2025 Hyundai Sonata vs 2025 Mazda 3

$26,900 · Sedan

$24,150 · Sedan

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the 2025 Hyundai Sonata and the 2025 Mazda 3 often boils down to balancing comfort against pure driving enjoyment and initial cost. Many shoppers are torn between a slightly larger cabin experience and a lower sticker price. The Sonata offers a more spacious footprint, measuring 193.3 inches long compared to the Mazda 3's 183.5 inches, which translates to better passenger and cargo utility (15.6 cu ft vs. 13.2 cu ft). Interestingly, both sedans start with identical base horsepower at 191 hp, though the Mazda nudges ahead slightly in torque with 186 lb-ft versus the Sonata's 181 lb-ft. Fuel economy is neck-and-neck, with the Sonata achieving a slightly better combined 32 MPG versus the Mazda 3's 31 MPG. Ultimately, the decision hinges on whether maximizing interior space and highway cruising comfort is worth the slightly higher initial investment over the Mazda's slightly sportier feel and lower $24,150 starting MSRP.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Hyundai Sonata

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata wins for commuters due to its superior combined fuel economy rating of 32 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Hyundai Sonata

Families will prefer the Sonata as it provides significantly more cargo space at 15.6 cubic feet compared to the Mazda 3's 13.2 cubic feet.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Mazda 3

The 2025 Mazda 3 appeals more to enthusiasts because it offers slightly more torque at 186 lb-ft while having a smaller overall vehicle size.

💰 Best Value

2025 Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is the better value proposition, starting at an MSRP of $24,150, undercutting the Sonata's $26,900 price.

Choose the Hyundai Sonata if...

You frequently carry adult passengers or need maximum trunk space, benefiting from the 15.6 cu ft cargo area.
You prioritize highway efficiency, as the Sonata delivers 38 MPG on the highway.
You prefer smoother highway cruising provided by the 8-speed transmission over the Mazda's 6-speed unit.

Choose the Mazda 3 if...

Keeping the initial purchase price low is critical, given the Mazda 3's $24,150 MSRP.
You appreciate slightly punchier low-end response from the engine’s 186 lb-ft of torque.
You prefer a more nimble vehicle, as the Mazda 3 is nearly 10 inches shorter in length than the Sonata.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Hyundai Sonata	Mazda 3
Length	193.3"	183.5"
Width	73.2"	70.7"
Height	56.9"	56.9"
Wheelbase	111.8"	107.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	191 hp @ 6100 rpm	191 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	181 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	186 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	28/38 MPG	27/37 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	32 MPG	31 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	0/0 mi.	356.4/488.4 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	—	13.2 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Air Conditioning	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	—
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	8.8 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	—
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Android Auto (Wired)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Remote Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Front Head Room	40.0 in.	38.0 in.
Front Leg Room	46.1 in.	42.3 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.9 in.	55.7 in.
Front Hip Room	54.6 in.	54.6 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Rear Head Room	37.8 in.	37.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	34.8 in.	35.1 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	56.1 in.	53.5 in.
Rear Hip Room	54.4 in.	50.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Wheel Material	Alloy	Alloy
Wheel Size	16 x 6.5 in	16 x 6.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	205/65R16	205/60R16
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	—
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Front Suspension Type	—	Independent
Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Hyundai	Mazda
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	7 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Hyundai Sonata and 2025 Mazda 3.

Is the power output significantly different between the 2025 Sonata and the 2025 Mazda 3?

Surprisingly, no, they are very closely matched for base models; both offer 191 horsepower. However, the Mazda 3 gains a slight edge in low-end pull with 186 lb-ft of torque compared to the Sonata's 181 lb-ft.

Which sedan is better for long highway commutes based on fuel economy?

The 2025 Hyundai Sonata has a slight advantage for long highway treks, achieving 38 MPG highway, slightly beating the Mazda 3’s 37 MPG highway rating. Both require regular unleaded fuel.

How much more cargo room does the Sonata offer over the Mazda 3?

The Sonata is considerably better for hauling gear, offering 15.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity. This is 2.4 cubic feet more than the 13.2 cubic feet found in the trunk of the Mazda 3.

If I want the less expensive car, which one should I choose?

The 2025 Mazda 3 presents better initial value with a starting MSRP of $24,150. The 2025 Hyundai Sonata has a higher starting price tag of $26,900.

Does the difference in transmission impact the driving experience?

Yes, the Sonata features an 8-speed shiftable automatic, which generally allows for smoother ratio changes, whereas the Mazda 3 uses a 6-speed shiftable automatic.

Is the Mazda 3 noticeably smaller than the Sonata?

Yes, the Mazda 3 is designed to be more compact, measuring 183.5 inches long compared to the Sonata's 193.3 inches in length, making it easier to maneuver and park.