2026 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda 3
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,329 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,550 for the 2026 Mazda 3 (30 MPG). That's roughly $221 a year, or about $1,107 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Hyundai Elantra
- Mazda 3
Side by side
| Hyundai Elantra | Mazda 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,329 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,550 |
| 35 MPG | Combined efficiency | 30 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 27 MPG |
| 40 MPG | Highway | 36 MPG |
| 99 cu ft | Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| 254 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 294 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| CVT | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda 3 across model years
- Hyundai Elantra
- Mazda 3
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Hyundai Elantra has more passenger space (99 vs. 93 cu ft); the Hyundai Elantra has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).
Among 31 2026 midsize cars, the Hyundai Elantra ranks 11th and the Mazda 3 15th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra or the 2026 Mazda 3?
Measured by cost to drive, the Hyundai Elantra. The Hyundai Elantra is rated 35 MPG combined and the Mazda 3 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Hyundai Elantra vs. the Mazda 3 per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,329 for the Hyundai Elantra and $1,550 for the Mazda 3.
Which has more cargo space?
The Hyundai Elantra, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda 3 in other years
More 2026 comparisons
Hyundai Elantra vs…
Or compare the 2026 Hyundai Elantra with anything else: