2012 Mazda3 to Get 40 MPG

The 2012 Mazda3, which debuted at a Canadian auto show earlier this year, makes its first U.S. appearance in New York City, along with some facts that weren’t revealed when it was north of the border. Namely, that the mildly refreshed sedan’s new engine, which is teamed to a new six-speed automatic, will achieve 28/40 mpg city/highway, nearly matching the 2011 Hyundai Elantra for best-in-class mileage.

Originally, the company said fuel efficiency would be up 15%, but this is actually a 21% boost of the outgoing 2011 model.

2011 Mazda3 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick

The 2011 Mazda3 sedan and hatch have received the Top Safety Pick designation in the small-car category from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

To earn the award, a vehicle must receive the top rating of Good in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The vehicle also must have electronic stability control, which is standard on the Mazda3.

Measurements taken from the head, neck and chest of the crash dummies used during the Mazda3’s testing show a low risk of significant injury in a 40-mph frontal offset crash. The crash results did reveal that an injury to the right lower leg is possible. During side impact testing, the driver could suffer a fracture of the pelvis, and rib fractures are possible for the rear passengers in the type of simulated crash performed during IIHS testing.

The Mazda3 is the first Mazda to be named a Top Safety Pick since the agency implemented a tough roof-strength requirement to test vehicle rollover. Twelve other compact cars also are Top Safety Picks, including the Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic and Kia Forte.

To pass IIHS’ roof-strength test, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. The Mazda3 sedan can withstand 5.32 times its own weight and the hatch, 5.09.

2012 Mazda3 More Efficient, Less Smiley

The 2012 Mazda3, which debuted at an auto show in Canada this week, will indeed receive the new global 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine the automaker is dubbing “SKYActive.” What does that mean? Basically it has direct injection and uses lightweight materials to boost both fuel efficiency and torque by 15%.

Mazda needs to get better mileage because it’s far behind its compact-class competition in that category. The current Mazda3 gets an EPA-estimated 24/33/27 mpg city/highway/combined. A 15% boost would take that combined figure to 31 mpg and the highway number to 38 mpg, putting the car closer to its rivals. However, Honda just announced the 2012 Civic will get 39 mpg highway, and the new Hyundai Elantra gets 40 mpg highway.

At least the 2012 Mazda3 won’t be as far behind in fuel economy.

Mazda has also toned down the smiley face look of the Mazda3 with a more angular grille. We can’t really see much difference to the rear of the car, and we can’t stand the new wheels, which look like they belong on a Pontiac Vibe, shown in these photos.

We’d expect to get more details and better specifications on the new Mazda3 when we get closer to its fall on-sale date. In an unusual turn of events, Mazda is using the U.S. as its launch market for these new engines.

40 mpg Ford Fiesta, Other Small Cars Flounder

Automakers quickly turned to small cars when gas hit $4 a gallon in 2008. Folks everywhere downsized, trading in giant SUVs for traditional compacts and the latest subcompacts, like the Toyota Yaris. The trend prompted Ford to bring its best global small car to the U.S., the Ford Fiesta, while it looked to beef up its compact, the Focus, to be a more premium offering. This trend of subcompact and larger compact is being seen across the industry.

The Fiesta has been on sale for a few months with a full inventory on most lots. (There are more than 9,000 in Cars.com’s national inventory.) However, the Fiesta isn’t setting the sales world on fire, and the rest of the segment isn’t, either.

NHTSA Tests First Pickups Under New Rating System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday released its first set of crash-test results for pickup trucks under the agency’s revised five-star New Car Assessment Program, which we detailed last month.

The four trucks tested were the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500, 2011 Ram 1500 and 2011 Toyota Tacoma.

Of that group, the Silverado and Sierra scored the best, receiving four stars for the regular cab, extended cab and crew-cab configurations. The results also include a tested Silverado Hybrid model. The Silverado and Sierra received five stars in the new “pole test,” which 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.

Recall Alert: 2007-2009 Mazda 3, Mazda5

Mazda is recalling nearly 200,000 of its Mazda3 compact cars and Mazda5 minivans due to a defect in the power steering system. Drivers could experience a sudden loss of assist, making it difficult to steer the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
 
Vehicles manufactured between April 2, 2007, and Nov. 30, 2008, are included in the recall, Mazda says. You can check your car’s manufacture date on the sticker inside the driver-side doorjamb.
 
Mazda says it is having supply issues with the parts it needs to fix the issue, so the recall will be staggered, with some owners being notified on or before Sept. 15, another group later in September and a third group in February. Owners can contact Mazda at 800-222-5500 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 888-327-4236. 

Today's News From the Cars.com Family

On Ask.cars.com, a reader wants to know whether he should buy a Mazda3 hatchback or a Nissan Versa hatchback. Over at PickupTrucks.com, we learn about the latest questions surrounding Mahindra’s launch in the U.S. Finally, MotherProof.com puts a 2011 Ford Fiesta through its paces during an errand-filled weekend with the family. 

• Should I buy a Mazda3 hatchback or Nissan Versa hatchback? (Ask.cars.com) 
• Global Vehicles Responds to New Comments from Mahindra About Pickup Timing (PickupTrucks.com) 
• 2011 Ford Fiesta: Weekend Warrior (MotherProof.com)

Suburban Dad: 2010 Mazda3 vs. 2002 Mazda Protege

While the new Mazda3 has lots of advantages over my own ’02 Protegé, there are just enough changes for the worse that I wouldn’t pick that car today if I were looking for a second car for my family.

Back in 2002, I needed a car that I could commute solo 90 miles a day, five days a week, but I also needed a car that could carry all three kids and my wife if need be. The backseat offered plenty of room, or at least enough room that the kids wouldn’t kill each other.

Fast-forward to last week, and the Mazda3, which certainly is way more contemporary — and decked out to the nines — had a backseat that wasn’t comfortable for my three teens, or even the three smaller kids I had back in ’02. And yes, we know the 2010 actually has larger interior dimensions, sometimes those numbers don’t equal real-world testing with real-live bodies that don’t like being next to each other.

2010 Mazda3 Video

The 2010 Mazda3 has had a lot of jaws flapping about its somewhat controversial styling. According to Cars.com senior editor David Thomas, the real story isn’t the Mazda3’s look but how it holds up as a performance compact. In this video, he takes you through the trim levels and explains why they make such a big difference when comparing the Mazda3 to the competition.

Mazda Offers Zero-Percent Financing

Mazda is offering zero-percent APR financing for 60 months on 2010 Mazda3, Mazda5 and Mazda6 models through June 1.

On top of that, certain Midwest customers qualify for an extra $500 cash toward the purchase or lease of new select Mazda models on top of zero-percent financing. We found the deal extended to the most vehicles in Midwestern ZIP codes, so check in your area, as eligible cars may vary.

Note that the Mazdaspeed3 does not come with this offer.

Mazda is also offering $500 in owner loyalty cash for previous Mazda customers who buy a 2010 Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-7 or CX-9.