Compare the2026 Nissan SentraVS 2026 Mazda 3

Both the Sentra and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sentra for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

There are almost 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sentra’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sentra has a 150-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 Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 56 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 26th, below the industry average.

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

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Sentra’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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Sentra 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 Sentra 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 Sentra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Sentra 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 Sentra has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sentra flat and controlled during cornering. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Sentra a Mid-size car, while the Mazda 3 is rated a Compact.

The Sentra has 3.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 3 Sedan (96.1 vs. 92.8).

The Sentra has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

The Sentra has a much larger trunk than the Mazda 3 Sedan (14.3 vs. 13.2 cubic feet).

The Sentra’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Mazda 3 S’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Nissan Sentra outsold the Mazda 3 by over four to one during 2024.