Mazda’s popular Mazda3 is face-lifted for 2012 with an even more refined exterior and interior, and it’s also the first application of Mazda’s innovative SKYACTIV fuel-saving and performance-oriented technologies, achieving an EPA-rated 40 mpg on the highway. The Mazda3 model is Mazda’s best-selling vehicle worldwide and accounts for nearly two-thirds of all Mazda car sales in the United States.
SKYACTIV technology is not just an engine; it is a new generation of advanced vehicle performance and efficiency. The whole package is a fresh departure of usual vehicle packages with a unique name that matches the idea to the benefit.
This refreshed Mazda3 receives an all-new SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine as well as the all-new SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission and all-new SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. The Mazda3 also features improved sporty driving dynamics, responsive handling and a comfortable cabin space. The exterior design also has been refined to express a bolder stance, alongside new interior appointments creating additional functionality without sacrificing the touch-and-feel quality.
With a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons, the Mazda3 sedan with SKYACTIV technology has the potential of a 540-mile range, with still a gallon of fuel remaining. City mpg for the sedan version also improves by 17%, to 28 mpg. When equipped with the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission, the sedan has an EPA-rated fuel economy of 27 city/39 highway. The Mazda3 sedan with the MZR 2.0-liter engine has an EPA fuel economy rating of 25 city/33 highway with the standard five-speed manual transmission, and 24 city/33 highway with the optional five-speed automatic transmission.
Mazda3 has earned a solid reputation for its sporty and exciting handling that delivers an equally pleasurable driving feel which emphasizes consistency between the driver’s expectations and the car’s response. Inheriting this pedigree, the refreshed 2012 Mazda3 not only improves upon this sense of oneness between driver and vehicle, but also offers a comfortable driving experience that all passengers can feel and enjoy in various driving scenarios.
Referred to as “Toitsukan,” this linear and consistent feel is about establishing smooth transitions between acceleration, lateral and deceleration G forces in response to the basic aspects of driving, turning and stopping. This idea is not simply about delivering sharp response to the accelerator and steering operations for a sporty ride, but instead delivering a consistent linear feeling of the car’s every response to control operations of the driver. Toitsukanextends to making driving pleasurable and instilling drivers with the sensation of excitement and control while at the same time offering passengers a comfortable ride created by a smooth and stable car movement.
Simply put: Turn the wheel a little, get a little change of direction; turn the wheel a lot, get a lot of change of direction. It seems so easy, but so few manufacturers seem to be able to achieve this level of intuition.
This mid-generation evolution of the Mazda3 also extends to its exterior design. The current model’s rich expression and bold stance has been updated to deliver a well-toned look that conveys even higher quality and curb appeal. Increased aerodynamics and stylized features give the Mazda3 a more sophisticated look, blending seamlessly with functionality.
The Mazda3’s exterior appearance ultimately features a more taut impression, with a new front fascia and updated five-point grille opening for both sedan and hatchback styles. New design characteristics include more delicately sculpted forms around the openings on the outside edge of the front bumper and a rounded fog lamp shape
The interior design was no less re-imagined than the vehicle’s exterior, and was developed with the end goals of a more inviting cabin and higher quality feel. Beginning with the instrument panel – the largest landscape within the cabin – black is now used throughout the center stack and shift gate to provide an even bolder look. Also, silver-colored, satin-polished details were added to areas frequently operated by consumers, such as the outer rings of the three climate-control dial switches and the audio control panel, as well as the ventilation louvers on the center panel. In addition to creating a feeling of higher refinement, the silver-on-black color scheme further accentuates the location of these common controls and switches, which increases legibility and lessens the amount of time drivers take their eyes off the road, consequently reducing operating errors. Improved visual designs also have found their way into the comfortable, snug seats and create a stronger impression of dimensionality with new three-dimensional fabric patterns.
Pricing starts at $18,950, with a large assortment of colors and options available. Included are the Mazda Certified Roadside Assistance Program and the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, a three-year/36,000-mile warranty that covers every part of the vehicle except those subject to normal wear, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion warranty.
For more information, visit your local Mazda dealer or visit MazdaUSA.com.
By Vince Bodiford
TheWeekendDrive.com