2022 Mazda 3 vs. 2022 Hyundai Veloster

The Mazda 3 and Hyundai Veloster are two competitors in the compact car field. Both cars offer great value, but they differ in some key areas. Let's compare their exterior design, technology and safety features, engine performance specs and price tag to see which is best for you.

Design & Style

• Exterior Design

One of the first things you'll notice about the 2022 Mazda 3 is its striking design. The stylish exterior features low-roofline, sharp headlights and taillights that give it a sporty appearance. The front end also has a prominent grille with three slats in one row, giving it an elegant look. As for the rearview, its rear lights have been designed to be smaller than those found on other cars in this segment, which helps make it stand out from the crowd.

Compared to its rival -the 2022 Hyundai Veloster-the Mazda 3 offers more traditional styling cues that come together to create an aggressive profile (think Mazda 6). Its front end features large intakes at either end of its headlamps as well as a prominent grille with three horizontal bars inside each other; meanwhile, at the back, there are two sets of tail lights separated by a body-coloured strip across each side panel (a feature known as "signature tail lights).

• Interior Design

The 2022 Mazda 3 has a unique interior design, but it's not as fun and quirky as the Hyundai Veloster. The 3 is shaped like a traditional four-door sedan, while the Veloster looks more like an aggressive coupe. It also offers some cool features that are missing from other vehicles in its class, including high-quality materials and two rear seats (with decent legroom).

Technology & Safety

The Mazda 3 has more advanced safety features than the Hyundai Veloster. This is a boon for those who don't want to drive around with their eyes glued to the rearview mirror, fretting that they're going to get blindsided by an 18-wheeler.

Mazda offers blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning as standard features on all trim levels of the 3, which are always handy if you spend most of your time in traffic. If you're looking for something more comprehensive, consider upgrading to one of two higher trim levels: GT or Grand Touring.

The GT trim level offers adaptive cruise control (it slows down when it detects slower traffic ahead), automatic emergency braking (automatically brakes if it senses an obstacle), and lane keep assisting (helps keep you in your lane). The Grand Touring includes everything mentioned above, automatic high beams and navigation (via Apple CarPlay®).

Performance

The Mazda 3 has a 2.0-litre engine that produces 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, while the Veloster has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that makes 147 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque. Both cars are four cylinders with different displacement sizes, so they can't be compared directly. The Mazda 3 also gets better fuel economy than the Veloster, with ratings of 31 mpg city and 39 highway versus 28/34 mpg city/highway for Hyundai's car-and considering how much more powerful it is than Veloster, it should perform better in real life as well.

The Bottom Line

Okay, you're still not convinced that the Mazda 3 is the better car.

Let's say you're looking for a more practical vehicle that has more room and can carry more people. Or maybe you want something with a little more pep in its step. In either case, this is where we'd have to say: "Sorry, but no."

The Veloster has no space or power advantages over the Mazda 3. It's also pricier than its competition at $25k MSRP (even more when options are added).

Ready to Schedule a 2022 Mazda 3 Test Drive Today?

Do you want to discover more about this Mazda car model can do on the road? Come and visit us at Riley Mazda today! Our dedicated team of customer service representatives will assist you in meeting all your car purchasing, financing, and servicing needs. Call us today and book an appointment for your 2022 Mazda 3 test drive now!