Compare the2022 Hyundai Ioniq HybridVS 2021 Mazda 3

Both the Ioniq Hybrid and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Ioniq Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 3’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Ioniq Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Mazda 3 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Ioniq Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Mazda 3’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ioniq Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are over 50 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ioniq Hybrid’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

The Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 150) than the Mazda 3’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Ioniq Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 186) than the Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq Hybrid gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the Ioniq Hybrid gets better mileage than the Mazda 3 Hatchback:

Regenerative brakes improve the Ioniq Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Ioniq Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 3 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Ioniq Hybrid offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better traction, the Ioniq Hybrid Limited’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (225/45R17 vs. 215/45R18).

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda 3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Ioniq Hybrid has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Ioniq Hybrid BLUE handles at .87 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Premium Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ioniq Hybrid BLUE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mazda 3 Premium Sedan AWD (27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The front grille of the Ioniq Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ioniq Hybrid Limited is quieter than the Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback:

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Ioniq Hybrid a Large car, while the Mazda 3 is rated a Compact.

The Ioniq Hybrid has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 3 Sedan (96.2 vs. 92.8).

The Ioniq Hybrid has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom, 2 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Ioniq Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the Mazda 3 Sedan (26.5 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Ioniq Hybrid’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. The Mazda 3’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge (except wagon).

The power windows standard on both the Ioniq Hybrid and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ioniq Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Ioniq Hybrid’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Ioniq Hybrid has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

Both the Ioniq Hybrid and the Mazda 3 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ioniq Hybrid Limited offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.