Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability
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Hyundai and Mazda are both popular car manufacturers known for their reliable vehicles. Although Mazda isn't as popular as Hyundai, they've got impressive stuff going on with their cars.
Regardless of how popular Hyundai cars are, Mazda is generally considered more reliable than Hyundai. Mazda beats Hyundai with higher reliability ratings, better dependability scores, better engines, and cheaper repair and maintenance costs.
Gas mileage is relative on both car brands, although Hyundai has better warranty coverage. However, the performance of Mazda cars and engineering principles beats what Hyundai offers.
Driving a Mazda is fun, so amazing that you might never want to get into a Hyundai again. However, Hyundai has its advantages, just as Mazda has its weaknesses.
Read on for details about Hyundai vs. Mazda reliability and how to make the right decisions.
Table of Contents
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: A Detailed Comparison
| Features | Hyundai | Mazda |
| Design | ||
| Engine and Performance | ||
| Safety | ||
| Gas Mileage | ||
| Technology | ||
| Repair and maintenance cost | ||
| Durability |
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: Which Is Better?
Hyundai and Mazda are popular car brands with amazing models that stand out in the market. Although Mazda is not popular, especially in the US and other regions, they offer vehicles that are more reliable than what's offered by some of the favorite car brands.
Compared to Hyundai, Mazda offers better reliability. According to the 2022 Consumer Reports reliability rating, Mazda is the 4th most reliable car brand, compared to Hyundai, which takes the 13th position.
Hyundai takes the lead with JD Power's and RepairPal’s ratings. On RepairPal, Hyundai ranks 4th out of 32 car brands with a 4.0/5.0 rating. Mazda has the same 4.0 reliability rating but is slightly lower than Hyundai, ranking 5th.
However, although RepairPal ranks Hyundai above Mazda, Mazda gets cheaper repair and maintenance costs.
Aside from the ratings, crucial factors make Mazda more reliable than Hyundai. Like most Japanese car brands, Mazda employs renowned Japanese engineering principles, which incorporate taking German technology and systems and improving them.
With Mazda, you get superior engineering solutions and simplistic approaches that enhance efficiency and performance.
Hyundai offers the best warranty coverage, the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, but you can rely on Mazda's engineering principles for a cheaper overall cost of ownership.
To get a full grasp on the reliability of Mazda vs. Hyundai, we will need to compare some specific models from both brands alongside factors that will help you determine a reliable car.
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: Design
Mazda and Hyundai adopt different design philosophies, impacting their deliveries and design approaches. While Mazda uses KODO design, Hyundai adopts the 'Sensuous Sportiness' design philosophy.
Hyundai harmonizes and balances structure, style, and technology to achieve this. The goal is to produce cars that are appealing while retaining functionality.
From integrating innovative designs into its architecture, building personalities around each car, and harmony between sharpness, value, and Sportiness, Hyundai is committed to achieving design excellence with each car.
Hyundai emphasizes producing cars that are stylish and modern. The brand's vehicles feature sleek lines and a modern aesthetic that appeals to a wide range of buyers. Hyundai's design language has evolved over the years, with the brand's latest models featuring a more refined and sophisticated look.
On the other hand, Mazda has a reputation for producing sporty and well-designed cars. The beauty of Mazda is in its design philosophy.
They adopt an impressive design mechanism that makes them admirable at first sight — it's more like breathing life into sheet metal. Mazda does everything possible to promote the joy of driving.
Mazda adopts a Kodo design language, emphasizing the "Soul of Motion" theme. This emphasizes giving its cars an athletic and bold look.
Unlike Hyundai, Mazda doesn't produce many cars or take the risk of producing luxury cars. This is because the brand wouldn't want to risk producing an expensive car that wouldn't sell. So, they put in everything possible to make each car a priceless vessel.
Comparing Hyundai and Mazda designs, you should go for Mazda if you want car frames that will last, but if you are a fan of sporty cars with a larger variety to choose from, then you should go for Hyundai. The choice is yours to make.
