2019 Mazda3 vs 2019 VW Golf

Today’s automotive market is dominated by crossover utility vehicles, but there are still plenty of outstanding sedans out there available to shoppers that don’t need quite as much space. The compact sedan segment is still quite competitive, despite its small stature. Especially those models that have a hatchback nature, as they combine the extra space of a crossover (though not nearly as much) with many of the benefits of a smaller car. We thought we’d see how our own compact hatchback sedan measures up to one of its biggest competitors by pitting the 2019 Mazda3 against the 2019 VW Golf.

The Mazda3 Hatchback sedan has been around since 2003, undergoing many enhancements and changes through the years after. This year, it underwent a major overhaul that was unveiled back in November 2018. Now, its sleeker design and improved specs & features offer something to fresh to fans and new shoppers alike.

Advantages of the 2019 Mazda3

A cursory glance at the table above shows just how alike these two compact sedans are to one another, but also that each has advantages of its own. We kick things off in a big way for the Mazda3, as it’s capable of generating an extra 39 horsepower more than the VW Golf. 39 is a pretty big number in this regard, but it unfortunately leads to the Golf’s first advantage. Increases in power often lead to an adverse effect on efficiency, which might explain the Golf’s extra 2 miles per gallon combined.

Unfortunately, the Golf also offers a bit more space in its hatchback area, in the form of 2.7 cubic feet of space. That’s a hefty advantage itself, though the final row shows that the two sedans offer the same number of seats for passengers to fill. If you’re able to overlook the slight fuel economy deficit and unfortunate dip in cargo space for the sizeable advantage in power, then the Mazda3 is the compact hatchback sedan for you!