2019 Hyundai Elantra vs 2019 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra received a significant facelift, featuring new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, redesigned wheels, and a revamped trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. While the previous model had a more conservative and upscale look, the 2019 version adopted a more geometric and kaleidoscopic design, which may not have been as universally appealing. Inside, subtle changes improved the interior, adding design flair to the air vents, a carbon-texture finish to some plastic housings, new gauges, and revised dashboard controls. The interior quality was high, with a robust and solid shifter, although some materials felt inexpensive, which is typical for a compact car. The Elantra was available in various trims, including SE, SEL, Value Edition, Eco, and Limited, with prices starting at $17,100 plus destination charges.

In contrast, the 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was one of the best-looking cars on the market, with a design that rivaled luxury cars. Available as both a sedan and a hatchback, the latter was particularly striking with its clean rear quarter panel, sharply raked rear window, and sports-car-like taillights. Inside, the Mazda3's interior was equally impressive, with a clean, uncluttered design and seamless integration of technology. The driver and front passenger sat low and leaned back, enhancing the sporty feel. The center console featured a controller dial for the new 8.8-inch MazdaConnect infotainment system, which was seamlessly integrated into the dash. The Mazda3 was available in various trims, including Select, Preferred, and Premium, with the base hatchback offering a wealth of features for the price.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra was equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. While acceleration was acceptable, the driving dynamics were not particularly inspiring. The Elantra offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Sport mode adding unwelcome weight to the steering. The EPA estimated the Elantra's fuel economy at 32 mpg combined, and during testing, it achieved 29.3 mpg on a modified loop and 32.4 mpg over a week of driving. Handling was decent, with the steering and brakes drawing no criticism but also no praise. The ride quality could be busy due to the inexpensive torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3, on the other hand, came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower, available with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, and offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD was only available with the automatic transmission. The Mazda3's SkyActiv-G engine provided responsive acceleration, athletic handling, and responsive brakes, making it a joy to drive. The ride was composed in typical driving conditions, and the car handled corners beautifully without feeling overly heavy or harsh. The most efficient version was the FWD automatic sedan with the Premium package, returning 30 mpg combined, while the least efficient was the AWD hatchback, returning 27 mpg combined. During testing, the Mazda3 achieved 28.2 mpg in combined city and highway driving.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered good front-seat comfort for a compact car, with height-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger. Most trims included heated front seats, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. However, backseat comfort was less impressive, with hard plastic front seatbacks and a lack of air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a good-size center-console storage bin, a sizable glove box, and a tray forward of the shifter. The Elantra's trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, which was generous for a small car, and most trims included a hands-free trunk release.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan offered 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Mazda3's low and leaned-back seating position was reminiscent of a sports car, benefiting front-seat passengers but making the second row tight, especially for taller individuals. The center console featured a deep tray ahead of the cupholders and a center bin, although the armrest/console cover design was less user-friendly. Overall, the Mazda3's interior was comfortable for everyday commuting, but it might not be the best choice for those needing more cargo space or a commanding driving position.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, except for the base SE trim, came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Limited trim included an Infinity premium sound system, and the Ultimate Package added an 8-inch display, navigation, and SiriusXM Data Services. The Elantra's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a good balance of knobs and buttons, and the Limited's Infinity audio system delivered impressive sound quality. The Value Edition and Limited trims also offered a free 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, providing a range of safety and convenience functions.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured a new 8.8-inch screen running the latest MazdaConnect infotainment system, with crisp graphics and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system was entirely remote-controlled, which could be less intuitive for some users. The previous Mazda3 had a semi-touch system, but the new model required using the controller dial for all functions. The test model included a head-up display and a fully digital center panel in the instrument cluster, with a button on the steering wheel to cycle through content. While the system had its quirks, it underscored the Mazda3's luxury persona.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems as standard equipment starting with the SEL trim. These features included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-monitoring system. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an Acceptable rating for the LATCH child-seat anchors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Elantra a 4-star overall rating.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 hatchback came standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and driver-attention alerts. However, these features were not standard on the base sedan trim and required opting for the Select Sedan trim. The hatchback's large C-pillars created significant blind spots, and the auto-engage system for the parking brake was not intuitive, requiring a series of operations to bypass. Despite these quirks, the Mazda3 offered a comprehensive set of safety features.