Compare the2022 Hyundai AccentVS 2022 Mazda 3

Both the Accent and the Mazda 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, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and daytime running lights.

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

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

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

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Accent 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the 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 Mazda 3 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Accent’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Mazda 3’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Accent 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 3.

There are over 50 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Accent’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Accent first among small cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 28 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 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.

On the EPA test cycle the Accent gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the Accent gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Hatchback:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Accent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 3 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Accent 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 Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Accent stops shorter than the Mazda 3:

The Accent Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Premium Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Accent’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Mazda 3’s (33.5 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The Hyundai Accent may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 700 pounds less than the Mazda 3.

The Accent is 3 inches shorter than the Mazda 3 Hatchback, making the Accent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Accent is 10.9 inches shorter than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Accent has .9 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Accent has a larger trunk than the Mazda 3 Sedan (13.7 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Accent Limited’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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

Consumer Reports rated the Accent’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the Accent owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Accent with a number “1” insurance rate while the Mazda 3 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Accent is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Accent than the Mazda 3, including $59 less for a water pump, $66 less for a muffler, $32 less for front brake pads, $165 less for a fuel pump, $87 less for front struts, $8 less for a timing belt/chain and $392 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Accent will be $3846 to $12742 less than for the Mazda 3.

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