For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota C-HR have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda3 doesn't offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The C-HR has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. Only the Mazda3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the C-HR has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Mazda3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the C-HR and the Mazda3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota C-HR is safer than the Mazda3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota C-HR is safer than the Mazda3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the C-HR for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the C-HR's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

The C-HR has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Mazda3 doesn't offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the C-HR's brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda3:

The C-HR stops shorter than the Mazda3:

For better traction, the C-HR has larger tires than the Mazda3 (225/50R18 vs. 205/60R16). The C-HR's tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda3 (225/50R18 vs. 215/45R18).

The C-HR's tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda3 2.0/2.5 S' standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C-HR has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Mazda3 2.0/2.5 S.

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota C-HR has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The C-HR Limited handles at .82 G's, while the Mazda3 Premium Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the C-HR's turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Mazda3's (34.2 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The C-HR is 3 inches shorter than the Mazda3 Hatchback, making the C-HR easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The C-HR is 10.9 inches shorter than the Mazda3 Sedan.

The power windows standard on both the C-HR and the Mazda3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the C-HR is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the C-HR the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Mazda3 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the C-HR's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Mazda3's headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The C-HR's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda3 Carbon/Turbo.

The C-HR has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Mazda3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo.

Insurance will cost less for the C-HR owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the C-HR will cost $165 less than the Mazda3 over a five-year period.

The C-HR will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the C-HR will retain 56.66% to 57.4% of its original price after five years, while the Mazda3 only retains 48.53% to 50.92%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota C-HR will be $1291 to $9638 less than for the Mazda3.

The Toyota C-HR outsold the Mazda3 by 7% during the 2021 model year.