Compare the2026 Mazda 3VS 2026 Toyota Prius

The Mazda 3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Prius doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Mazda 3 has standard Whiplash Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Prius doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Prius have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda 3 is safer than the Toyota Prius:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda 3 is safer than the Toyota Prius:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked fourth.

The Mazda 3’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 152) than the Prius’ optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (250 vs. 196) and 168 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 152) than the Prius’ optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda 3 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Prius 2.0 (automatics tested):

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Mazda 3 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Prius doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Mazda 3 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Prius AWD’s standard fuel tank (12.7 vs. 10.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Mazda 3 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Prius FWD’s standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.3 gallons).

The Mazda 3 stops much shorter than the Prius:

For better traction, the Mazda 3 has larger standard tires than the Prius (205/60R16 vs. 195/60R17). The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Prius (215/45R18 vs. 195/60R17).

The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Prius XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 50 series tires.

The Mazda 3 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Prius; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Mazda 3 S Premium Hatchback handles at .88 G’s, while the Prius Limited pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Mazda 3 S Premium Hatchback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Prius Limited (26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The Mazda 3 Sedan is 5.5 inches shorter than the Prius, making the Mazda 3 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Mazda 3 S Premium Hatchback is quieter than the Prius Limited (74 vs. 76 dB).

The Mazda 3 Sedan has .4 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Prius.

The Mazda 3 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Prius doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Mazda 3’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Prius’ headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Mazda 3 has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Prius has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the XLE/Nightshade/Limited.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Mazda 3 Premium has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Prius doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the Mazda 3 Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Prius’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Mazda 3’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Prius offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Prius doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Mazda 3 and the Prius offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Mazda 3 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Prius doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Mazda 3 comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Toyota Prius isn’t available as a sedan.

The Mazda 3 has won recognition from these important consumer publications: