2021 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out in the compact sedan market with its Sensuous Sportiness design language and Parametric surfacing. Its sharp creases and dramatic angles gave it a distinctive and appealing look. The Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors, a controversial design cue, was intended to help the Elantra stand out and break conventional automotive design rules. The Elantra came in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with a hybrid powertrain option for the SEL and Limited. Prices ranged from $19,650 to $25,450, excluding destination charges. The high-performance Elantra N, debuting early in 2021, was expected to cost less than $34,000.

Inside, the Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering a more upscale and high-tech cabin. The Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray was particularly favored for its modern and upscale look, with light gray seats and trim contrasting against the black cabin. The Elantra SEL with the Premium Package, however, had a drab black interior with glossy black plastic that was less appealing.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3, redesigned in 2019, won the World Car Design of the Year for 2020. Its bodywork reflected drama and sophistication, with the 4-door sedan being more conservative and the 5-door hatchback adopting a more aggressive stance. The 2.5 Turbo model, available in both body styles, included all-wheel drive and came in standard or Premium Plus trim. Prices started at $29,900 for the sedan and $33,750 for the hatchback with Premium Plus trim. The interior featured black or greige leatherette in standard specification, with Premium Plus offering Nappa leather. The hatchback provided black and red leather options, while the sedan offered black or white.

The Mazda3 Turbo’s white leather interior looked and smelled luxurious, supporting Mazda’s premium brand efforts. The car exhibited close attention to design detail, with bright metallic accents and clear, legible gauges. Despite the use of hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin, the design was paramount, with the asymmetrical Mazda Connect infotainment system melting into the dashboard. The driver-centric cabin revolved around the person in control, making the Mazda3 Turbo feel like a legitimate entry-luxury car.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain combinations, including the high-performance Elantra N. The standard engine, a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, produced 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Elantra SEL Premium, priced at $25,015, returned 31.4 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA estimate of 35 mpg. The Elantra Hybrid, with a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor, produced 139 horsepower and used a six-speed DCT. The Limited Hybrid, priced at $29,095, achieved 42.2 mpg, below the EPA rating of 50 mpg due to mountainous driving conditions.

The Elantra N Line, priced at $26,245, featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. It offered a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT, with a sport suspension and larger brakes. The Elantra N, expected to cost around $34,000, had a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. It featured an electronic limited-slip differential, electronically controlled suspension, and 19-inch wheels. The Elantra N delivered a thrilling driving experience with its responsive powertrain, stout brakes, and precise steering.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, producing 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque with 93-octane fuel, or 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet with 87-octane. The engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and i-Activ AWD system. The Mazda3 Turbo’s powertrain added no more than 120 pounds, yet provided 64 extra horsepower and 134 added pound-feet of torque, transforming its performance. The car’s Sport mode adjusted the transmission and G-Vectoring Control Plus for improved cornering.

The Mazda3 Turbo’s steering feel and response were enhanced, with stiffer front suspension springs and dampers. It featured 18-inch wheels with all-season tires, and while a summer tire option was unavailable, the car’s calibration for driving pleasure was evident. The Mazda3 Turbo averaged 20.4 mpg during testing, below the EPA estimate of 27 mpg, reflecting the spirited driving style during the test.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a roomy interior. The driver’s seat was height-adjustable, and the steering wheel was tilt/telescopic, making it easy to get comfortable. Heated front seats were standard, with the Limited Hybrid also offering ventilated front cushions. However, the height-adjustable front passenger seat from the previous model was no longer available, and the use of hard plastic for the upper door panels was a drawback.

The Elantra boasted best-in-class rear-seat legroom, with ample space for adults. However, the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support, and there were no air conditioning vents or USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers. The trunk offered 14.2 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. Some versions included a hands-free trunk lid release, but the grab handle inside the trunk was removed for 2021.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 2.5 Turbo featured a luxurious interior with Nappa leather, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked power adjustment, and neither front seat offered ventilation. Rear-seat passengers faced cramped accommodations, with no air conditioning vents or USB charging ports. In-cabin storage was adequate but limited, and the optional wireless smartphone charging eliminated the center console bin’s storage capacity.

The Mazda3’s trunk space measured 13.2 cubic feet, competitive with other compact sedans. The hatchback version provided 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.1 cubic feet with it folded down, offering more utility for those seeking a fun car with ample storage.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured traditional instrumentation with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including volume and tuning knobs, menu shortcut buttons, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Satellite radio and Blue Link connected services were standard on SEL and N Line trims, with the N Line also offering wireless smartphone charging. The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, housed under a single piece of glass. This setup included a dynamic natural voice recognition system and a Sounds of Nature function.

The Limited Hybrid’s voice recognition system performed inconsistently, but a Hyundai spokesperson suggested that an active Blue Link subscription would improve results. A new Bose premium sound system was available, impressing with its audio quality. Hyundai Digital Key allowed Android-based smartphones to unlock, lock, and start the car, with the ability to share temporary access and restrict certain functions.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services. A WiFi hotspot was available, and the MyMazda smartphone app provided remote operation of the car’s door locks and engine. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, and the voice-recognition technology was subpar. Mazda suggested using smartphone digital assistants for voice commands, but this was not a satisfactory solution.

The Mazda Connect system was frustrating to use, with controls that did not function as expected. The 12-speaker Bose premium sound system included Audio Pilot road noise reduction and was arranged like a home audio system. The Active Driving Display, or head-up display, was standard on the Mazda3 2.5 Turbo, showing current speed, posted speed limit, and safety technology status.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform with multiple structural collision energy pathways. Every Elantra was equipped with SmartSense, Hyundai’s collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). These included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgrades included cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist.

The 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the i-ActiveSense collection of ADAS, designed to keep the driver engaged and step in to prevent collisions. The adaptive cruise control included stop-and-go capability, and the automatic high-beam LED headlights featured an Adaptive Front Lighting System. The Premium Plus trim added a high-definition surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed reverse automatic braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. Traffic Jam Assist was not a Level 2 ADAS but added lane-centering assistance at speeds under 40 mph.

The Mazda3 excelled in crash tests, earning top five-star ratings in every assessment from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not yet carried over the Mazda3’s “Top Safety Pick+” rating from 2020.