Hyundai SONATA vs. Mazda Mazda3 Sedan
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Hyundai SONATA and Mazda Mazda3 Sedan contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Hyundai SONATA and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan.
In comparing the Hyundai SONATA's and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan's specifications and ratings, the Hyundai SONATA has the advantage in the area of interior volume. The Mazda Mazda3 Sedan has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, reliability, resale value and overall quality score. The Hyundai SONATA and Mazda Mazda3 Sedan have the same base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Hyundai SONATA's and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan's specifications and ratings, the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan is a better car than the Hyundai SONATA.
Pricing: A used 2024 Hyundai SONATA ranges from $27,359 to $36,865 while a used 2024 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan is priced between $22,984 to $35,218. For a new model, the Hyundai SONATA's price is between $28,439 and $36,660, with the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan priced between $25,334 and $35,710.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Hyundai SONATA loses 41.4 percent of its value and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan loses 33.3 percent of its value. This means the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan retains 8 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Hyundai SONATA.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Hyundai SONATA is 8.6 out of 10 while the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan's quality rating is 8.9 out of 10. This results in the Hyundai SONATA being ranked 4 out of 13 Best Midsize Cars and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan being ranked 4 out of 37 Best Small Cars.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Hyundai SONATA is 7.9 out of 10. For the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan the reliability rating is 8.2 out of 10. This gives the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Hyundai SONATA.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the base engine of both the Hyundai SONATA and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan makes 191 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Hyundai SONATA, a midsize car, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, rear head room, rear shoulder room, and cargo space. The Mazda Mazda3 Sedan, a compact car, has the advantage in the area of rear leg room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the Hyundai SONATA and the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars. When comparing IIHS evaluations, the Mazda Mazda3 Sedan has the advantage with a Top Safety Pick+ award.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
28439 - 36660
Starting MSRP:
27500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Midsize Cars)
26143
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Midsize Cars)
24700 - 27895
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
25334 - 35710
Starting MSRP:
24170
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
26555
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
17795 - 45665
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
31688
Price Range:
27359 - 36865
Category Avg Price:
(Midsize Cars)
29305
Category Avg Price Range:
(Midsize Cars)
25951 - 31688
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
660
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
9647
# Good or Great Deals:
150
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
27279
Price Range:
22984 - 35218
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
28855
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
19171 - 47673
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
# Good or Great Deals:
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
11619
Depreciation %:
0.42250544
Resale Value $:
15881
Residual Value %:
0.57749456
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Midsize Cars)
0.37226573
Category Depreciation Range:
(Midsize Cars)
0.32098078 - 0.45701216
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
8320
Depreciation %:
0.34421934
Resale Value $:
15850
Residual Value %:
0.65578066
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact Cars)
0.3164027
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact Cars)
0.24379468 - 0.4011125
Hyundai SONATA Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.624363 / 10
Reliability:
7.947141 / 10
Retained Value:
7.92595 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
Mazda Mazda3 Sedan Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.86947 / 10
Reliability:
8.177615 / 10
Retained Value:
8.430796 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Hyundai SONATA
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
9.6
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Midsize Cars)
10.1
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Midsize Cars)
9.5 - 13.0
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.044
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Mazda Mazda3 Sedan
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.1
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
11.2
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
10.1 - 13.6
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.079
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.2454223404953555
Typical Category Recalls:
(Midsize Cars)
3.3
Category Range for Recalls:
(Midsize Cars)
1.7 - 15.5
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
4.426786486816278
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
2.9
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
2.0 - 18.8
Hyundai SONATA Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 13Ranking
2 out of / 13Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 7Ranking
4 out of / 4Ranking
5 out of / 13Ranking
6 out of / 7Ranking
6 out of / 7Ranking
7 out of / 13Ranking
10 out of / 13Ranking
11 out of / 13Mazda Mazda3 Sedan Rankings
Ranking
2 out of / 37Ranking
2 out of / 37Ranking
2 out of / 22Ranking
2 out of / 13Ranking
2 out of / 6Ranking
3 out of / 13Ranking
4 out of / 37Ranking
6 out of / 37Ranking
7 out of / 37Ranking
11 out of / 22Ranking
13 out of / 37Ranking
14 out of / 37Ranking
19 out of / 37Ranking
21 out of / 37Ranking
35 out of / 37Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Hyundai SONATA Trim Levels
N Line, SEL
Mazda Mazda3 Sedan Trim Levels
2.5 Carbon Turbo, 2.5 S, 2.5 S Carbon Edition, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Select Sport, 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
10 years / 100000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
Not yet available
IIHS Safety Rating:
TOP SAFETY PICK +
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
191 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque:
181 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.060 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
191 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:
186 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.061 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
25 / 36 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
398 / 572 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
N/A
Internet Radio:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Heated Seats
Available
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Internet Radio:
Standard
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Parking Sensors:
Available
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Wifi:
Standard
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40 inches
Front Leg Room:
46.1 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
38.4 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.8 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56.1 inches
Cargo Space:
16 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
104.4 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.3 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
55.7 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.1 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
53.5 inches
Cargo Space:
13.2 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
92.8 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3192 lbs
Width:
73.2 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
192.9 inches
Wheelbase:
111.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.3 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3124 lbs
Width:
70.7 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
183.5 inches
Wheelbase:
107.3 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.5 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P215/55R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.5 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
P205/60R16
Exterior Colors
Black
Onyx Black Pearl
Blue
Carbon Blue Pearl / Transmission Blue Pearl
Gray
Nocturne Gray / Portofino Gray Metallic
Red
Ultimate Red Pearl
Silver
Aero Silver Metallic
White
Serenity White Pearl
Exterior Colors
Black
Jet Black Mica
Blue
Deep Crystal Blue Mica
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
Silver
Not available
White
Snowflake White Pearl Mica
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Gray
Dark Gray
Interior Colors
Black
Black
Gray
Not available
