SKYACTIV technology brings remarkable fuel savings; improved styling; sharper prices
Some tyre noise on poor secondary roads
How popular is the Mazda3? Well there is a very real chance Mazda’s small car hero will finish 2011 ahead of Holden Commodore as Australia’s best-selling car model.
Mazda3 holds a slender sales lead over Commodore at the end of August and Mazda’s position has been boosted by the launch of a mid-term facelift for its top-seller. With extra equipment across the range, most Mazda3 models enjoy a price reduction as part of the facelift.
But the headline act of the Mazda3 upgrades is the introduction of Mazda’s ground-breaking SKYACTIV technology in the new Mazda3 SKYACTIV variant. ‘SKYACTIV’ is an umbrella term for a range of new technologies aimed at improved fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emissions.
In the case of the Mazda3, the SKYACTIV model gains the SLYACTIV-G direct injection petrol engine which delivers 4.6 per-cent more power and 6.6 per cent more torque and combines with the SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission to improve fuel consumption by a massive 25.6 per cent.
Mazda3 Overview
New Mazda3 (hatchback and sedan) is immediately identified by subtle, yet noticeable exterior styling changes – a new-look front grille, new bumpers front and rear and new-design alloy wheels - as well as a freshened interior. All variants score the improvements and extras and while range-topping Mazda3 MPS is now priced from $38,435, and SP25 is stickered at $31,490, other models enjoy significant price reductions.
Entry-level Neo gains alloy wheels and body-colour door handles and a $1,000 price cut. Mazda3 Maxx Sport and Diesel models score auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers while enjoying a price cut of $1,870. Mazda3 SP25 gets Bi-xenon headlights, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry/push-button start and Mazda3 MPS adds auto Bi-xenon headlights, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and 10-speaker Bose audio.
The full range is:
Neo $20,330
MaxxSport $24,490
Diesel $27,360
SP20 SKYACTIV $27,990
SP20 SKYACTIV Luxury $30,990
SP25 $31,490
MPS $39,490
Automatic transmission for Neo and Maxx Sport adds $2,000
Automatic transmission for SP25 (paddle shifters) adds $2,180
Mazda3 Engine
For the non-SKYACTIV models, Mazda3 retains its 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with 108kW/182Nm, driving through a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 7.9l/100kms.
The diesel model Mazda3 is powered by Mazda’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel delivering 110kW/360Nm and combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.7l/100kms.
SKYACTIV is the star-billing of the new Mazda3 and the SKYACTIV-G direct injection petrol engine delivers 113kW at 6000rpm/194Nm at 4100rpm. But here’s the impressive bit – the Mazda3 SKYACTIV-G, driving through the six-speed SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission is Australia’s most fuel-efficient petrol small car at 6.1l/100kms (25.6 per cent improved over the normal MZR 2.0-litre engine).
The SKYACTIV-G petrol engine is identified under the bonnet by its blue-metallic engine cover and employs a raft of technologies to deliver its performance combined with fuel efficiency - but one of the major components is a very high 12:1 compression ratio. In fact that compression ratio is reduced from 14:1 in other markets because of the quality of Australian 91 RON unleaded fuel – with a fuel consumption penalty of about two per cent according to Kenichiro Saruwatari, the Mazda3 Chief Engineer who visited Australia for the new model launch.
As well as the high compression ratio, the SKYACTIV-G petrol engine runs a shorter combustion cycle, new design pistons and other modifications for 30 per cent less friction overall. It’s also two kilos lighter than the standard 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Additionally, fuel consumption is aided by auto start/stop (Mazda’s system is called I-Stop). Mazda says its system is less noticeable by drivers as it always places one piston in position for rapid response and as a result takes only 0.35 seconds to re-start, whereas some rivals take 0.70 seconds.
And you can expect even more fuel efficiency in a few years when Mazda introduces an all-new Mazda3 SKYACTIV. As this model was a facelift, Mazda engineers had to stick with the existing chassis platform which meant they could not fit the SKYACTIV exhaust system.
