Compare the2026 Nissan Sentra VS 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 and rear 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, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Nissan Sentra is safer than the Mazda 3 Sedan:

	Sentra	Mazda 3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.5 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.65 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	19 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	1004 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	156
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.79 in	.87 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 rated the Sentra first among compact cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 8 places higher in reliability than Mazda.

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

			MPG
Sentra
FWD	Auto	S/SV 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		SR/SL 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/36 hwy
Mazda 3 Sedan
FWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/36 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/34 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy

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

			MPG
Sentra
FWD	Auto	S/SV 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		SR/SL 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/36 hwy
Mazda 3 Hatchback
FWD	Manual	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/34 hwy
AWD	Auto	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

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 cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Sentra higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda 3 (4 to 6). This means the Sentra produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mazda 3 every 15,000 miles.

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 stops shorter than the Mazda 3:

	Sentra	Mazda 3
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

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.

The Sentra SR handles at .86 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sentra SR executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Mazda 3 Carbon Edition Sedan AWD (27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Sentra SL is quieter than the Mazda 3 S Premium Hatchback (68 vs. 69 dB).

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.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sentra second among compact cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Sentra outsold the Mazda 3 by over five to one during 2025.