Mazda 3 vs Skoda Octavia

It will soon be a total of six years since the Mazda 3 first landed on our shores.

And so much has changed since. All that time has been enough to see not just the arrival of a new iteration of its popular rival, the Skoda Octavia, but to even have that car already receive a mid-cycle update (our review of the Octavia Combi is available here). Meanwhile, Chinese-branded cars and electric vehicles, both market niches then, have now become popular segments here. 

But those who still see family transport as being represented by a Cat A COE-friendly sedan are likely to place these two petrol-burning options high on their shopping list. So, has all this time been enough for the practical Czech liftback to surpass the Japanese sedan, which impressed us with its refinement and quality cabin so many years back?

A revised front grille and head lights sharpen up the Skoda Octavia, while the Mazda 3 remains one purposeful looking sedan with its sensuous curves

Equally elegant

Let's kick things off by looking at the Octavia.

Just recently updated, the Octavia now comes with redesigned head lights, a new front grille, and most importantly, it now features a new 13-inch infotainment system in its cabin. And design wise, it's all hard to fault.

On the exterior, the Octavia's plentiful creases and the intricate details within its lights mean there's plenty for your eyes to take in, while its cabin does a good job of breaking up the monotony of greys with the application of Skoda's 'Suedia' material and the occasional deployment of gloss black surfaces.

The infotainment system of the Octavia allows the driver to do much more than that of the Mazda 3, but the Japanese sedan counters with a cabin that makes use of plenty of plush padded surfaces

Not that the Mazda isn't a looker. Shunning the acute angles and body creases of the Octavia and instead opting for gently flowing curves, the Mazda 3 appeals with its planted and purposeful stance just as much as it did all those years ago.

And its cabin sure has been tailored to delight. It's not quite as spacious as the Octavia regardless of which seat you take, but the material quality and general fit and finish here just feels top notch. There's also plenty of padded surfaces throughout, and its instrument cluster is not only legible but also outright elegant.

On the practicality front, the Mazda 3 offers physical air-conditioning controls, but the Skoda Octavia comes with plenty of useful hooks in its boot

Supremely practical

Granted, the Mazda cannot hope to offer all the conveniences that come with a big infotainment screen (such as an easier map reading or an easier reverse parking experience), but it does at least come with physical buttons for its air-conditioning system, which we find always makes it easier to operate when on the go.

If storage is your main priority, however, the Skoda Octavia is the car to get. Its 600-litre boot trumps the 444-litre one in the Mazda for sheer space while offering a larger opening, and it further comes with a host of hooks for your bags.

The Mazda 3 offers 444-litres of space for cargo, far less than the 600-litre one found in the back of the Octavia

Pleasant drive

And once everyone's luggage has been properly finessed, they'll also find the cabin of the Octavia a pleasant place to be. The ride here is delightfully soft, and noise insulation is commendable.

And there's an equally capable drivetrain under that bonnet for the driver. It's quiet and refined, making light work of the liftback's 1,440kg total weight when you're executing your inner-city commutes thanks to its healthy peak torque of 220Nm. I did find its seven-speed gearbox quite hesitant to execute downshifts when you need more power - but that's nothing that cannot be corrected via the car's paddle shifters.

The engine of the Mazda 3 is matched with a transmission that's eager to let the revs rise when needed, but the engine in the Skoda Octavia counters with more torque

The Mazda 3's drivetrain, comprising a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine, doesn't feel as strong low down in the rev range, but counters with its smooth six-speed automatic that is more willing to let the revs climb whenever you put your foot down.

And there's plenty else that will please the driver in the Mazda. The steering is nicely weighted and you get to sit low within the car, so even daily commutes in this sedan are imbued with a sense of sportiness. Noise insulation here is also great, although isolation from tyre noise could still be improved. You'll learn to scorn worn stretches of road in this sedan.

Both the Mazda 3 and Skoda Octavia will see to the typical family's needs with their polished drivetrains and practical cabins

Which to get?

As tested, both this 'Luxury' trim Mazda 3 and this 'Selection' trim Octavia liftback are effectively evenly priced, with the Japanese option going for $191,888 and its Czech counterpart asking for $189,900 (all prices as of 2 March 2025).

That the Mazda 3 can still challenge and beat the Skoda Octavia on so many points despite its age highlights not only what a great product it was all those years ago, but also what a great car it still is today. If you're not overly concerned with practical considerations and want a sedan that delivers on both a premium drive and cabin, the Mazda 3 is hard to pass up.

But the advances that have been bestowed upon the Octavia are even harder to ignore. Its upsized infotainment and the fact that it offers more space for passengers and cargo marks it out as the more secure option amongst the young families that will typically be buying into the segment, especially when it's so difficult to tell what you might need from a car six years down the road.

Shopping for a new car for your growing family? You'll want to catch these comparison articles:

The Volvo EX30 Ultra takes on the Smart #1 Pro+ in this shootout of sub-compact electric crossover

Or maybe you'd rather catch the Toyota Aqua Hybrid as it takes on the Nissan Note e-POWER

Still rather have combustion power? There's also this comparison between the Volkswagen T-Cross and the Kia Stonic