The Mazda3 SKYACTIV drives through the SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission which features full-range lock-up. Again this is breakthrough technology from Mazda which delivers faster gear changes and less transmission ‘shock’ during shifts.
Mazda3 The Interior
Inside, the new Mazda3 gains detail changes designed to boost its quality feel – most noticeable by new seat trim materials. The lower dashboard swaps from a silver finish to black, while elsewhere a satin silver garnish is added to controls and the instruments have adopted white graphics for better visibility.
MPS models delete their previous red accents and now run silver as per other Mazda3 models. MPS also gains leather wraps for the gear lever and handbrake.
In SKYACTIV models, the instruments get blue illumination and a unique gear lever which actually projects forwards by 4mm compared to other variants.
Audio is a six-speaker single CD system, except for range-topping MPS which scores a 10-speaker Bose system.
Mazda3 Exterior & Styling
Noticeable changes have given the new Mazda3 a more aerodynamic look. There’s a new grille and the front bumper is narrower, with more rounded edges, a more protruding lower edge and larger lower fins to direct the airflow to the front tyre deflectors.
Hatchback versions of the new Mazda3 adopt a new rear bumper which is 30mm narrower and new rear combination lamps, while the sedan also scores a new-design rear bumper.
New Mazda3 also boasts new-design 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels.
SKYACTIV models run transparent blue rings in the headlights.
Mazda3 On The Road
In our SKYACTIV Luxury Mazda3 we tackled the twists and curves of Victoria’s iconic Great Ocean Road and before that the Geelong Freeway. As part of the running changes included in the facelift package, Mazda’s chassis engineers increased body rigidity (extra weld points, increased thickness for the B-frame and an added centre brace bar), re-tuned the dampers and steering (the latter for sharper turn-in and enhanced straight-ahead feel).
A rapid mountain run into the township of Lorne highlighted the improvements and where previously the Mazda3 might not have quite matched the Volkswagen Golf in the driving dynamics department, the tables may now have been turned. Turn-in was very crisp and even when provoked by hard braking during turn-in, rear-end stability was impressive.
Ride quality was also very compliant and noise isolation was generally impressive – except on poor coarse chip bitumen roads when we did notice some tyre noise.
And the usual Mazda3 qualities were again on display in the speedy going – nice, supportive seats and good feedback from the steering.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of our day in the Mazda3 SKYACTIV was the performance of the dashboard instant fuel consumption readout – despite our leadfoot style, we never once saw worse than 6.4l/100kms.
Mazda3 Challenges
Apart from a bit of tyre noise on poor roads, our only other points deduction for the Mazda3 SKYACTIV Luxury was mid-range torque. Mazda is not alone in this department – the pursuit of fuel consumption has some pay-backs and even some of the best the best European models have the same trait – strong acceleration from a standing start and still plenty of performance, but just a little flat in the mid-range.
Mazda3 Verdict
Mid-way through its model cycle and under attack from multiple local and international rivals, the Mazda3 remains one of the benchmark small cars. While the headlines of this facelifted range will come from Mazda’s smart SKYACTIV technology, overall the Mazda3 range now looks sharper and prices are lower – good news for small car buyers, not so good for any aspirants seeking to de-throne the ‘3’ as king of the small cars.
Mazda3 The Competition
It’s a ‘Who’s Who’ of brands and models competing for a slice of Australia’s small car market and Mazda3’s sales success is testimony to its strengths.
With its five-door hatchback and four-door sedan models, Mazda3 goes head-to-head with Volkswagen’s Golf and Jetta lineups. The Germans are a bit more pricey but ooze class in every department.
Holden is just about to add the hatchback models to its locally-built Cruze lineup. Prices are pretty close but Holden’s 1.8-litre petrol doesn’t quite match Mazda’s 2.0-litre.
At Car Showroom we’re all huge fans of the Ford Focus, but you need to get into the Trend models (starting at $24,490) to score the handy 2.0-litre petrol engine. However we reckon Ford Focus is the class of the field for interior style.
Toyota Corolla starts a tad more than Mazda3 at $20,990 and its 1.8-litre powerplant is overshadowed by the 3’s 2.0-litre, but the Corolla delivers impressive interior space.
