Head-to-head
2026 Honda Civic vs 2026 Mazda Mazda3
Too close to call: Mazda Mazda3 93.1 vs Honda Civic 92 with these weights. The Honda Civic is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.6 and it flips.
A
2026 Honda Civic
The 2026 Honda Civic is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Civic 4Dr, is EPA-ra…
vs
A2026 Mazda Mazda3
The 2026 Mazda Mazda3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 3 4-Door 2WD, is EPA-rated at …
Verdict · default weights
2026 Mazda Mazda3
Toss-upToo close to call: Mazda Mazda3 93.1 vs Honda Civic 92 with these weights. The Honda Civic is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.6 and it flips.
Fuel & range2026 Honda Civic leads by 39.9
Safety2026 Mazda Mazda3 leads by 14.1
Performance2026 Mazda Mazda3 leads by 22.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Mazda Mazda3overall 93.1 | 2026 Honda Civicoverall 92 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 99.8 |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 60.1 | 100 |
| Safetyw 4 | 99.1 | 85 |
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 |
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 77.6 |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 87 |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 93.1 | 92 |
Mazda Mazda3: base trim 2.5 S Sedan FWD · Honda Civic: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.6 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
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Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $24,650 | $24,695 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | 1,993 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | SKYACTIV-G 2.5 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder | Atkinson In-Line 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 186 hp | 150 hp |
| Torque | 186 lb-ft | 133 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 27 mpg | 32 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | 36 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | 41 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.626 | 3.941 |
| Transmission speeds | 6 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 184 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 70.7 in | 70.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | 108 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 14.8 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 99 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | 39.3 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.3 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | 35.1 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 37.4 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,111 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,111 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent, MacPherson strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Torsion Beam Axle | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack-and-pinion, Electric Power Steering | Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.4 ft | 36.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 280 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electronic | Electric |
| Rear brake diameter | 265 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60R16 | 215/55R16 93H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 13.2 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Mazda Connected Services | HondaLink |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | 36 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.7 in | 57 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 53.5 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 56 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
198 features · differences first, then sharedSafety30 differ · 43 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Driver Attention Monitor | std | — |
| Rear Outboard Passenger's Side Airbags | — | std |
| 3-point safety belts for all seating positions | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | std | — |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child safety rear door locks | std | — |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | — | std |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | — | std |
| Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | std | — |
| Front & Rear safety-belt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| LATCH rear seat child safety seat anchors & upper tether anchors | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row Outboard), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All) | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Monitor (CTM) / Cross Traffic Monitor | — | std |
| Rear Seat Alert | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder (RSR) | — | std |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat belt warning/reminder for driver, front passenger and rear passengers | std | — |
| Seat-Belt Reminder for All Seating Positions | — | std |
| Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | — | std |
| Smart Brake Support with pedestrian, bicycles or motorcycles detection (SBS) | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Vehicle Exit Warning | std | — |
| Engine immobilizer anti-theft system | std | — |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Advanced Front Airbags (SRS) | std | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Front Side Airbags | std | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | std |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | std |
| Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | std | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Knee Airbags (SRS) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Hotspot Capability | std | — |
| 160-watt Audio System with 4 Speakers | — | std |
| 7-Inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| 7-Inch TFT Meter | — | std |
| 8-speaker audio system with Mazda Harmonic Acoustics | std | — |
| 8.8" full-color center display | std | — |
| AM/FM/Radio | std | — |
| Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay™ / Android Auto™ integration | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio capability | std | — |
| Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Streaming Audio | — | std |
| HondaLink® | — | std |
| MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment System | std | — |
| Multi-function Commander control | std | — |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | — | std |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | — | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio, phone and cruise controls | std | — |
| USB Type-C Audio Inputs (2 ports) | std | — |
| USB-C 3.0A Charging Port (1) Front Seats | — | std |
| USB-C 3.0A Smartphone/Audio Interface (1) - Front Seats | — | std |
Convenience13 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Cruise Control | — | std |
| Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold | — | std |
| Honda Maintenance Program 1yr / 12k miles | — | std |
| Illuminated entry system | std | — |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Door Locks | — | std |
| Power door locks - speed sensitive with 2-stage unlocking | std | — |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down Driver's and Front Passenger's Windows | — | std |
| Power windows with one-touch down/up feature (4) | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry system | std | — |
| Security System with Remote Entry and Trunk Release / Hatch Release | — | std |
| Push Button Start | std | std |
Climate4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning - manual | std | — |
| Automatic Climate Control System | — | std |
| Heater / defroster | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | — | std |
Seating8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat with seat lifter | std | — |
| 4-way manual adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 5-passenger seating capacity | std | — |
| 5-Person Seating Capacity | — | std |
| 60/40 split one-touch fold-down and reclining rear seatback | std | — |
| Headrests - Front (height-adjustable: Driver and Passenger) & rear (removable - 3 passengers) | std | — |
| One Piece Fold-Down Rear Seatback | — | std |
| Seat material - cloth (black) | std | — |
Interior33 differ · 35 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch LCD meter display | std | — |
| Ambient temperature | std | — |
| Assist handles - (4) | std | — |
| Beverage Holders | — | std |
| Center Console with Storage Compartment / Center Console Armrest with Storage Compartment | — | std |
| Coat hooks (2) Rear | std | — |
| Digital clock | std | — |
| Front Beverage Holders | — | std |
| Fuel gauge | std | — |
| Gear selector - urethane | std | — |
| Headroom (in.) (front/rear): 39.3 / 37.1 (LX/Sport/Type R); 37.6 / 37.1 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Hiproom (in.) (front/rear): 54.3 / 48.9 | — | std |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | — | std |
| Legroom (in.) (front/rear): 42.3 / 37.4 | — | std |
| Map Lights | — | std |
| Map lights (LED) | std | — |
| MSRP (excluding destination): LX $24,695; Sport $26,695; Type R $47,395; Sport Hybrid $29,395; Sport Touring Hybrid $32,395 | — | std |
| Multi-Information Display (MID) - Speedometer, Odometer, Trip Meter, Outside Temperature, Distance-To-Empty, Average Fuel Economy, Current fuel economy, i-Activsense display, Compass Display, Door-Ajar/Liftgate-Ajar Warning indication, Message Display | std | — |
| Passenger Volume (cu ft.): 99.0 (LX/Sport/Type R); 96.6 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Shoulder Room (in.) (front/rear): 57.0 / 56.0 | — | std |
| Speedometer | std | — |
| Steering wheel - urethane | std | — |
| Storage - center console armrest with covered storage compartments | std | — |
| Storage - cup holders, (2) front | std | — |
| Storage - glove compartment | std | — |
| Storage, bottle holder, front (2) and rear (2) door panels | std | — |
| Sun visors - dual covered vanity mirrors and extensions | std | — |
| Tachometer | std | — |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Rearview mirror - manual day/night | std | — |
| Steering wheel - tilt & telescopic | std | — |
| Sliding Sunvisors | — | std |
| Trip computer - Odometer, Trip meter A & B, current and average fuel economy | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light | std | std |
| Floor Mats | std | std |
Exterior26 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16 x 6.5J inch aluminum alloy wheels with Silver Metallic Finish | std | — |
| 205/60 R16 all-season tires | std | — |
| All-Season Tires: 215/55R16 93H (LX); 235/40R18 91W (Sport/Sport Hybrid/Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan) | — | std |
| Brake light - center high-mount | std | — |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Compact Spare Tire | — | std |
| Dual exhaust outlets | std | — |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna / Gloss Black Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | — | std |
| Front grille - matte finish | std | — |
| Headlights - auto On/Off feature | std | — |
| Headlights - LED | std | — |
| LED Brake and Taillights | — | std |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off | — | std |
| License plate lamp (LED) | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Rear combination lights | std | — |
| Rear lip spoiler - black (PIO) [Sedan] / Rear hatch spoiler - black (Premium Plus Unique - PIO) [Hatchback] | std | — |
| Side garnish - black | std | — |
| Side mirrors - body-color, dual power remote with LED turn signal indicators | std | — |
| Side mirrors - body-color, dual power remote with LED turn signal indicators | std | — |
| Two-Speed Intermittent Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Wheels: 19 x 9.5J Matte Black Wheels (Type R); 18 in Gloss Black Alloys (Sport/Sport Hybrid); 18 in Alloys with Matte Shark Gray Inserts (Sport Touring Hybrid); 16 in with Full Covers (LX) | — | std |
| Windshield wipers - rear intermittent with washer | std | — |
| Windshield wipers - variable-intermittent | std | — |
