2013 Mazda3 i 5-door Grand Touring: Big jump in fuel economy with Skyactiv

Written by Steven Macoy
Friday, 28 December 2012 11:43

2013 Mazda3 i 5-door Grand Touring.Mazda long has ruled the economy-car sector where fun and refinement  are concerned, but going back even to the days of the Wankel rotary  engine, the cars always finished near the back of the pack in the  fuel-economy race. The last Mazda3 we drove, a 2011 Sport model, didn’t  even break 30 mpg in EPA testing, let alone real-world driving. 

But that was before the program Mazda calls Skyactiv Technology. Mazda  suddenly has vaulted to the front ranks as a fuel-economy leader. Our 2013 Mazda3 four-door hatchback was rated at 27 mpg city, 38  highway, compared with 22/29 in our pre-Skyactiv, 2011 Mazda3. The new  numbers are right up there with compact sedans and hatchbacks by  Hyundai, Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford, all of which are aiming for (or  have already hit) the 40-mpg target. 

So today’s Mazda is still fun, still refined, and fuel-efficient. It’s  still more expensive than others in its class, but it remains a step up  from most of the competition in terms of overall quality. So what, exactly, is Skyactiv? It’s a combination of engine,  transmissions and platform modifications that improve efficiency  without compromising performance. The 2.0-liter, 155-horsepower engine  has a very high compression ratio of 14:1, compared with as low as 10:1  in other modern vehicles. Mazda engineers found a way to achieve this  improvement without bringing on the knocking that can result from high  compression. We neither heard nor felt any knocking during our week  with the Mazda3. 

Skyactiv engineers also reduced the weight of the platform without  diminishing safety or the stiffness that contributes to the admirable  handling qualities Mazda3s have long been known for. Our 2013 Mazda3  was more than 150 pounds lighter than the 2011 model we tested. But  since the 2012 redesign, the Mazda3 has maintained its Top Safety Pick  status with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

All this quality and technology have an impact on the bottom line. Our  top-end Grand Touring hatchback had a base price of $23,300 and a  sticker price of $26,130. The well-equipped Hyundai Elantra GT  hatchback has a sticker price nearly $4,000 less than the Mazda3 Grand  Touring model. Of course, they’re very different cars where performance  and refinement are concerned; in these categories, the Mazda3 is  practically without peer in its class. 

Standard features on our test car, which wore a vivid coat of Velocity  Red paint, included power moonroof, audio, cruise and Bluetooth  controls on the steering wheel, leather upholstery, power driver’s  seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, full-color navigation system  and keyless ignition. The 6-speed stick shift worked well but felt  somewhat less precise than what we’ve come to expect from Mazda. Mazda offers the Mazda3 in a rich variety of flavors, from the base  sedan for $16,700, to base hatchback for $20,000, all the way up to the  sporty Mazda3speed, starting at $24,200. A diesel version reportedly  will become available as early as next year. 

Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and  full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn. 

Price: $26,130

Engine: 2.0-liter Four, 155 horsepower, 148 lb.-ft. torque

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Drive: Front-wheel

Weight: 2,896 lb.

Suspension: Four-wheel independent, MacPherson strut front, multi-link 

rear

Wheels: 16x6.5-inch alloy

Tires: P205/55R16 all-season

Seating capacity: 5

Luggage capacity: 17 cu. ft.

Maximum cargo capacity: 42.8 cu. ft.

Fuel capacity: 14.5 gallons

Fuel economy: 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway

Fuel type: Regular unleaded