Compare the2026 Hyundai VenueVS 2026 Mazda 3

Both the Venue and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Venue comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck 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 Venue 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 Venue’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Mazda 3’s (7 vs. 5 years).

There are over 57 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Venue’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Venue has a 110-amp alternator. The Mazda 3’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 52 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Venue uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 3 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Venue has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Venue stops much shorter than the Mazda 3:

The Venue SEL handles at .81 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Venue’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Mazda 3’s (33.2 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The Hyundai Venue may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 700 pounds less than the Mazda 3.

The Venue is 1 foot, 4.5 inches shorter than the Mazda 3 Hatchback, making the Venue easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Venue is 2 feet shorter than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The power windows standard on both the Venue and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Venue 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 Venue’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Mazda 3’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Venue and the Mazda 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.