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2012 Mazda3 Sport GS-SKY Review

2012 Mazda3 Sport GS-SKY
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Charles Renny
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Mazda plans to fully integrate its SKYACTIV technologies — a collection of highly efficient engines, transmissions and platforms — into its lineup over the next couple of years; the first of them, an engine and transmission, is leading the charge in the 2012 Mazda3.

As in the past, Mazda brings two Mazda3 models to market for 2012, a four-door sedan and the five-door Mazda3 Sport. Both get freshened up for 2012 after a significant overhaul in 2010. The standard powertrain continues to be a 2.0L inline-4 with a 5-speed manual gearbox (a 5-speed automatic is optional).

The Mazda3 GS-SKY version gets the all-new 2.0L SKYACTIV direct-injection engine whose power is significantly better than the base engine, producing 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic. As good as its power improvements are, the most significant achievement is an improvement in fuel economy from the engine alone of about 20 per cent.

Mazda achieved this by developing not just friction-reducing engine components, but also a proprietary piston dish design that seems to do what everyone said can’t be done — produce higher horsepower and torque along with significantly improved driveability and fuel economy.

Not content to stop there, Mazda engineers developed a new 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic that deliver an additional 6 per cent improvement in fuel economy by itself. This makes the 2012 SKYACTIV Mazda3 Sport competitive with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf TDI and Ford Focus.

Note that only the GS-SKY trim of the Mazda3 and Mazda3 Sport are available with the SKYACTIV engine; the base 2.0L engine still equips GX and GS versions, while the GT keeps its 167-hp, 2.5L four.

With fuel economy in hand, Mazda engineers turned to improving handling without sacrificing ride quality. I sought out some miserable winter roads where I could really feel the difference over previous models, and then went looking for some dry corners to take as fast as the tires would let me. Cornering speeds are up and ride quality seems better. With the 2012 Mazda3 Sport GS-SKY, the engineers are right on target.

The true test would be whether my wife liked it. She couldn’t deny the bucket seats were comfortable and the seating position comfortable over a few hours of driving, but found the interior a bit plainer than she would have liked. She still prefers the Hyundai Elantra for the total interior package. She liked the pretty blue paint job, though.

Back-seat space is tight, especially legroom, but folding the backseat down makes the cargo area close to cavernous. I put my hockey bag inside and had room for a couple more. The monthly Costco shop fit with ease.

Our 2012 Mazda3 Sport GS-SKY automatic tester with optional sunroof checks in at $22,290. Put the Mazda3 with the SKYACTIV engine on your must-drive list. Any car that is fun to drive, hauls the freight, warms up quickly in winter and is a “pretty blue” is worth taking a look at!

 
2012 Mazda 3 GS-SKY
mazda 3 2012
2012 Mazda 3 GS-SKY
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Charles Renny
Charles Renny
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