Interested from the standpoint of Driver comfort—I know some of the earlier years drew complaints about the seats being pretty hard and uncomfortable. I think Mazda has been building pretty good cars the last few years, but my last three cars have all been Honda models (2017 Ridgeline, a 2017 Accord LX, and a 2017 CRV).

The Ridgeline was wonderful, but I had severe heart issues come up and had to sell it. The Accord was wonderful, but I foolishly traded it for the CRV because I needed to tow a trailer. The Accord was one of the most comfortable cars I’ve ever driven (totally different and better than my girlfriend’s 2018 Accord, which has uncomfortable seats and a wider console, which I hate).

I pretty much know what I’m getting with the Mazda 3. I’ve never sat in or driven a Fit.

The manual transmission is a must, no matter what I buy—the CVT was the one thing I didn’t like about my Accord, and the CRV also has one. Shifting a manual is also good for me, as long as the clutch isn’t too heavy.

All opinions are welcome, thanks!

Jeff C

 

In driver comfort the 3 has a pretty big advantage, it is functionality and price the Fit has the biggest advantage.

 

Have never driven a Mazda, but have been driving a '15 Fit with a manual transmission......I can say, without a doubt, the clutch is quite light - I've driven sticks off and on through my whole life, this took me several days to get used to....not bad, just different than past experiences in terms of lightness, The Mazda would likely offer a better "driver's experience" (Zoom Zoom, and all - they should bring back that advertising campaign), but my Fit is a hoot to drive. Am sure others will chime in

 

I've never driven a manual Mazda3, but the auto is a fine machine.

If the OP is interested in driver comfort/power, the Mazda has it in spades!
A manual Fit basically excels in fuel economy, storage, ease of parking in tight areas (especially with the rear camera) and driving around town.
Any longer/higher speed driving (over 30 minutes) will result in driver/passenger fatigue.

 

The 3 is a class up from the Fit. I expect it will be more comfortable by far. Of course, how well the seat fits your own body, that's something you can only test yourself. You cannot assume any car, even a luxury brand, will necessarily work for your body (.... although your chances are better the more high-featured the seat is )

 

That’s the thing—you never know until you sit in a car how it really feels. The difference between my 2017 Accord and my girlfriend’s 2018 show that. I’m still amazed at how much more cramped and claustrophobic the 2018 model feels, and the seats are totally different.

Most of the other things about the Fit probably wouldn’t bother me. I owned a 1990 Mazda Miata for a long time before it finally died at 225k miles. I drove it back and forth between Detroit and St Louis, MO many times, and I doubt the Fit is noisier, harsher riding, or more buzzy than a softtop Miata on the highway.

I guess if worst comes to worst I could always replace the Fit driver’s seat with one from a 2012–2017 Accord…

Jeff C

 

Seat comfort is a PERSONAL THING! Sit in both for as long as practical before making any decisions.
I had a Mazda Protege5 years ago, and the seat simply did not fit me (or I didn't fit in that seat). I had to do all kinds of hacky things to make it livable.
Subaru seats (excluding BRZ, as that is actually more of a Toyota seat) generally feel good to me.
I'm not too fond of Toyota seats.
I like my Honda Fit seat just fine. It's not GREAT or anything, but I'm fine with it. I loved the 1990 Civic Si seat! I could drive that thing for hours and hours without any complaints.

Even for the same company, different models have different seats, and they can change stuff for different model years (or even mid-year due to supply issues and what not).

And you didn't say which trim (2018 Fit MT), but only EX has Honda-Sensing. LX/Sport don't. 2018 and 2019 EX MT is the only manual transmission Fit in the US to have Honda-Sensing.

 

Honda-Sensing isn’t a big thing for me.

Jeff C

 

Actually my 2018 Canadian LX has Honda Sensing as standard equipment. No TPMS which is only required in the US.

 

I've always found this odd. We just drove 12 hours Thursday and 8 Friday with no ill effects. We went right out to dinner with friends. And we're in our 60s.

 

My longest drive so far since getting my Fit has only been 9.5 hours. But I arrived feeling good, and went out dancing after dinner.

 

I call total

 

. Why? I’ve driven that long or longer in our Fit, was fine upon arrival… the same trip in our former car (before the HRV) was a Forte SX, that driver’s seat and I didn’t get along… I’m a shorter guy and the seat bottom was too long, pressed into th back of my calves… was fine for daily driving but not trips of several hundred miles…was a nicer car in many ways than my Fit, but, as stated before above, seat comfort is a very personal thing… kind of like fretboard radius and scale are on a guitar

 

A nice hamburger is great, and some even prefer it to a properly cooked steak, but most prefer the steak for a nice sit down dinner. I’m making this point only because anything for 55 mph (or below) and a trip of less than 30 minutes the Fit is great. For my taste any longer trip is nicer in something like a 3 (or in my case an Outback). It isn’t that the Fit can’t do longer trips at higher speeds, but instead most find that kind of drive more comfortable in a larger car. That being said Honda probably has made the Fit one of the better cars in the sub-compact class for a longer drive at higher speeds so it might be good enough for you. If so enjoy the savings the Fit provides.