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Subcompact cars are all the rage right now. It seems like another entry is being launched in the segment every month or two, with the most recent addition for sedans being the all-new Toyota Vios, and for hatchbacks, the all-new Suzuki Swift.
It's not a bad thing, but the increased prices that go along with the newly-launched cars are beginning to look like a trend. The Vios 1.5 G CVT, for instance, now easily breaks the P1 million mark. It has us thinking whether we would shell out a premium for a spec-packed subcompact, or a base vehicle that's one segment higher.
Interesting thought, wouldn't you say? So we pit the two options against each other in a simple spec-sheet one-on-one. Let's start with the Mazda 2 and Mazda 3.
The top-of-the line Mazda 2 Premium gets the works: Red brake calipers, fancy 16-inch alloys in a machine gray finish, rain-sensing wipers and a leather interior. The Mazda 3 SkyActiv V is, well, a base variant for a reason. But it's considerably bigger, and features more than enough niceties to get by—automatic climate control, a leather steering wheel, etc.
The 2 carries a price tag of P1,085,000, while the 3 comes in at a very close P1,110,000. Which package would you choose? Let us know in the poll below:
| Mazda 2 Premium hatchback | Mazda 3 1.5 V hatchback | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Philippine Peso) | 1,085,000 | 1,110,000 |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Engine | 1.5-liter gasoline | 1.5-liter gasoline |
| Power | 107hp @ 6,000rpm | 108hp @ 6,000rpm |
| Torque | 139Nm @ 4,000Nm | 144Nm @ 3,500rpm |
| Transmission | Six-speed automatic | Six-speed automatic |
| Brakes (front/rear) | Ventilated disc/solid disc | Ventilated disc/solid disc |
| Front suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear suspension | Torsion Beam Axle | Rear Multi-link beam |
| Wheels | 16-inch aluminum alloys | 16-inch aluminum alloys |
| Tires | 185/60 R16 | 205/60 R16 |
| Airbags | Driver/passenger, side/curtain | Driver/passenger |
| Dimensions (mm) | 4,060 x 1,695 x 1,495 | 4,470 x 1,795 x 1,465 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,570 | 2,700 |
| Seats | Leather | Fabric |
