Starting at
Starting at
2 | Available Engines | 1 |
Yes | Diesel Option | No |
14.8 cu.ft. | Trunk Space | 13.2 cu.ft. |
Trying to decide between the 2019 Chevy Cruze vs 2019 Mazda 3? Although both vehicles are in the compact car class, they vary greatly in terms of their strengths and audience. While the 2019 Chevy Cruze is an affordable and efficient sedan with a long list of standard features, the 2019 Mazda 3 is an expensive sedan that boasts futuristic styling and enhanced performance. But, which of these vehicles best suits your lifestyle and budget?
The 2019 Chevy Cruze offers incredible fuel economy ratings, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. It is also very affordable, starting at only $17,995 with an abundance of standard features. With a long reputation of reliable and safe models, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is even a suitable choice for drivers prioritizing safety and available driver assist features. Overall, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is one of the most impressive values in its class and appeals to a wide audience of drivers.
The 2019 Mazda 3 has a higher price point than many of its competitors in the compact car class, starting at $21,000. Despite its high starting MSRP, the Mazda 3 lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on its sedan model, and only offers one standard safety feature. However, the 2019 Mazda 3 is slightly more powerful than the 2019 Chevy Cruze and offers a refreshingly modern design and unique entertainment features.
When trying to decide between the 2019 Chevy Cruze vs 2019 Mazda 3, it’s important to take a close look at how these vehicles perform in some of the most important categories. So, before you make your final decision, let’s compare the Cruze and Mazda 3 in terms of performance, entertainment, and safety.
When comparing the 2019 Chevy Cruze vs 2019 Mazda 3 in the category of performance, it is clear that each of these vehicles has its own unique specialties. The 2019 Mazda 3 is slightly more powerful, while the 2019 Chevy Cruze is unrivaled in its fuel efficiency. Determining which of these vehicles is the winner of this category may come down to personal preference.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze earns fuel economy ratings of up to 31 MPG in the city and 48 MPG on the highway when equipped with its available turbo diesel engine. These are incredibly high ratings for the compact car class and help the Cruze stand out among its many competitors. While it is not the most powerful vehicle in its class, it still offers above average performance and has been praised by critics for its smooth ride and responsive handling. The 2019 Chevy Cruze offers a turbocharged 1.4L 4-cylinder, which produces up to 153 hp and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Cruze is standard is front-wheel drive, and features stop/start technology which can be disabled upon the driver’s choosing. Critics note that the stop/start technology of the 2019 Chevy Cruze is more advanced than many of its competitors due to its seamless transition.
Overall, the new Cruze is one of the most fuel-efficient compact cars on the market, which is made even sweeter by its exceptionally low starting price. If you’re looking to save money on the initial purchase of your vehicle, as well as at the gas pump for the next several years, you’ll want to opt for the 2019 Chevy Cruze over the 2019 Mazda 3.
Yes, the 2019 Mazda 3 offers slightly higher performance ratings than the 2019 Chevy Cruze. Unfortunately, it’s fuel efficiency is below average for the compact car class. This class of vehicle is generally explored by drivers for its high efficiency ratings, which has resulted in many manufacturers implementing hybrid models or turbo diesel engines into their recent models. Mazda has failed to evolve in this category and falls behind with the 2019 Mazda 3 with a maximum fuel economy rating of 27 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. The Mazda 3 is also substantially more expensive than many of its competitors, including the 2019 Chevy Cruze, making it an expensive investment with very little savings at the gas pump after purchase. Drivers looking for a little more power than the Cruze may appreciate the Mazda 3’s 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, which produces up to 186 hp and has been noted to offer quick acceleration and smooth suspension. But, for over $3,000 more than the 2019 Chevy Cruze, is this slight increase in power worth it?
In terms of entertainment, both the 2019 Chevy Cruze and 2019 Mazda 3 offer incredibly advanced and generous standard technology on their base models. The Mazda 3 does offer plenty of entertainment features, yet it is one of the most expensive vehicles in the compact car class. For thousands less, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is still able to offer technology that rivals that on the Mazda 3 and many other competitors on the market.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze offers everything the modern driver is looking for in terms of entertainment, and at no additional cost. With a low starting MSRP of $17,995, the 2019 Chevy Cruze offers tons of standard entertainment technology on its base model. This includes a 7-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and a WiFi hotspot. Given its low starting price, this entertainment suite is incredibly generous and outperforms many of the vehicles in the compact car class. If you’re looking to enjoy premium entertainment features on a budget, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is the ideal choice.
The 2019 Mazda 3 offers an incredible list of standard entertainment technology. However, it is more than $3,000 more expensive than the 2019 Chevy Cruze and quickly becomes a bit overrated. At this price point, drivers of the Cruze could simply upgrade to higher trim levels and enjoy similar if not, more advanced features, as well as a few luxurious touches not offered in the base model Mazda 3. With a starting MSRP of $21,000, the 2019 Mazda 3 comes standard with an 8.8-inch display, as well as an 8-speaker sound system, HD radio, and two USB ports. For the new model year the display screen is not a touchscreen interface but instead is controlled by physical controls. The base sedan model of the Mazda 3 also lacks Apple Carplay and Android Auto, which is quite a shock given its high starting price. In order to enjoy Apple Carplay and Android Auto, drivers will need to spend over $1,500 to upgrade to the next trim level or more than $2,500 to upgrade to the hatchback model. While a few of the Mazda 3’s features may seem tempting, they do not quite match the vehicle’s incredibly high starting price.
Despite being the more affordable vehicle, the 2019 Chevy Cruze actually offers more standard safety features than the 2019 Mazda 3 sedan. Meanwhile, both vehicles offer a long list of available driver assist technology, featuring some of the most advanced options on the market.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze offers both a rearview camera and Teen Driver technology as standard features on its base model. For parents of young drivers, Teen Driver technology is a useful tool to help monitor your child’s driving habits, while also protecting them when on the road. Using this technology, parents can limit the maximum volume of the entertainment system, as well as set speed restrictions. If you’re interested in further improving the safety of your vehicle with driver assist technology, you’ll have numerous features to choose from including rear parking sensors, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and even a Following Distance Indicator. The 2019 Chevy Cruze also received high safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA and has earned a reputation for high-reliability ratings from J.D. Power.
The only standard safety feature on the 2019 Mazda 3 is a rearview camera, which is disappointing given its high price tag. However, like the Cruze, the new Mazda 3 does offer a long list of available driver assist features including automatic high beams, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and forward collision warning. Overall, the 2019 Mazda 3 is a safe vehicle in the compact car class, however, with its high MSRP and lack of standard safety features, the 2019 Chevy Cruze is certainly the better overall value.