Accounting for nearly two-thirds of Mazda’s U.S. sales, the three is important to the company’s health. Despite being the recent man in its ultracompetitive set, the three offers a high quality interior and a awfully athletic chassis, serving to to beat no matter marketplace hurdles its demented-clown face might have placed in its path. Still cursed with that circus mug, this 3’s midcycle changes are solely barely noticeable within or out. however there are important updates here nevertheless, as Mazda chases when efficiency-minded patrons with its new Skyactiv engine and transmissions.
Slotting between the aged, less powerful two.0-liter and therefore the thirsty two.5-liter naturally aspirated fours, the new 2.0-liter Skyactiv engine produces one hundred fifty five horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Of bigger note: The Skyactiv sedan is rated at the magical four0-mpg-highway mark—28 within the city—when paired with the new six-speed Skyactiv automatic; will increase of seven and 4 mpg, respectively, from last year’s two.0 with a five-speed auto. conjointly sporting the Skyactiv branding could be a normal six-speed manual that has been reworked into a smaller and lighter package. It options slightly shorter throws and reduced internal friction however forfeits one mpg in each cycles to the automated. It still achieves a lofty twenty seven mpg city/39 mpg highway rating, though, up from 25/33 with a five-speed manual in 2011.
While others are off-ladling engine displacement and adding turbochargers, active aero, or different pricey technologies within the name of fuel economy, Mazda achieves its huge mpg range with a 30-percent reduction in internal friction versus the bottom two.0-liter’s and a high twelve.0:1 compression ratio (a lower drag coefficient doesn’t hurt, either). Paired with direct injection, Mazda has combated the everyday knock in high-compression engines through the employment of special pistons. (Future iterations of the engine can increase compression to thirteen.0:1 and incorporate a 4-2-1 exhaust header to additional improve the combustion method.)
As the structure of the Skyactiv-equipped three is slightly lighter and stiffer than that of its siblings, with revised underbody bracing and extra spot welds, the miserly three exacts no dynamic tolls. The steering continues to be precise and communicative, the brakes keep nice, the chassis remains supremely assured, and therefore the crisp-shifting manual—a gearbox we have a tendency to didn’t suppose may improve—has gotten higher. Acceleration is swifter than that of different fuel-economy specials like the turbocharged Chevrolet Cruze Eco and therefore the lighter Hyundai Elantra, with our manual take a look at automotive reaching sixty mph in seven.9 seconds and therefore the automatic zero.4 second behind. And albeit we have a tendency to like to dent the floorboard, we have a tendency to managed a good twenty nine mpg in mixed driving with each manual and automatic take a look at cars.
The 3 i’s midline Touring trim unlocks the Skyactiv powertrain. It starts at $19,495 for the manual sedan, and another $850 for the auto. With this economical and fun-to-drive package, Mazda gets its three back in fine condition. Perhaps that’s why it’s still smiling.
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