2026 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2026 Mazda 3 vs Nissan Sentra
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2026 Nissan Sentra is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,409 a year to fuel (33 MPG), versus $1,550 for the 2026 Mazda 3 (30 MPG). That's roughly $141 a year, or about $705 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Mazda 3
- Nissan Sentra
Side by side
| Mazda 3 | Nissan Sentra | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,550 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,409 |
| 30 MPG | Combined efficiency | 33 MPG |
| 27 MPG | City | 30 MPG |
| 36 MPG | Highway | 38 MPG |
| 93 cu ft | Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| 13 cu ft | Cargo volume | 14 cu ft |
| 294 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 268 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl |
| 6-speed automatic | Transmission | CVT |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Mazda 3 vs Nissan Sentra across model years
- Mazda 3
- Nissan Sentra
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Nissan Sentra has more passenger space (96 vs. 93 cu ft); the Nissan Sentra has more cargo space (14 vs. 13 cu ft).
Among 31 2026 midsize cars, the Mazda 3 ranks 15th and the Nissan Sentra 12th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Mazda 3 or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
Measured by cost to drive, the Nissan Sentra. The Mazda 3 is rated 30 MPG combined and the Nissan Sentra 33 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Mazda 3 vs. the Nissan Sentra per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,550 for the Mazda 3 and $1,409 for the Nissan Sentra.
Which has more cargo space?
The Nissan Sentra, with 14 cu ft of luggage volume versus 13 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Mazda 3 vs Nissan Sentra in other years
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