The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a liquid crystal composition which has a sufficiently low solid phase-nematic phase transition temperature (Tcn), a sufficiently small viscosity (η), a sufficiently small rotational viscosity (γ1), a high coefficient of elasticity (K33), and a negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε) with a large absolute value without reducing the refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and the nematic phase-isotropic liquid phase transition temperature (Tni); and further a liquid crystal display element which uses the same, has no or suppressed display defects of a VA type, etc., and has excellent display quality and a high response speed. The present invention provides: a liquid crystal composition which comprises a compound represented by formula (N2) as a first component, one type or more of a compound represented by general formula (N3) as a second component, and one type or more of a compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy (Δε) with an absolute value greater than 3 as a third component; and a liquid crystal display element which uses the same.