2016 Volkswagen Golf TSI vs Mazda Mazda3 Comparison
2016 Volkswagen Golf
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Valves: |
16 |
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Standard Engine: |
Turbocharged 1.8-liter inline four cylinder |
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Horsepower: |
200 @ 1,600 rpm |
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Torque: |
170 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm |
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Transmission: |
5-speed manual |
2016 Mazda3
|
Valves: |
16 |
|
Standard Engine: |
2.0L 4 cylinder |
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Horsepower: |
155 hp @ 6000 rpm |
|
Torque: |
150 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm |
|
Transmission: |
6-speed manual |
2016 Volkswagen Golf vs 2016 Mazda3
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German and Japanese automakers have long struggled for the wallets, and even the hearts, of American car buyers. At every price point and vehicle size, companies such as Wolfsburg, Germany's Volkswagen and Hiroshima, Japan's Mazda avidly pursue U.S. customers, offering price, performance, equipment and build quality galore. For 2016, Volkswagen's four-door Golf TSI Sedan and the Japanese car maker's Mazda3 sedan have locked horns in a bid for supremacy in the American car market's compact car segment.
U.S. consumers, always in search of value combined with features when it comes to their automobiles, have benefited the most from the tilt occurring between the VW Golf and the Mazda3. But what sets the Golf sedan and the Mazda3 sedan apart? Read on to find out.
Small Families, Great Fun
The Volkswagen Golf TSI four-door seems tailor-made for a small family craving enjoyment on the road. This Golf exudes fun in every cut and corner of its sheet metal as well as its engine. That power plant, designated the 8L, kicks out a healthy 170 horsepower, more than enough to send the vehicle quickly down the road. The Mazda3 sedan, in its typical form, is a more sedate performer. Most Mazda3 buyers opt for the iSport with its 2.0 liter 155-horsepower four-cylinder engine. A larger 2.5 liter 185-hp mill is available in the Mazda3S, but its sticker price can climb steeply with desired options that are standard on the TSI. The Golf's autobahn-loving roots are also evident in the car's ride, and for not a lot of money, giving the nod to the Golf in the seat-of-the-pants fun category.
Safety is a Must
Automakers today make safety an extremely high priority. VW's Golf, for example, features what the company calls "Car Net." First introduced in 2014 Volkswagens, the system focuses on four distinct safety and security needs, known as Safe & Secure, Remote Vehicle Access, Family Guardian, and Diagnostics & Maintenance. The Golf's Car Net program links to its owner's smartphone as well as a designated desktop computer. This round-the-clock and 360-degree focus on safety has mightily impressed auto experts. The Mazda3 sedan is no slouch in the safety department, of course, and the car's functional safety equipment and the number of interior airbags and other bits and pieces work well. Car Net, though, seems almost preternaturally aware, once its owner programs it fully, providing occupants with an almost cocoon-like sense of safety and security.
Price and Equipment Matter
Volkswagen worked hard to make the Golf's price, across all its configurations, attractive to American consumers. Mazda has also delivered well-equipped models at relatively affordable prices. For 2016, the Golf TSI Sedan comes equipped with a serious amount of standard features that help it match up well against the Mazda3, even exceeding it on an apples-to-apples standard equipment basis. The VW's interior room and versatility, as well, helps make it a real winner in the sweepstakes. The Golf sedan looks to have set its sights on the Mazda3 and appears to win out on a price-and-equipment basis as well.
The U.S. compact car segment has never been more competitive, and you can benefit from this by negotiating a great price. Visit Capital Volkswagen today to preview and test drive!