2020 Mazda3 vs 2020 Hyundai Elantra

The Mazda3 is winning many accolades, including Canada’s prestigious Best Small Car of the Year award by AJAC at the 2020 Montreal International Auto Show. The Mazda3 features admirable performance, great styling, roomy passenger and cargo volume, and more. Although the Mazda3 has a great reputation among the automotive industry, it is important that we line it up against the competition to illustrate what it can offer you. Here, we compare it to the Hyundai Elantra. 

The Mazda3 offers a range of power and all-wheel drive the Elantra doesn’t have

The Mazda3 line features two engines that offer more choices than the Civic. Available on the GX trim, the Skyactiv-G 2.0L four-cylinder engine pairs with a six-speed manual transmission (automatic optional) and produces 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. 

The Elantra’s primary engine, a 2.0L four-cylinder that generates 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft torque, falls short of the Mazda3’s entry engine. If you want more power on the Elantra, you will have to upgrade to an entirely different model design altogether - the Elantra GT with 161 horsepower. 

The Mazda3 offers the Skyactiv 2.5L four-cylinder, which produces 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque on the GS and GT trims. It provides 39 more horsepower than the Elantra’s engine. If you want the best acceleration and agility to cut through city traffic and open up new cross-country adventures, the Mazda3 has the right engine. 

The Mazda3 wins with all-wheel drive

If you want all-wheel drive, the Mazda3 makes it available. However, you won’t find it on the Hyundai Elantra. The Mazda3’s i-Activ AWD system continuously monitors changes in driving conditions to forecast potential loss of traction and makes proper adjustments. This optimizes the Mazda3 for better performance on everything, from dry roads to wintry conditions. The Elantra’s front-wheel drive-only drivetrain limits what it can do when road conditions change. 

Cylinder deactivation technology is also standard on the Mazda3 GT and available on the GS - but not offered on the Elantra. This technology helps the engine conserve energy when it’s not required. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode, Drive Selection switch and paddle shifters is also standard on the GT. 

There are many other exciting features that are a part of the Mazda3 line. You can shop for your car online with us. Our representatives are waiting for your call and can answer all your questions.