| T125/70D16 temporary spare tire / T125/80D16 temporary spare tire | std | — |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | std | std |
Powertrain21 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Bore and Stroke (mm): 81 × 96.7 (LX/Sport/Hybrid); 86.0 x 85.9 (Type R) | — | std |
| CARB Emissions Rating: LEV4-SULEV30 (Sedan LX/Sport/Hybrids); LEV3-SULEV30 (Hatchback Sport); LEV4-ULEV50 (Type R) | — | std |
| Compression Ratio: 13:1 (LX/Sport); 9.8:1 (Type R); 13.9:1 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Continuously Variable Transmission | — | std |
| CVT Idle-Stop | — | std |
| Direct Fuel Injection | — | std |
| Displacement (cc): 1,993 (non-turbo) / 1,996 (Type R) | — | std |
| Dynamic Drive Modes: Comfort/Sport/Individual/+R (Type R); 4-Mode Econ/Normal/Sport/Individual (Sport Touring Hybrid); 3-Mode Econ/Normal/Sport (Sport/Sport Hybrid); 2-Mode Econ/Normal (LX) | — | std |
| Eco Assist™ System | — | std |
| Engine Type: Atkinson In-Line 4-cylinder | — | std |
| EPA MPG Ratings (City/Highway/Combined): LX 32/41/36; Sport 31/39/34; Type R 22/28/24; Sport Hybrid 50/47/49; Sport Touring Hybrid 50/47/49 | — | std |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (U.S. gal.): 12.4 (LX/Sport/Type R); 10.6 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Horsepower (SAE net @ rpm): 150 @ 6,400 (LX/Sport); 315 @ 6,500 (Type R); 141 @ 6,000 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Redline (rpm): 6,700 (LX/Sport); 7,000 (Type R); 6,250 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Required Fuel: Regular Unleaded (Premium Recommended for Type R) | — | std |
| SKYACTIV-G® 2.5 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with Cylinder Deactivation | std | — |
| SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS: G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) | std | — |
| SKYACTIV®-Drive 6-Speed AT with manual-shift mode and Sport mode | std | — |
| Torque (lb.-ft. @ rpm): 133 @ 4,000-5,000 (LX/Sport); 310 @ 2,600-4,000 (Type R); 134 @ 4,500 (Hybrids) | — | std |
| Tune-up Interval: 100k +/- Miles / No Scheduled Tune-Ups (Hybrid/Type R) | — | std |
| Valve Train: 16-Valve DOHC Dual-VTC (LX/Sport/Hybrid); 16-Valve DOHC VTEC® (Type R) | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive | std | std |
Chassis19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Curb Weight (lbs.): 2,875 (LX Sedan); 2,926 (Sport Sedan); 3,188 (Type R); 3,208 (Sport Hybrid Sedan); 3,252 (Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan) | — | std |
| Front Suspension - MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | std | — |
| Height (in.): 55.7 (Sedan/Hatchback); 55.4 (Type R) | — | std |
| Length (in.): 184.8 (Sedan); 180.9 (Type R); 179.0 (Hatchback) | — | std |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | — | std |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | — | std |
| Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering | std | — |
| Power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes and rear solid disc brakes | std | — |
| Power-Assisted, Ventilated, Two-Piece Front Disc/Solid Rear Disc Brakes (in.) (front/rear): 13.8 / 12.0 (Type R); 11.1 / 10.2 (others) | — | std |
| Rear Suspension - Torsion Beam | std | — |
| Stabilizer Bar (mm) (front/rear): 29.0 x 5.0 (tubular) / 20.5 (solid) [Type R]; varies by other trims | — | std |
| Steering Ratio: 11.6:1 (Type R); 11.5:1 (Sport); 11.3:1 (LX); 11.41:1 (Hatchback) | — | std |
| Steering Wheel Turns, Lock-to-Lock: 2.10 (Type R); 2.20/2.21 (Sport/Hatchback); 2.30 (LX) | — | std |
| Track (in.) (front/rear): 64.0 / 63.5 (Type R); 60.5 / 61.6 (Sport/Hybrids Sedan); 60.9 / 62.0 (LX) | — | std |
| Turning Diameter, Curb-to-Curb (ft.): 39.9 (Type R); 38.1 (Sport/Hybrids Sedan); 36.1 (LX) | — | std |
| Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | — | std |
| Weight Distribution (%) (front/rear): 61/39 (LX); 62/38 (Type R/Sport Touring Hybrid); 64/36 (Sport Hybrid) | — | std |
| Wheelbase (in.): 107.7 | — | std |
| Width (in.): 70.9 (Sedan/Hatchback); 74.4 (Type R) | — | std |
Cargo3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Cover [Hatchback only] | std | — |
| Cargo Volume (cu ft.) (rear seat up): 14.8 (Sedan); 24.5 (Type R / Hatchback) | — | std |
| Reversible Side-Pull Cargo Cover | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPMazda Mazda3
Safety Signal100 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls0
Owner complaints1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutSteering (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Honda Civic
Safety Signal92 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls1
Owner complaints27 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutForward Collision Avoidance (9), Unspecified (5), Electrical System (5)
Top recalls
- highSteering24V744000 · 1,693,199 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Honda CivicLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24,650 (base trim) | $24,695 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $24,650 – $38,090 11 trims | $24,695 – $47,395 8 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 3 4-Door 2WD | Civic 4Dr |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 49 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,100 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2026 Honda Civic?
Too close to call: Mazda Mazda3 93.1 vs Honda Civic 92 with these weights. The Honda Civic is ahead on fuel & range. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.6 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 scores 93.1 and the 2026 Honda Civic 92. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2026 Honda Civic?
The 2026 Mazda Mazda3 starts lower — $24,650 against $24,695, a gap of $45 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2026 Honda Civic?
2026 Mazda Mazda3: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Honda Civic: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the differences between the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 and the 2026 Honda Civic?
This page puts 51 specifications and 198 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.