2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2019 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 was one of the best-looking cars on the market, despite not being a sports or luxury car. Mazda designers created a dramatic design that captured attention, putting the industry on notice. The Mazda3 came in both sedan and hatchback forms, with the hatchback particularly standing out due to its clean rear quarter panel, sharply raked rear window, and sports-car-like taillights. Inside, the Mazda3's interior was equally impressive, featuring clean, uncluttered spaces, seamless technology integration, and a luxurious feel that rivaled more expensive cars. The driver and front passenger sat low and leaned back, with controls enveloping the driver, including a naturally positioned controller dial for the 8.8-inch MazdaConnect infotainment system.

In contrast, the 2020 Hyundai Elantra, last redesigned in 2017 and restyled in 2019, maintained its geometric-influenced appearance for 2020. The Elantra came in six versions: SE, SEL, Value Edition, Eco, Limited, and Sport, with prices ranging from $19,300 to $24,150. Our Elantra Limited test vehicle, with the Ultimate Package, had a total price of $27,630. The Elantra's black paint job highlighted its angular headlight, fog light, and wheel designs, contrasting with chrome grille and beltline details. Inside, the Elantra featured silver trim on various elements, adding an upscale look, though some hard and glossy plastics reminded occupants of its mainstream compact car status.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower, paired with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The power was sent to the front wheels or the newly available all-wheel drive (AWD), though AWD was only available with the automatic transmission. The SkyActiv-G engine provided responsive acceleration, athletic handling, and composed braking, making it a great commuter car with the potential for spirited driving. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient version being the FWD automatic sedan with the Premium package, returning 27 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined. The least efficient was the AWD hatchback, returning 24/32/27. Our test model achieved 28.2 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra's base engine was a 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The Elantra Eco model featured a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine with 128 horsepower and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), achieving 36 mpg combined. The Elantra Sport trim had a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, with a sport-tuned suspension and independent rear design. Our Elantra Limited test car, with the 2.0-liter engine and CVT, averaged 29.3 mpg, falling short of the expected 34 mpg. The Elantra's torsion beam axle rear suspension detracted from ride and handling, making it less enjoyable to drive compared to the Mazda3.

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 low, sports car-like seating position benefited front-seat passengers but made rear-seat accommodations tight, especially for taller individuals. The center console featured a deep tray and a center bin, though the armrest/console cover design was less user-friendly.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered comfortable accommodations for four adults, with a fifth person fitting for short trips. Our Limited test car included power driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding center console armrest. All Elantras came with a dual-zone automatic climate control system, though rear air conditioning vents were not available. Interior storage was well-proportioned, and the trunk provided 14.4 cubic feet of space, nearly matching some midsize sedans. The interior grab handle inside the trunk lid was a thoughtful touch.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 featured an 8.8-inch MazdaConnect infotainment system with crisp graphics, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, the system was entirely remote-controlled, which some users might find less intuitive. The head-up display and digital instrument panel added to the luxury feel, with the latter allowing content cycling via a steering wheel button.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra's standard equipment included a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and a USB port. The base SE trim had a 5-inch screen, while the SEL and higher trims featured a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Limited trim added wireless smartphone charging and a premium Infinity sound system, with the Ultimate Package increasing the screen size to 8 inches and adding navigation and Blue Link services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and volume/tuning knobs, and the Infinity sound system impressed for the compact car segment.

The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3's base hatchback trim came standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite, 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, requiring the Select Sedan trim for similar safety equipment. The hatchback's large C-pillars created significant blind spots, and the auto-engage parking brake system was not intuitive.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra's Smart Sense was standard on all trim levels, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention monitor. Starting with SEL trim, the Elantra added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited and Sport trims featured full LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and the Ultimate Package added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and Safe Exit Assist. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with full LED headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though there was a concern about rear-door intrusion during side-impact tests.