Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Mazda Mazda3
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88.9 to 80.8, on fuel & range. The Mazda Mazda3 is ahead on safety.
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2026 Hyundai Elantra
The 2026 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…
vs
A2026 Mazda Mazda3
The 2026 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 …
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88.9 to 80.8, on fuel & range. The Mazda Mazda3 is ahead on safety.
Fuel & range2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 44.9
Safety2026 Mazda Mazda3 leads by 19.4
| Category · weight | 2026 Mazda Mazda3overall 80.8 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 88.9 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | no data | no data |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 55.1 | 100 |
| Safetyw 4 | 100 | 80.6 |
| Space & cargow 2 | no data | no data |
| Performancew 2 | no data | no data |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | no data | no data |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 80.8 | 88.9 |
Mazda Mazda3: base trim 2.5 S Sedan FWD · Hyundai Elantra: model-level data. 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.
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Specifications side by side
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $24,650 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 2,488 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | SKYACTIV-G 2.5 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder | — |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 186 hp | — |
| Torque | 186 lb-ft | — |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 27 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 30 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 36 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.626 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 6 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | — |
| Overall length | 184 in | — |
| Overall width | 70.7 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 37.3 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 35.1 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,111 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,111 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent, MacPherson strut | — |
| Rear suspension type | Torsion Beam Axle | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack-and-pinion, Electric Power Steering | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.4 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 280 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electronic | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 265 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | alloy | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60R16 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 13.2 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Mazda Connected Services | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.7 in | — |
| Second-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
100 features · differences first, then sharedSafety27 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with stop and go function | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Advanced dual front air bags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning System | std | — |
| Lane Keep Assist | std | — |
| Rearview camera | std | — |
| Side impact air curtains (front and rear) with roll-over protection | std | — |
| Side-impact air bags - front & rear | std | — |
| Driver Attention Alert | std | — |
| 3-point safety belts for all seating positions | std | — |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | std | — |
| Child safety rear door locks | std | — |
| Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS) | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) | std | — |
| Front & Rear safety-belt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| Headlights - high beam control (HBC) | std | — |
| Hill Launch Assist and Auto Hold | std | — |
| Knee air bags (Driver and Passenger side) | std | — |
| LATCH rear seat child safety seat anchors & upper tether anchors | std | — |
| Rear Seat Alert | std | — |
| Seat belt warning/reminder for driver, front passenger and rear passengers | std | — |
| Smart Brake Support with pedestrian, bicycles or motorcycles detection (SBS) | std | — |
| Vehicle Exit Warning | std | — |
| Engine immobilizer anti-theft system | std | — |
| Tire pressure monitoring system - individual- (TPMS) | std | — |
Infotainment10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment System - Mazda Connect Wi-Fi / In vehicle Wi-Fi | std | — |
| 8-speaker audio system with Mazda Harmonic Acoustics | std | — |
| 8.8" full-color center display | std | — |
| AM/FM/Radio | std | — |
| Apple CarPlay™ / Android Auto™ integration | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio capability | std | — |
| MAZDA CONNECT™ Infotainment System | std | — |
| Multi-function Commander control | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio, phone and cruise controls | std | — |
| USB Type-C Audio Inputs (2 ports) | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Push button start | 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 one-touch down/up feature (4) | std | — |
| Remote keyless entry system | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning - manual | std | — |
| Heater / defroster | std | — |
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way manual adjustable driver's seat with seat lifter | std | — |
| 4-way manual adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 5-passenger seating capacity | std | — |
| 60/40 split one-touch fold-down and reclining rear seatback | std | — |
| Headrests - Front (height-adjustable: Driver and Passenger) & rear (removable - 3 passengers) | std | — |
| Seat material - cloth (black) | std | — |
Interior22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch LCD meter display | std | — |
| Ambient temperature | std | — |
| Assist handles - (4) | std | — |
| Cargo area light | std | — |
| Coat hooks (2) Rear | std | — |
| Digital clock | std | — |
| Fuel gauge | std | — |
| Gear selector - urethane | std | — |
| Map lights (LED) | std | — |
| Multi-Information Display (MID) - Speedometer, Odometer, Trip Meter, Outside Temperature, Distance-To-Empty, Average Fuel Economy, Current fuel economy, i-Activsense display, Compass Display, Door-Ajar/Liftgate-Ajar Warning indication, Message Display | std | — |
| Speedometer | std | — |
| Steering wheel - urethane | 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 | — |
| Tachometer | std | — |
| Rearview mirror - manual day/night | std | — |
| Steering wheel - tilt & telescopic | std | — |
| Floor mats - carpeted | std | — |
| Trip computer - Odometer, Trip meter A & B, current and average fuel economy | std | — |
Exterior18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| Dual exhaust outlets | std | — |
| Front grille - matte finish | std | — |
| Headlights - auto On/Off feature | std | — |
| Headlights - daytime running lights (LED) | std | — |
| Headlights - LED | std | — |
| License plate lamp (LED) | std | — |
| Rear combination lights | std | — |
| Rear lip spoiler - black (PIO) [Sedan] / Rear hatch spoiler - black (Premium Plus Unique - PIO) [Hatchback] | std | — |
| Side garnish - black | std | — |
| Side mirrors - body-color, dual power remote with LED turn signal indicators | std | — |
| Side mirrors - body-color, dual power remote with LED turn signal indicators | std | — |
| Windshield wipers - rear intermittent with washer | std | — |
| Windshield wipers - variable-intermittent | std | — |
| Rear window defogger with timer | std | — |
| T125/70D16 temporary spare tire / T125/80D16 temporary spare tire | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Front Wheel Drive | std | — |
| SKYACTIV-G® 2.5 DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine with Cylinder Deactivation | std | — |
| SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS: G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) | std | — |
| SKYACTIV®-Drive 6-Speed AT with manual-shift mode and Sport mode | std | — |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Front Suspension - MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | std | — |
| Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering | std | — |
| Power-assisted ventilated front disc brakes and rear solid disc brakes | std | — |
| Rear Suspension - Torsion Beam | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Cover [Hatchback only] | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPMazda Mazda3
Safety Signal100 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls0
Owner complaints1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutSteering (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Elantra
Safety Signal77 C
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls2 · 1 critical
Owner complaints3 · 0 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained aboutWheels (1), Air Bags (1), Fuel/Propulsion System (1)
Top recalls
- criticalElectrical System26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- highAir Bags26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Mazda Mazda32.5 S Sedan FWD | Hyundai Elantra | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24,650 (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | $24,650 – $38,090 11 trims | — |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 3 4-Door 2WD | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 30 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,100 | $1,150 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88.9 to 80.8, on fuel & range. The Mazda Mazda3 is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 88.9 and the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 80.8. 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 2026 Mazda Mazda3 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 Mazda Mazda3: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 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 differences between the 2026 Mazda Mazda3 and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
This page puts 46 specifications and 100 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.