbo Premium Plus model gets a 10.3-inch unit instead. The screen sits on top of the dashboard, pillowed by soft-touch materials, and is controlled via a rotary dial on the center console. While some prefer touch inputs, we find that the rotary dial is intuitive and keeps your eyes focused on the road.

The 2.5 S Premium comes with all the tech features that you could want, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system also supports Alexa, and you get a three-month subscription to SiriusXM. Most models come equipped with an eight-speaker sound system, but the Premium trim gets a 12-speaker setup from Bose instead.

The manual Mazda3 is a luxurious alternative to the Civic Si

There are few cars out there that still come equipped with a manual transmission, and the list is getting smaller every day. The Civic Si is one of the last options that lets you row your own gears while still feeling practical enough to use every day. We think that the Mazda3 2.5 S Premium exists as a quiet rival to the Honda, also featuring a six-speed manual and engaging driving dynamics. While the Mazda isn’t quite as sharp, it is far more luxurious on the inside and comes with a more practical trunk. This little Japanese hatch is incredibly underrated and feels like the perfect option for a driving enthusiast’s one-car garage.