Compare the2023 Mazda 3VS 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda 3 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mazda 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Mazda 3 has standard Whiplash Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Mazda 3 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360-Degree Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Ioniq Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Ioniq Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Mazda 3 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Ioniq Hybrid has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. With 5 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Hyundai.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 52 more horsepower (191 vs. 139) than the Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 111 more horsepower (250 vs. 139) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 195) than the Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda 3 is faster than the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid (automatics tested):

	3 4 cyl.	3 turbo 4 cyl.	Ioniq Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	n/a	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	5.6 sec	9.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	n/a	6.2 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	14.1 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	99 MPH	81 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Mazda 3 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Mazda 3 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ioniq Hybrid (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Mazda 3 AWD’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ioniq Hybrid:

	Mazda 3	Mazda 3 AWD	Ioniq Hybrid
Front Rotors	11.02 inches	11.61 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.43 inches	10.43 inches	10.3 inches

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Ioniq Hybrid:

	Mazda 3	Ioniq Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	144 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	160 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Mazda 3 has larger standard tires than the Ioniq Hybrid (205/60R16 vs. 195/65R15).

The Mazda 3 2.5 S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Ioniq Hybrid’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mazda 3 2.5 S has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Ioniq Hybrid. The Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the Ioniq Hybrid Limited.

The Mazda 3 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Ioniq Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Mazda 3 Premium Sedan handles at .86 G’s, while the Ioniq Hybrid SEL pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Mazda 3 Premium Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Ioniq Hybrid SEL (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Mazda 3 Sedan has .1 inches more front legroom and .8 inches more front hip room than the Ioniq Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Mazda 3 Turbo Hatchback has a standard power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

The Mazda 3 Auto offers a 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 Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Mazda 3 Premium/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Mazda 3’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Ioniq Hybrid’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Mazda 3’s front and rear power windows all 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 Ioniq Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Ioniq Hybrid Limited’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Mazda 3’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Ioniq Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Mazda 3’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Ioniq Hybrid’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Mazda 3’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Ioniq Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Mazda 3’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Ioniq Hybrid’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

When the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Ioniq Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Mazda 3’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Ioniq Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Mazda 3 Turbo’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda 3 offers an available wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Ioniq Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Mazda 3 comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid isn’t available as a sedan.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Mazda 3 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Mazda 3 will cost $1190 less than the Ioniq Hybrid over a five-year period.

The Mazda 3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Mazda 3 will retain 49.31% to 50.91% of its original price after five years, while the Ioniq Hybrid only retains 42.97% to 44.06%.

Recommendations

The Mazda 3 has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Mazda 3	Ioniq Hybrid
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	n/a

The Mazda 3 outsold the Hyundai Ioniq by 1113 units during 2022.