Head-to-head
2025 Hyundai Elantra vs 2025 Mazda Mazda3
The Mazda Mazda3 wins clearly, 89.5 to 83.1, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
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2025 Hyundai Elantra
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid B…
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A2025 Mazda Mazda3
The 2025 Mazda Mazda3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 3 4-Door 2WD, is EPA-rated at …
More Hyundai Elantra head-to-heads More Mazda Mazda3 head-to-heads Every Elantra vs Mazda3 model year
Verdict · default weights
2025 Mazda Mazda3
Clear winThe Mazda Mazda3 wins clearly, 89.5 to 83.1, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
Fuel & range 2025 Hyundai Elantra leads by 42.1
Tech & comfort 2025 Mazda Mazda3 leads by 37.5
Safety 2025 Mazda Mazda3 leads by 17
| Category · weight | 2025 Mazda Mazda3overall 89.5 | 2025 Hyundai Elantraoverall 83.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 57.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 97 | 80 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 95.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 78.3 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 62.5 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 89.5 | 83.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Mazda Mazda3: base trim 2.5 S FWD · Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (8 against 35 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (36 points against 22.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 20.
Where the 2025 Hyundai Elantra answers
- It is rated 54 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $900 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,150).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
51 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $22,125 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC with Cylinder Deactivation | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder, Variable-Valve Timing | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 191 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 186 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 27 mpg | 32 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 31 mpg | 36 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 37 mpg | 41 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.422 | 4.892 |
| Transmission speeds | 6 | — |
| Transmission type | SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed AT | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 184 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 70.7 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 13.2 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 92.8 cu-ft | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | 40.6 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.3 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Third-row legroom | 35.1 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,124 lbs | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,124 lbs | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Torsion Beam Axle | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack-and-pinion | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.4 ft | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 280 mm | 279 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Mechanical Cable |
| Rear brake diameter | 265 mm | 262 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60R16 M+S | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 13.2 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Mazda Connect | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.7 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 55.6 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53.5 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
125 features · differences first, then sharedSafety14 differ · 29 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go (SCC & S&G) | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning System | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | — | std |
| 3-point safety belts for all seating positions | std | — |
| Child safety rear door locks | std | — |
| Front & Rear safety-belt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| LATCH rear seat child safety seat anchors & upper tether anchors | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | — | std |
| Seat belt warning/reminder for driver, front passenger and rear passengers | std | — |
| Smart Brake Support with pedestrian detection (SBS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | std | std |
| Advanced dual front airbags w/ Occupant Classification System (OCS) | std | std |
| Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact airbags | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA) | std | std |
| Rearview camera w/ dynamic guidelines | std | std |
| Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | std | std |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | std | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Warning (BCW) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | std | std |
| Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment14 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-fi Hotspot (tied to Navigation) | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| 6-speaker audio system with Mazda Harmonic Acoustics | std | — |
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen, AM/FM/HD, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | — | std |
| 8.8" full-color center display | std | — |
| AM/FM/Radio | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay™ / Android Auto™ integration | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment System | std | — |
| Multi-function Commander control | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
| USB Type-C Audio Inputs (2 ports) | std | — |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | std | std |
Convenience8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | std | — |
| 12-volt Outlet (below HVAC controls) | — | std |
| Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls | std | — |
| Illuminated entry system | std | — |
| Power door locks - speed sensitive with 2-stage unlocking | std | — |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | — | std |
| Power windows with one-touch down/up feature (4) | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry system | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning - manual | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
| PTC Heater | — | std |
Seating6 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | — | std |
| 4-way manual adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 60/40 split one-touch fold-down and reclining rear seatback | std | — |
| Headrests - height-adjustable, front & rear (3 passenger seats) | std | — |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
| Seating capacity: 5 | — | std |
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | std | std |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | std | std |
Interior15 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| 7-inch LCD meter display | std | — |
| Assist handles - (4) | std | — |
| Cargo area light (LED) | std | — |
| Door scuff: Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Gear selector - urethane | std | — |
| Map lights (LED) | std | — |
| Steering wheel - tilt & telescopic | std | — |
| Storage - center console armrest with covered storage compartments | std | — |
| Storage - cup holders, (2) front | std | — |
| Storage - glove compartment | std | — |
| Storage, bottle holder, front (2) and rear (2) door panels | std | — |
| Sun visors - dual covered vanity mirrors and extensions | std | — |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering column | — | std |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | std | opt |
| Steering wheel: Urethane | std | std |
| Inside Rearview Mirror – Manual Day/Night | std | std |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | std | std |
Exterior23 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| 15 x 6.0J Alloy wheels | — | std |
| 16 x 6.5J inch aluminum alloy wheels with Silver Metallic Finish | std | — |
| 205/60 R16 all-season tires | std | — |
| Brake light - center high-mount | std | — |
| Bulb Rear Tail Lights | — | std |
| Dual exhaust outlets | std | — |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | — | std |
| Front grille - matte finish | std | — |
| Grille: Black | — | std |
| Headlights - auto On/Off feature | std | — |
| Headlights - LED | std | — |
| License plate lamp (LED) | std | — |
| Rear combination lights | std | — |
| Rear hatch spoiler - black (Premium Plus Unique- PIO) | std | — |
| Side garnish - black | std | — |
| Side mirrors - body-color, dual power remote | std | — |
| Snowflake White Pearl Mica (exterior color option - Hatchback) | opt | — |
| Window Belt Moldings: Black | — | std |
| Windshield wipers - rear intermittent with washer | std | — |
| Windshield wipers - variable-intermittent | std | — |
| Automatic Headlamp Control | — | std |
| Solar Glass | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
| Rear Seat Heater Ducts and Rear Window Defroster | std | std |
| Compact Spar Tire T125/80D15×4T | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder (147 HP @ 6200, 132 lb-ft @ 4500) | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| SKYACTIV-G® 2.5 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with Cylinder Deactivation | std | — |
| SKYACTIV®-Drive 6-Speed AT with manual-shift mode and Sport mode | std | — |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| Drive Configuration: FWD | std | std |
Chassis10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | std | — |
| Front brakes: Ventilated Disc 11.0" | — | std |
| Front Suspension - MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | std | — |
| Front suspension: MacPherson Strut | — | std |
| Parking Brake Type: Hand lever / Mechanical Cable | — | std |
| Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering | std | — |
| Rear Suspension - Torsion Beam | std | — |
| Rear suspension: Coupled Torsion Beam Axle | — | std |
| SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS: G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Cover (hatchback) | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPMazda Mazda3
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 8 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Forward Collision Avoidance (2), Unspecified (2), Air Bags (1)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 25V357000 · 171,412 vehicles
Hyundai Elantra
Safety Signal 78 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 2 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 35 · 5 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (11), Lane Departure (10), Engine (5)
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Mazda Mazda32.5 S FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $22,125 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 13 trims | $22,125 – $35,850 10 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 3 4-Door 2WD | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 31 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,150 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
The Mazda Mazda3 wins clearly, 89.5 to 83.1, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 scores 89.5 and the 2025 Hyundai Elantra 83.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
2025 Mazda Mazda3: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2025 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 and the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2025 Mazda Mazda3 wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (8 against 35 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (36 points against 22.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and lists 24 standard driver-assist features against 20. Where the 2025 Hyundai Elantra answers: it is rated 54 combined against 31 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $900 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,150). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.