Verified answer

The Mazda 3 is the "drivers" car of the two. The Elantra will do pretty much everything you want a car to do only not as satisfying to drive as the Mazda. The Mazda 3 has won almost every comparison test it was put into buy Car and Driver magazine for the past 9 years. The Elantra although much improved over the Elantra of 5 years ago still has a long way to go before it reaches the refinement level and driving satisfaction level of the Mazda 3.

I drive a 2006 Mazda 3 and love it. The car is tastefully designed, but it's main selling point in my opinion is the way it drives and feels on the road. The tuning is nice and responsive. I like to feel how I drive, not be in a moving bubble isolated from the road like the feel of most luxury cars. Test drive both to see how they differ, as I've never driven an Elantra. My Mazda has also needed no repairs to date. Regular maintenence will keep it running for years. All you need to do in addition is have the AC coolant recharged every couple of years (this costs next to nothing).

stay away from the elantra if you want piece of mind, being korean it will literally fall apart after 3 years. I dont care how many people say how theyve improved over the years but in truth theyre all still crap, i already knew that when i bought a korean suv and now im suffering, everything from the window wipers, aircon, traction control, horn, turbo will suffer defects in a few short years. Stick to the mazda, japanese build better cars, i guarantee that with my left testicle.

This is better

2013 Elantra

Screw both of them and get a Buick! Why? Because they are awesome, luxurious, dependable, and you can get one with a turbo!