Hyundai Sonata vs Mazda MAZDA3

While its standout features are its value and safety ratings, in N Line trim the Sonata also offers some emotional appeal. Affordable sports sedans are increasingly rare, and aside from the Kia K5 GT and Subaru Legacy Sport, there’s little else in the 2025 Sonata N Line’s segment that gives you this much horsepower for this kind of price. Of course, there is a penalty to pay at the gas pump, but otherwise the N Line delivers. In general, new rear-seat air conditioning vents and improved crash-test ratings boost the 2025 Sonata’s appeal and while gas models aren’t very fuel-efficient, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid fares better in this respect.

Verdict: Hyundai refreshed the Sonata in 2024 and improved its safety rating in 2025, keeping it competitive against midsize sedan rivals. All versions offer compelling value and are impressively safe, while the N Line model is pleasantly sporty.

Last redesigned for the 2019 model year, the Mazda 3 is getting old, yet aging gracefully. It still looks, feels, and drives better than some of its rivals. For 2025, Mazda adds value to the lineup, introducing a new base version of the 2.5 S. Moving one rung up the trim level ladder, the 2.5 S Select Sport gets Amazon Alexa Built-in for 2025, while the Premium and Premium Plus gain a cloud-based navigation system.

Verdict: Available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles, there is a Mazda 3 to suit nearly anyone. Basic or upscale, turbocharged or not, and with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), the common threads across all Mazda 3s are quality, refinement, sophistication, safety, and enjoyable driving dynamics. This is a terrific compact car.