Compare the2022 Hyundai Kona NVS 2021 Mazda CX-3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Kona N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kona N’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 N’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 N 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona N 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 52 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kona N’s warranty.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 12th.

The Kona N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 128 more horsepower (276 vs. 148) and 143 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 146) than the CX-3’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Kona N is faster than the Mazda CX-3:

The Kona N 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.

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

The Kona N offers a standard 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.

The Kona N’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CX-3 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Kona N’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-3:

The Kona N’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-3 are solid, not vented.

The Kona N stops much shorter than the CX-3:

For better traction, the Kona N has larger tires than the CX-3 (235/40R19 vs. 215/60R16).

The Kona N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-3’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Kona N has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the CX-3.

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Kona N 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 rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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

The Kona N has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Kona N’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 track (width between the wheels) on the Kona N is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-3.

The Kona N handles at .95 G’s, while the CX-3 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

The Kona N 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.

The Kona N 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 N 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 N easier. The Kona N’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the CX-3’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

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

The Kona N 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 N and the CX-3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Kona N 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 N’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, 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 N 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 N’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 Kona N’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 N has standard 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 N has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The CX-3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Kona N 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.