Mazda 3 Sedan vs Toyota Corolla Altis: Japanese sedan comparison

The highly populated cities, crowded streets, and tight parking spaces have increased the popularity of hatchbacks in the country. But that doesn’t mean the end of sedans. Sedans still and will continue to have a good demand in the market. There is a different click to this genre of cars that attracts many people. And Mazda and Toyota are two companies among many others to understand this 'click' just right.

The same is clearly shows in their cars - the 3 Sedan and the Corolla Altis. Here is a quick comparison of these two Japanese sedans.

Exterior

Both the Mazda 3 Sedan and Corolla Altis are good-looking cars but they do differ from each other in many aspects. Mazda has focussed on having a sportier appearance. Its KODO: ‘Soul of Motion’ design language has helped it to achieve what the 3 Sedan is. We are really fond of the aggressive LED headlamps and the front grille. The rear end is also attractive thanks to the large tail lights.

The Corolla, on the other end, by no means is any grade less than the Mazda when it comes to aesthetics. But it is more elegant, calm, and mature, without making things boring. It flaunts its huge headlights that are nicely connected to each other with chrome slats that are the home for the brand's logo. The bumper has been given a sporty design. The two-piece combination tail lights of the Altis demand attention, and it should not be hard for anyone to recognize that the car is a Toyota from the rear.

Interior

The interior of the Mazda 3 Sedan is quite minimalistic but sporty. The three-spoke steering wheel is nice to hold and the unique meter cluster with a large tachometer is a welcoming feature. You also have a 7-inch touchscreen display that allows access to music, social media, navigation, etc. On Mazda 3 sedan specifications list one will find features like an automatic climate control, electric parking brake, sunroof, leather upholstery, 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, etc.

Like the Mazda, the Toyota Corolla Altis also offer an all-black them inside. However, things aren’t as sporty as they were in the Mazda. The layout is quite simple with a decent-looking three-spoke steering wheel with mounted controls. The meter cluster is a conventional setup of two dials and a small digital display in between. The design of the front air-con vents adds a hint of sportiness in the cabin. The seats appear to be nicely contoured and should provide a good amount of comfort. The 7-inch touchscreen display can handle music and navigation with ease.

Powertrains

If we talk about the Mazda 3 Sedan engine options, we get two of them. There is a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder mill which produces 110 PS of max power at 6,000 revs and generates a peak torque of 144 Nm at 3,500 revs. The other option is a larger 2.0-litre engine with a max power of 153 PS at 6,000 revs and 200 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 revs. Both the engines come mated to Mazda's SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-Speed Automatic with Sport Mode.

Similar to the Mazda, Corolla Altis specifications also include two engine options that are available here in the Philippines - a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder unit with 122 PS of power and 154 Nm of torque, and a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder powertrain that has been tuned in a state to produce 145 PS at 6,200 revs and has got 187 Nm of peak torque that kicks in at 3,600 revs. Both the engines are mated to CVT, however, there is an option of a 6-speed manual gearbox with the smaller 1.6-litre engine.

Price and variants

There are two Mazda 3 Sedan variants - SKYACTIV V and SKYACTIV R - that a buyer can purchase in the country. The former comes with the less powerful 1.5-litre engine and the latter has the bigger 2.0-litre mill. The Mazda 3 sedan price is set at Php 1.09 Million for the V model and the R model will set you back by Php 1.28 Million.

We are familiar with Toyota’s habit of providing a healthy number of variants of its products. And this time, too, with four Toyota Corolla Altis variants, the Japanese brand carries forward its habit. The four variants include the 1.6 E, 1.6 G, 1.6 V, and 2.0 V. Out of these, the 1.6 G variant is further divided into two models - 1.6 G A/T and 1.6 G M/T. Depending on the variant, the Corolla Altis price varies. It starts from Php 961,000 for the base model and goes all the way up to Php 1.49 million.