Hyundai i30 vs Mazda Mazda3
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 66% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| i30 | Mazda3 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 749 900 | R 498 300 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 13 107/m | R 8 709/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 81% | 82% |
| Retained after 3 years | 64% | 66% |
| Value after 3 years | R 480 676 | R 328 055 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 269 224 | R 170 245 |
| Value after 5 years | R 373 251 | R 258 569 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Mainstream |
Hyundai i30 →
The i30 hatch sold here from around 2009 to 2013 as a Golf-sized alternative, then the nameplate returned in 2021 with the 206 kW i30 N hot hatch. The N built a small enthusiast following before stock ended around 2023. Standard i30s are now a rare sight on the used market.
Known for: golf-sized hatch and the i30 n
Mazda Mazda3 →
Sold in South Africa since 2004 across four generations, the Mazda3 is the brand's Golf and Corolla rival. The current car gets credit for a near-premium interior, but Mazda SA has trimmed the range to a handful of hatch derivatives as buyers migrate to SUVs. Used examples are dependable, though resale trails the German badges.
Known for: upmarket cabin and dependable ownership
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Hyundai i30 or the Mazda Mazda3?
They are close to inseparable: 64% vs 66% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Hyundai i30 loses about R 269 224 over three years and the Mazda Mazda3 loses about R 170 245. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Hyundai i30 runs about R 13 107 per month and the Mazda Mazda3 about R 8 709, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.