Winner: Both
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: Gas Mileage
Hyundai vehicles are known for their good fuel economy, and Mazda isn't left out either.
Unlike Mazda, Hyundai doesn't have many fuel-saving technologies on its cars. However, the gas mileage isn't bad on Hyundai.
Hyundai introduced Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) to improve fuel efficiency in its cars. There are also systems like the stop/start systems and regenerative braking, which help to reduce fuel consumption.
On the other hand, Mazda takes fuel efficiency. The brand is committed to developing engines that make the best use of every drop of fuel.
Mazda integrates a suite of technologies, SkyActiv technology, and i-Elopp regenerative braking to ensure that fuel consumption is reduced and efficiency is increased, without compromising overall driving performance.
Hyundai and Mazda have models that outperform the other in fuel efficiency.
The Hyundai Tucson offers better gas mileage than Mazda Cx-5, just as Hyundai Elantra does it better than Mazda 3. Mazda 3 beats the Hyundai i30, and the Mazda MX-5 returns better fuel efficiency than Hyundai Tucson. The choice depends on which model of these brands you choose.
Winner: Both
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: Engine and Performance
There are rumors that Mazda cars are always underpowered. While this isn't true, it is important to mention that the performance you get from Mazda depends on your chosen model.
However, on an overall scale, Mazda produces some of the best engines in the industry. With attention to detail, refined measures, and the latest technology and engineering practices, Mazda is an auto leader in engine designs and innovations.
However, regarding the overall delivery of speed, power, and gas mileage, Hyundai tries its best to meet the task.
Hyundai pays attention to the need for power and smooth performance. Although most Mazda vehicles beat Hyundai's with better smooth performance, horsepower, and torque, some Hyundai models deliver more engine power than Mazda. It all depends on the model that you choose.
For instance, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson deliver the same 187 hp, but Mazda MX-5 delivers more engine power than Hyundai Tucson. On the other hand, Hyundai Sonata beats Mazda 6 with better engine power, but Mazda 3 beats Hyundai Elantra.
On an overall scale, Mazda provides engines that you can rely on, more than what Hyundai offers. This is achieved by Mazda's use of advanced transmission systems such as SkyActiv-Drive and SkyActiv-MT that help to improve performance and fuel efficiency.
Winner: Mazda
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: Safety
Both Hyundai and Mazda prioritize safety on their vehicles; however, Hyundai has more vehicles earning high safety ratings. This story has many sides because Mazda doesn't have many cars in its lineup.
These integrate advanced safety features, including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking as standard equipment, navigation, driver assist systems, and many more. You must understand that the approach to safety is different for both car brands.
Unlike Hyundai, Mazda's safety system is split into basic, preventive, and collision safety technology. However, because Hyundai has more cars earning the IIHS safety rating, we'll have to give the win to Hyundai.
For technology, you are assured of getting stuff like touchscreen infotainment systems, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, etc.
Winner: Hyundai
Hyundai vs. Mazda Reliability: Repair and Maintenance Cost
It is cheaper to repair and maintain a Mazda vehicle than a Hyundai. However, Hyundai's 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty gives it an edge in reducing repair cost.
Mazda models only have a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
According to RepairPal, Hyundai gets an average annual repair cost of $468 with a 0.3 chance of visiting the repair shop and a 10% probability of severe damage.
Mazda has an average annual repair cost of $462, with a 0.4 chance of visiting the repair shop and a 10% probability of severe damages.
You must understand that repair maintenance costs vary depending on the specific model of the car, the mileage, and the extent of the damage.
Winner: Mazda
Conclusion
It is obvious that Mazda is more reliable than Hyundai; however, the choice depends on your needs and preferences. You will get more warranty coverage from Hyundai, but Mazda leads with better engine gas mileage and even cheaper repair and maintenance costs.
The major problem with Mazda is its inability to produce more cars that cut across different categories. You might face a problem getting cars that match your needs and preferences.
