Compare the2022 Hyundai KonaVS 2021 Mazda CX-3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/04

The Kona’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Compared to metal, the Kona’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-3 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Kona and the CX-3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Mazda CX-3:

	Kona	CX-3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20%	27%
Neck Stress	207 lbs.	334 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	37%	39%
Neck Stress	193 lbs.	198 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	59/27 lbs.	252/310 lbs.

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Mazda CX-3:

	Kona	CX-3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	109	183
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	66 G’s	85 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	196	287

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Kona its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 97 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-3 is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Kona comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-3’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-3 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-3’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-3.

There are over 48 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kona’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kona has a standard 150-amp alternator (130-amp - Kona 1.6T). The CX-3’s 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, 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 Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

Engine

The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (195 vs. 148) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 146) than the CX-3’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Kona gets better fuel mileage than the CX-3:

			MPG
Kona
	2WD	1.6 Turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/35 hwy
	4WD	1.6 Turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
CX-3
	2WD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/34 hwy
	4WD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy

The Kona has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-3 AWD’s standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Hyundai Kona as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Mazda CX-3 is only certified to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV) standards.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Hyundai Kona N Line/Limited, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-3.

The Kona 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 CX-3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Kona offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Kona AWD/1.6T’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-3:

	Kona AWD/1.6T	CX-3	CX-3 AWD
Front Rotors	12 inches	11 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.1 inches	11.1 inches

The Kona stops much shorter than the CX-3:

	Kona	CX-3
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	181 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Kona N Line/Limited’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-3 (235/45R18 vs. 215/60R16).

The Kona N Line/Limited’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-3’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona N Line/Limited has standard 18-inch wheels. The CX-3’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Kona AWD 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 Mazda CX-3 has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Kona has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-3’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Kona AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Kona AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Kona’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the CX-3 (102.4 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Kona is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CX-3.

The Kona SEL AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the CX-3 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kona executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-3 AWD (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Kona has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-3 (6.7 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Kona to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Kona has 6.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-3 (94.1 vs. 87.6).

The Kona has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-3.

Cargo Capacity

The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-3 with its rear seat up (19.2 vs. 17.8 cubic feet). The Kona has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-3 with its rear seat folded (45.8 vs. 42.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kona easier. The Kona’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the CX-3’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

The Kona’s cargo area is larger than the CX-3’s in almost every dimension:

	Kona	CX-3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	28.6”/61”	30.9”/58”
Max Width	48”	n/a
Min Width	40”	39.4”
Height	30”	26.6”

Ergonomics

The Kona SEL, N-Line and Limited has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Kona and the CX-3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Kona’s optional front power windows open fully with one touch of the switches, and the driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CX-3’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

The Proximity Key standard on the Kona SEL/N Line/Limited allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Mazda CX-3’s Pushbutton Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the cargo door.

The Kona’s driver power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-3’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Kona’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the CX-3’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Kona SEL/N Line/Limited’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The CX-3 doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Kona (except SE) offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the CX-3.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Kona (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The CX-3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Kona is less expensive to operate than the CX-3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Kona than the CX-3, including $55 less for front brake pads, $221 less for fuel injection, $10 less for a fuel pump, $6 less for front struts and $28 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Kona third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CX-3 isn’t in the top three.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The CX-3 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.