Source snapshot 2026-10-05. Matching cohort: Compact Cars · Regular Gasoline · Front-Wheel Drive · . All configurations in this shared cohort are included; other configurations on the source pages are excluded. This is a comparison of this cohort, not the entire nameplates or retail trims.
| Vehicle | EPA combined consumption | Cost / mile | 12,000 mi / year | 5 years / 60,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | 33–35 US MPG | $0.10–$0.11 | $1,200.00–$1,272.73 | $6,000.00–$6,363.64 |
| Mazda 3 | 30–30 US MPG | $0.12 | $1,400.00 | $7,000.00 |
How large is the energy-cost difference?
A minus B ranges from $-200.00 to $-127.27 per year, or $-1,000.00 to $-636.36 over five years. Positive means A costs more; negative means A costs less. If the range spans zero, the result depends on configuration. These bounds compare every included pairing, without declaring a winner from a best-case trim.
Method and limitations
Annual cost = miles ÷ combined US MPG × fuel price, or miles × kWh/100 mi ÷ 100 × electricity price. Regular/diesel $3.50/gal; premium $4.00/gal; electricity $0.17/kWh. Prices are illustrative, held fixed for five years, not current national averages. EPA wall-energy ratings include charging losses. EPA standardized ratings do not guarantee actual consumption. Costs exclude purchase price, financing, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, taxes and incentives.
Included source records
- 2026 Toyota Corolla · Automatic (AV-S10) · EPA 49809 · EPA #49809
- 2026 Toyota Corolla (1-mode TM) · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · EPA 49807 · EPA #49807
- 2026 Toyota Corolla (3-mode TM) · Automatic (variable gear ratios) · EPA 49808 · EPA #49808
- 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback · Automatic (AV-S10) · EPA 49810 · EPA #49810
- 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback FX · Automatic (AV-S10) · EPA 49812 · EPA #49812
- 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback XSE · Automatic (AV-S10) · EPA 49811 · EPA #49811
- 2026 Mazda 3 4-Door 2WD · Automatic (S6) · EPA 49256 · EPA #49256
Compare exact configurations interactively · Source methodology