Between new engines and the model's hatchback and sedan body styles, the 2012 Mazda3 now comes in 11 versions. Cars.com Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays put many of them to the test, including the 40-mpg SkyActiv engine variant and the zoom-zoom Mazdaspeed3.
Does the refreshed compact car have what it takes to beat strong sellers like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cruze?
Mazda wiped the smile — well, some of it — off the Mazda3's grille for the 2012 model year. It didn't stop there, though. The automaker also tweaked the exterior and interior styling of its compact car, which comes in sedan and hatchback body styles. For our Car Seat Check, we tested the hatchback.
For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.
Small cars and 40 mpg are quickly going hand in hand. Of the 30 sedans, coupes and hatchbacks that start under $18,000, more than a dozen have a 40-mpg non-hybrid variant — and most of them are selling well. Not to be left off the bandwagon, Mazda gave its Mazda3 a mileage makeover for 2012.
Called SkyActiv, the car's new 155-horsepower drivetrain — a direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed manual or automatic — builds on aerodynamic tweaks to eke out competitive mileage: 28/40 mpg city/highway in the automatic Mazda3 sedan, 27/39 mpg with the stick. Aerodynamic shortfalls and a few extra pounds dock 1 mpg highway off the SkyActiv hatchback with either transmission.
How does the Mazda do in the real world? I took a stick-shift Mazda3 SkyActiv hatchback from our Chicago offices to the Detroit auto show to find out.
Mazda made a big change to the Mazda3 for the 2012 model year by adding a more efficient engine that's rated at 40 mpg highway. Called SkyActiv, it's only available on the sedan's top trims, which seems to be what Joey from Orange County, Calif., purchased and reviewed on Cars.com. He reveals his real-world mileage in his review below. You can write your own review here.
The end of the year means dealers are trying to move old product to make room for next year’s new cars, trucks and SUVs; it also means more deals for new-car shoppers. According to Mazda, ‘Tis the Season of Saving. The automaker’s annual year-end sale program offers well-qualified shoppers 0% financing and no payments for 90 days on select 2011 and 2012 Mazda vehicles.
Model-year 2011 vehicles that qualify include the Mazda2, Mazda3 hatchback and sedan, Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9. Also eligible are 2012 versions of the Mazda2, Mazda5, Mazda6 and CX-9. For example, qualified shoppers can purchase the redesigned-for-2012 Mazda5 small minivan for $19,345 and get 0% financing for 60 months and forgo payments for 90 days.
The sale ends Jan. 3.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its first batch of 2012 model year ratings this month. Under the stricter guidelines, only three 2012 models — the Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS and Toyota Camry — have earned five-star composite scores from the safety agency. In fact, as we previously reported, the Camaro is the only vehicle to earn a perfect rating across the board since the new guidelines took effect for the 2011 model year.
NHTSA’s composite scores are composed of five-star ratings for frontal, rollover and a combined side pole and barrier tests. The side pole test, which is new, simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.
The redesigned 2012 Camry earned a five-star overall rating, getting four stars in the frontal test, five stars in the side-crash test and four stars in the rollover test.
Mazda is in the midst of redefining the 2012 Mazda3, giving it a more fuel-efficient powertrain option and a less animated front-end look. Today, we learned that the new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, also known as the SkyActive-G, will have a starting price of $18,450 for the sedan. Mazda also has changed the prices on the rest of the 2012 Mazda3 lineup, which could confuse shoppers when confronted with two different prices for essentially the same model on dealer lots.
The SkyActive engine will be available on the Mazda3 i Touring sedan with either a six-speed manual ($18,450 sedan) or six-speed automatic transmission ($19,300 sedan) or the i Grand Touring trim with just the automatic transmission ($22,300 sedan and $22,800 hatchback). The i Grand Touring trim is new and includes a moonroof, power driver's seat, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a Bose 10-speaker audio system and a navigation system. The i Sport trims now come standard with remote keyless entry.
This is a momentous podcast — our 100th, to be exact. To mark the occasion, we have upgraded our recording equipment to deliver a much-improved listening experience. You’ll still have to listen to "faces for iTunes" editors Mike Hanley, Kelsey Mays and David Thomas as they talk about this week’s cars, but now you get to hear them in separate channels, in stereo and with minimal popping P’s.
A more premium compact sedan or hatchback may be new territory for the likes of Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai, but it’s not for Mazda. The Mazda3 has consistently been one of the more refined offerings in the class, but with the aforementioned brands making more sophisticated models, how does the Mazda3 stack up against new and old foes, like the redesigned Honda Civic?
Mazda is recalling 103,300 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 sedans and hatchbacks from the 2008 and 2009 model years for faulty windshield wiper motors, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In the affected vehicles the ground terminal of the wiper motor may have been bent during assembly. The condition could worsen over time and lead to the motor not working, which could be dangerous during bad weather.
Cars included in the recall were manufactured between Jan. 7 and Nov. 28, 2008. You can find your vehicle’s manufacture date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.
Mazda will begin the recall on or before July 15 and will install an additional ground harness free of charge. Concerned owners can call Mazda at 800-222-5500 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.
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