Compare the2024 Mazda 3VS 2023 Hyundai Elantra

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Elantra 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 Elantra doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Elantra 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 Elantra 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 Elantra 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 the Elantra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 Hyundai Elantra:

	Mazda 3	Elantra
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	89	142
Neck Injury Risk	17%	21%
Neck Stress	214 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	27 lbs.	51 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	153	314
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	42%

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 Hyundai Elantra:

	Mazda 3	Elantra
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	238 lbs.	239 lbs.
Hip Force	239 lbs.	327 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	10 inches	11 inches
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	954 lbs.

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

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 54 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Elantra last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Mazda 3’s reliability 20 points higher than the Elantra.

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 44 more horsepower (191 vs. 147) and 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 103 more horsepower (250 vs. 147) and 188 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda 3 is faster than the Hyundai Elantra (automatics tested):

	Mazda3	Mazda3 Turbo	Elantra
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	n/a	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	5.6 sec	8.4 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.5 sec	n/a	13.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.9 sec	n/a	4.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	14.1 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.3 MPH	99 MPH	87.5 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 Elantra doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda 3 higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Elantra (5 to 7). This means the Mazda 3 produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Elantra every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

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

The Mazda 3’s standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The front discs on the Elantra are solid, not vented.

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Elantra:

	Mazda 3	Elantra
70 to 0 MPH	164 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	128 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

The Mazda 3 2.5 S Sedan’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 Elantra SE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Mazda 3 2.5 S Sedan has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Elantra SE. The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the Elantra.

Suspension and Handling

The Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan handles at .86 G’s, while the Elantra Limited pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Mazda 3’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Elantra’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda 3 Sedan is 8.5 inches shorter than the Elantra, making the Mazda 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback is quieter than the Elantra Limited (74 vs. 79 dB).

Passenger Space

The Mazda 3 Sedan has 1.2 inches more front hip room and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Elantra.

Cargo Capacity

The Mazda 3’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Elantra’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

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 Elantra doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium, 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 Elantra doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Mazda 3 Premium 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 Elantra 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 Elantra 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 Elantra’s standard 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 Elantra 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 Elantra’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Mazda 3’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Elantra’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 Elantra’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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

When the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium 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 Elantra’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 Elantra offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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

Both the Mazda 3 and the Elantra offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Elantra doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

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

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2021 issue and they ranked the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD two places higher than the Hyundai Elantra Limited.