The base model’s starting price has been lowered $600 from last year. That means you can get into the Mazda3 for $15,595, and it now comes with remote keyless entry and power door locks. The volume seller for the Mazda3 is the mid-level GS trim; it starts at just under $19,000 and comes with a few standard features such as heated seats, rain-sensing wipers and leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel. This is also the only trim that will currently be available with 2.0L, 4-cylinder SKYACTIV engine.
The SKYACTIV models are rated at 4.9 L/100km on the highway, and the group of journalists managed to get around 5.0 to 5.3 L/100km during our test drive.
Dave Coleman from R&D went into great detail about the SKYACTIV transmissions. A conventional automatic suffers from torque converter slip, slow shifting and rough downshifts. Mazda has decided to use both torque converter and clutch, depending on the situation, resulting in a car that gets 7% better fuel economy. In addition, shifts are very quiet and smooth.
Kenichiro Saruwatari, Executive Officer for Mazda Motor Corp., explains the targets for the new engine: better fuel economy, more low/midrange torque and a lightweight, lively response.
The solution was to develop an engine that has a smaller combustion chamber with less surface area to minimize heat loss, incorporate an advanced direct injection system and make the intake valve timing controlled electronically so that the response time is faster.
The SKYACTIV transmission and engine drivetrain combo is great. If you walk into a Mazda dealership and take the 2012 GS with SKYACTV out for a test drive, most people won’t notice a difference in the way it drives. And that is exactly what Mazda was hoping for.
Mazda says that there is 5% more power and 10% more torque with this system. I did notice shorter shifts on the manual transmission, more like the MX-5. The latter has always been my favourite roadster to drive, so I am happy that they have carried over this sporty feeling into the Mazda3.
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| The base model’s starting price has been lowered $600 from last year. That means you can get into the Mazda3 for $15,595. (Photo: Mazda) |
The SKYACTIV models are rated at 4.9 L/100km on the highway, and the group of journalists managed to get around 5.0 to 5.3 L/100km during our test drive.
Dave Coleman from R&D went into great detail about the SKYACTIV transmissions. A conventional automatic suffers from torque converter slip, slow shifting and rough downshifts. Mazda has decided to use both torque converter and clutch, depending on the situation, resulting in a car that gets 7% better fuel economy. In addition, shifts are very quiet and smooth.
Kenichiro Saruwatari, Executive Officer for Mazda Motor Corp., explains the targets for the new engine: better fuel economy, more low/midrange torque and a lightweight, lively response.
The solution was to develop an engine that has a smaller combustion chamber with less surface area to minimize heat loss, incorporate an advanced direct injection system and make the intake valve timing controlled electronically so that the response time is faster.
The SKYACTIV transmission and engine drivetrain combo is great. If you walk into a Mazda dealership and take the 2012 GS with SKYACTV out for a test drive, most people won’t notice a difference in the way it drives. And that is exactly what Mazda was hoping for.
Mazda says that there is 5% more power and 10% more torque with this system. I did notice shorter shifts on the manual transmission, more like the MX-5. The latter has always been my favourite roadster to drive, so I am happy that they have carried over this sporty feeling into the Mazda3.
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| The SKYACTIV transmission and the 2.0L, 4-cylinder SKYACTIV engine combo is great. (Photo: Mazda) |