2012 Ford Focus vs. 2012 Mazda 3: Which One Should I Buy?

Compact sedans and hatchbacks provide a great ride on a budget, with the evolution from a stodgy, unattractive exterior (and interior!) to a more fully-featured trim set and exterior design. Driving enjoyment is improved throughout the class, which are known to be commuter cars and are often chosen for younger drivers.

While the Focus is a bit more eye-catching from a design perspective, the Mazda 3 has some slick curves that provide an overall neat, sophisticated, and athletic profile. The Mazda’s interior stays true to the newer European look and feel; while the Focus feels sporty and obsessively detailed throughout the interior which brings it up a class in terms of feel and look.

Mazda Mazda3 2012
Mazda Mazda3 2012

Interior Comfort

Ford loses out a bit on the interior design because, while sporty, it leaves something to be desired in terms of spacing for the driver and front-seat passenger as the dash is taking up a great deal of room. The interior of the Ford is sculpted and tailored, while the Mazda is slightly more utilitarian.

Performance

The sportier feel that you’ll get from both vehicles puts other sedans and hatchbacks to shame, but the Mazda 3 gives a better and kickier performance regardless of the similar stats. You’ll get a more effective powertrain and better responsiveness from the Mazda 3 no matter if you go for the six-speed automatic or the six-speed manual gearbox. Smooth and even acceleration and confident braking provide the Mazda with class- leading performance, while the Ford is simply acceptable.

Safety Ratings

The Focus falls a bit shy again in terms of ratings when compared to the Mazda 3. While both are Top Safety Picks by the IIHS, the Mazda is the only one to get 5 stars from the NHTSA for frontal-impact test, while the Ford gets 4 stars. Mazda 3 has a blind spot warning system and several other active safety features that the Ford just doesn’t offer.

Fun Extras

The Ford gives you a few bonuses on the base model such as parking assistance and MyFord Touch connectivity; which is matched by the Mazda Connect system. You’ll find adaptive lighting, blind-spot monitoring, memory power seats, and premium sound in both options.

If you’re looking for a vehicle you will love to drive and that will be stingy with the gas, then the Mazda 3 may be your option. However, with the upgrade package the Ford Focus is one of the best-driving small cars that is on the market for this year.


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

How to Buy a Car Using Your Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Buying a new or used car often means that you must find financing (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/5-essential-things-to-know-about-car-loans). Most often this is either through the dealership, a bank, or an online lender. While most lenders charge a high interest rate when taking out a...
How Much Does Size Matter in a Car Crash?
Car accidents can be less severe in a larger, heavier vehicle that's well designed but safety mainly relies on responsible, attentive driving.
How to Buy a Car After Bankruptcy
Though bankruptcy can greatly impact your life financially, there are still ways to buy a car by managing your payments and having a good cosigner.

Related questions

How do I operate the power windows?
The power windows are operated by power window switches. On the inside of the driver’s door, there are four power window switches. one for each door’s window. The placement of these switches corresponds with which window they operate (i.e. the...
What is the proper sitting position?
While it’s important to wear your seat belt and have your seat back in the proper position, it’s just as important to sit in the right position while driving or riding. Sit upright, completely against the back of the seat...
Where is the fuel tank pressure sensor in my car?
The fuel tank pressure sensor is located in the top of the fuel tank. The fuel tank will need to be removed to replace the sensor. The fuel tank sensor is not very common to go bad on this car....

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com