2024 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 was a striking vehicle with its rakish headlights and large, menacing grille. Available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, the sedan had conventional proportions, while the hatchback boasted a daring and futuristic design. The clean lines and curves around the rear window and doors gave it a forward-thinking appearance, though this design had its drawbacks. Inside, the cabin continued the theme of clean futurism, with a simple yet elegant layout. The infotainment system rose organically from the dash, and the conventional shifter design was a welcome touch. Despite the modern aesthetic, the climate controls were straightforward and easy to use, and the steering wheel, though cluttered with controls, had an elegant design.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra showcased Hyundai's bold design philosophy, with dramatic exterior styling that sometimes took a few too many risks. The Elantra's side featured numerous hard creases, creating a disjointed look, though darker colors helped to hide these lines. The N Line trim, painted in Exotic Green with dark gray wheels, was particularly eye-catching. The 2024 refresh brought a cleaner, more linear front end with a lower grille and integrated headlights. The Elantra's body proportions mimicked those of a more expensive sports sedan, with a low, elongated profile and a fastback-like rear end. Inside, the Elantra offered a mix of analog and digital controls, with good visibility and headroom in all seating positions. The trunk provided generous cargo space, and the rear seats offered ample legroom.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 featured a base 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engine, producing 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive. A manual transmission was available on front-wheel drive Premium models. The optional turbocharged 2.5-liter engine delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel, with standard AWD. The turbo engine provided an engaging driving experience, with well-weighted steering and a fantastic sound. The Mazda3 excelled in handling, offering precision and refinement, with a balance of agility and comfort. Sport mode enhanced the driving experience with more forceful steering feedback and clever transmission shifts.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered four engines and five transmissions, all with a front-wheel drive layout. The most common trims (SE, SEL, Limited) had a 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line's 1.6-liter turbo-four produced 201 hp and 195 lb-ft, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Elantra N featured a more powerful 276 hp and 289 lb-ft engine, with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The Elantra Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter engine with an electric motor, delivering 139 hp and 125 lb-ft, with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The Elantra's performance varied across trims, with the N Line offering a balance of comfort and response, while the N provided a thrilling, albeit harsh, driving experience.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan offered 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the hatchback provided 20.1 cubic feet. However, rear seating was cramped, with limited legroom and headroom due to the sloping roofline. The front seating area featured a decently sized center console compartment, though the lid was somewhat frustrating to use. The Mazda3's ergonomics were helpful, with sizable cupholders.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra had a pleasant mix of analog and digital controls, with good sight lines and visibility from the front seats. Headroom was excellent in all seating positions, and the rear seat offered plenty of legroom. The trunk held 14.2 cubic feet of cargo, with standard 60/40 folding rear seats. The Elantra's interior featured a mechanical parking brake, conventional shifter, and dedicated climate controls, with a sunroof standard on N Line and Limited trims.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came with an 8.8-inch infotainment display operated via a dial in the center console, which was a weak point due to its clumsy menu navigation. The system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the interface was unintuitive. The Mazda3 featured two USB ports, HD radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice control, with available upgrades like navigation and a 12-speaker Bose stereo system.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen on SEL-and-above trims, with an 8-inch screen on the SE. The infotainment system was quick, with customizable menus, though the icons were small and similarly colored. A Wi-Fi hotspot and digital key function were new options for 2024. The Elantra included an eight-speaker Bose stereo on N Line and Limited trims, with a wireless charging pad and Highway Driving Assist standard on the Limited.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 came standard with a range of safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, adaptive headlights, and lane-departure warning. The Select trim added blind-spot monitoring, while the Turbo Premium Plus included traffic-sign recognition and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the hatchback's massive C-pillar created a significant blind spot, and the infotainment system's layout posed a distraction risk.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Limited trim added rear emergency braking, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist. Despite these features, the Elantra scored worse in a new frontal crash test compared to the 2021 model.