Brian Bemis Mazda had customer Jim MacMurdo test drive a 2012 Mazda 3 for the weekend and this is his review.
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The New Standard for High Fuel Efficiency Compact Hatchbacks
2012 Mazda3i Touring SkyActiv – 6 speed automatic
$20,595.00 MSRP
After 3 years with the current design, Mazda has finally addressed the most pressing deficiency in its Mazda3 lineup, that being fuel efficiency. Their new SkyActiv technology package delivers actual top-of-the-line gas mileage while maintaining Mazda’s trademark peppy performance.
Let’s cut to the chase — how good is the actual fuel economy, you might ask? Here’s the data for my 3 day weekend evaluation of a brand new 2012 Mazda3i Touring with the SkyActiv 2.0L engine / 6 speed automatic.
Overall mileage – 3 days of 90% in-town driving: 32.0 mpg.
Highway mileage – over 16 miles of mostly flat terrain: 38.2 – 46.8 mpg
EPA estimates: 28 city / 39 highway
As one who routinely rents over a dozen midsize & compact cars per year, this is best overall fuel mileage I’ve experienced in a similar size vehicle. During the past few months, I’ve driven in this size range a VW Jetta 2.0T, a 2011 Ford Focus, and a Jeep Compass. The best of the bunch on gas was the Focus averaging 29.7 mpg on pretty much 80% high driving. The Compass couldn’t break 25.
OK, so the thing gets good mileage; how does it perform? It does very nicely, thank you very much. Please disregard the automotive press reviews you may have read about the SkyActiv powertrain being down on power if you live anywhere other than in the mountains of southern CA (where most of the articles were written). The throttle does have a bit longer initial tip-in (the distance needed to push down the pedal before the engine really lights up) than many vehicles, which could lead some to describe the car as slow off the line. Once the driver “calibrates” his/her expectation to how the throttle responds, the car will literally jump to attention. It’s probably the peppiest non-turbo 4-cylinder I’ve ever driven. Another really nice feature that Mazda engineers have included is a tall 6th gear ratio, which yields a 60 mph engine speed of about 1800 rpm. That’s important because the engine sounds so relaxed at that speed that it virtually disappears into the background. Many 4-cylinders are geared so short that they’re turning well over 2000 rpm at cruise, giving the aural sensation that they’re working much harder than they probably are. That low engine speed also contributes to the outstanding highway fuel mileage, by the way.
The Mazda3i handles in typical Mazda fashion – tight, buttoned down, and corners flat. A major contributor to the pleasant handling is the outstanding electro-hydraulic power assisted steering (EHPAS). Note to other manufacturers attempting to replace conventional hydraulic [engine pump powered] systems with electric assisted ones – this is the design to copy. It’s just light enough at around-town speeds to be non-tiring, and just firm enough at highway speeds to prevent unintended lane wandering (even when encountering high cross winds as I did one day during my test). The transition between the varying assist levels is totally transparent, with no sudden increases/decreases in assist level occurring mid-corner or at other inopportune times. I’ve driven some rear-wheel drive cars that didn’t get it as smooth as this one, let alone any front-wheel drive ones.
Moving on from the powertrain, some other design features of the car are bound to attract favorable attention, including the huge cargo area (17 cu. ft.) behind the rear seat. Folding either or both of the split rear seat backs down opens up a 5 ft. long compartment suitable for holding pretty much anything one can get through the quite wide 39” opening. There are some compact CUVs that can’t hold this much stuff.
Front seating in the [compact] Mazda3i Touring is midsize car spacious. My wife & I sitting side by side in front had plenty of elbow room & leg room. She actually had to move her seat forward quite a bit to get her toes to touch the front of the foot well. I had plenty of room, the seat provided reach, height, and backrest tilt adjustments. While I’m spoiled with the 8-way power adjustments in both of our vehicles, the controls available in the Mazda3i accomplished pretty much the same result with only a bit more effort. The door armrests are nicely padded; be careful of the tops of the doors which are rock-hard. More than a few minutes of resting my left arm there left it wanting a softer perch.
In the SkyActiv models, Mazda has replaced the instrument panel gauge lighting with white LEDs, instead of the prior models’ red ones. I much prefer this scheme; you may not, so if that’s a big deal to you, be sure and try one out at night before buying. The remainder of the dash lighting is red, which is supposedly easier on the eyes at night, but I find it a touch more difficult to read. You may disagree.
It’s been said that sometimes the smallest design detail can have the some of the biggest impact on the consumer, and in the case of the front seat console cupholders on the Mazda3, this was the case for me. Mazda is one of the very few manufacturers to “get it right” – they put the cup holder beside and to the left of the parking brake handle. This is truly a big deal to confirmed coffee drinkers (and I’m about as confirmed as they get) because it allows the driver to reach down and remove the coffee cup without looking down to be sure he/she doesn’t catch the bottom of it on the parking brake handle while lifting up toward his/her mouth. It only take a few hot coffee spills on one’s leg to teach the importance of this very small, yet oh so important design feature.
Were there anything features about the Mazda3 with which I wasn’t thrilled – yeah, a few, but none that would be strike issues for me. They included:
Road noise – the Bridgestone 205/55-16 Turanza tires put up a mighty howl on open aggregate (think oil & chip rock coated) road surfaces. Not bad on asphalt or concrete, but irritating enough to be more than noticeable. If much of your driving includes the former road types, I’d try to strike a deal with my salesperson to swap the Bridgestones for a set of Hankook Optimo H727s prior to closing the deal.
Rear seat room – with the front seats all the way back, there’s not much rear seat room. If you’re tall and frequently carry 3 – 5 passengers, check this out before signing on the dotted line. Could be a deal breaker for some.
AM radio – yes, when I’m traveling in cities on business, I frequently listen to local AM radio stations for traffic (and weather) reports. The sound quality from the unit in the car I drove was flat & tinny, no matter how I adjusted the tone controls. What’s puzzling is that FM stations (and a music CD I tried) were just the opposite – full bodied with more than acceptable treble & bass response. How / why this could / did happen; I haven’t a clue. That said, if you’re a big AM radio listener, check it out to see whether it might be a problem for you.
Firm ride – a touch more buttoned down than I would prefer. Not harsh or bouncy by any means, but definitely firm; the driver and passengers feel every bump and pock mark. If you’re looking for a sporty ride and handling, this won’t bother you a bit. If you prefer a more sanguine ride, take one out over your favorite bumpy road / street to see whether it’s acceptable to your tastes.
Overall, I was very pleased with the overall performance of the Mazda3I Touring SkyActiv. If you’re looking for a compact-size alternative to a smaller SUV / CUV with much more car-like behavior and superior fuel economy, this might just be your perfect vehicle. At slightly under $20,600, it’s a bargain to boot.
Independent Weekend Review By:
Jim MacMurdo
Brian Bemis Automotive Group
Amy Bemis Lyon
Aubrie Little
Curtis Rouw
Brandon Johnson
andybrouer
Jim Lyon
melissabalon
mmitchell2011
