Compare the2024 Volkswagen JettaVS 2024 Mazda 3

The Jetta has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Jetta has standard Rear Traffic Alert with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the Jetta 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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, results indicate that the Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Mazda 3:

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

The Jetta comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The 3’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Jetta for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are over 17 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Jetta’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Jetta has a 140-amp alternator. The Mazda 3’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Jetta third among compact cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Jetta is faster than the Mazda 3 (base engine) (manual transmissions tested):

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

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Jetta uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 3 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

An eight-speed automatic is optional on the Volkswagen Jetta, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 3.

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

The Jetta stops shorter than the Mazda 3:

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

The Jetta has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Jetta’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59% to 41%) than the Mazda 3’s (60.2% to 39.8%). This gives the Jetta more stable handling and braking.

The Jetta Sport handles at .87 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Jetta S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The front grille of the Jetta uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Jetta has .5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Jetta has a larger trunk than the Mazda 3 Sedan (14.1 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Jetta and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Jetta 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.

If the windows are left open on the Jetta SE/R-Line/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Mazda 3 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Jetta’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 Mazda 3 2.5 S’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Jetta SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

The Jetta’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium.

Both the Jetta and the Mazda 3 offer available heated front seats. The Jetta SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Mazda 3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Jetta is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because typical repairs cost less on the Jetta than the Mazda 3, including $8 less for front brake pads and $34 less for a fuel pump.

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

The Volkswagen Jetta outsold the Mazda 3 by 38% during 2022.