Compare the2023 Mazda 3VS 2023 Nissan Versa

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
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 Nissan Versa doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Versa doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Mazda 3 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Versa 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 Versa only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Mazda 3 and Versa have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

The Mazda 3 has standard E911 Automatic Emergency Notification, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Versa doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Versa have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

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

	Mazda 3	Versa
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	89	364
Neck Injury Risk	17%	36%
Neck Stress	214 lbs.	326 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	298 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	205/212 lbs.	354/296 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	153	267
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	57%
Neck Stress	191 lbs.	271 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	137 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	178/201 lbs.	236/194 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 Mazda 3 is safer than the Nissan Versa:

	Mazda 3	Versa
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	112	145
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Hip Force	239 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	199	232

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Mazda 3, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 1.7% less likely to roll over than the Versa, which received a four-star rating.

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 Versa has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (191 vs. 122) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 114) than the Versa’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 128 more horsepower (250 vs. 122) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 114) than the Versa’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda 3 is faster than the Nissan Versa (automatics tested):

	3 4 cyl.	3 turbo 4 cyl.	Versa
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	5.6 sec	10.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.6 sec	14.3 sec	33.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.7 sec	6.4 sec	10.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	14.1 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	99 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	131 MPH	134 MPH	115 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 Versa doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Mazda 3 offers an optional system to automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Versa doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Mazda 3 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Versa (12.7 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Mazda 3 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Versa (13.2 vs. 10.8 gallons).

Transmission

The Mazda 3 comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Versa.

A six-speed manual is no cost option on the Mazda 3 4 cyl. Hatchback Premium, with closer gear ratios for better performance and a lower final drive ratio for quieter highway operation, less engine wear and better fuel mileage. Only a five-speed manual is available for the Versa.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Mazda 3	Mazda 3 AWD	Versa
Front Rotors	11.02 inches	11.61 inches	10 inches
Rear Rotors	10.43 inches	10.43 inches	8” drums

The Mazda 3 has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Versa. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Versa:

	Mazda 3	Versa
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Mazda 3 has larger standard tires than the Versa (205/60R16 vs. 195/65R15). The Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Versa (215/45R18 vs. 205/55R16).

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 Versa S’ standard 65 series tires. The Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Versa SR’s 50 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 Versa S. The Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Versa SR.

The Mazda 3’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Versa only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Mazda 3’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Versa (107.3 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mazda 3 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Versa.

The Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the Versa SR pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mazda 3 Premium Sedan executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Versa SR (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Versa (92.8 vs. 88.9).

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 3.7 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear hip room than the Versa.

Cargo Capacity

The Mazda 3’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Versa S Manual doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Versa doesn’t offer a memory 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 Versa 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 Versa has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Versa’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens 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 Versa can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Versa’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Versa SV/SR’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Mazda 3 Premium/Turbo has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Versa doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Versa’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 Versa 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 Versa doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Versa doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Versa doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mazda 3 has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Versa doesn’t offer rear vents.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Mazda 3 Premium. The Mazda 3’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Versa doesn’t offer a navigation system.

Model Availability

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

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 $1470 less than the Versa 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 Versa only retains 44.29% to 46.42%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mazda 3 is less expensive to operate than the Versa because typical repairs cost less on the Mazda 3 than the Versa, including $17 less for front brake pads, $67 less for a starter and $2 less for fuel injection.

Recommendations

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

	Mazda 3	Versa
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The Mazda 3 outsold the Nissan Versa by over two to one during 2022.

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