Get the 5 door Mazda3 and you will never look back. They are semi sporty (non MS3 version), can lug around a LOT, and get decent gas mileage.

2 door civic and 5 door mazda3 aren't in the same category imo...they serve two totally different purposes. Also, I would look into a used 2010 Mazda3. By the time you get out of BCT and AIT it would probably be around a year, so prices will be lower on used cars.