Mazda3 Gas Mileage

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The compact Mazda3 was introduced to America in the 2006 model year, after being available abroad since 2004. The Mazda3’s good gas mileage and sporting character have won it fans the world over. While highway gas mileage rankings in the low thirties for the base model have ensured success with the commuter crowd, it’s the style, handling, and lively nature that play to those looking for a bit of “zoom-zoom” in their day-to-day lives.

The Mazda3 4-door “i” Model is equipped with a 2.0 liter DOHC four cylinder engine, producing 148 horsepower (HP), while the “s” Model is fitted with the larger and slightly more powerful 2.3 liter four cylinder engine, producing 156 horsepower and 150 foot pounds of torque. The i Model delivers 24 city / 32 highway miles per gallon (MPG), while the s Model provides 22 city / 29 highway MPG.

The Mazda3 5-door “s” Model is fitted with the same 2.3 liter engine as the 4-door s Model. (Mileage estimates are identical, as well.) The i Models are equipped with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic. The s Models are available with either the 5-speed manual or a 5-speed electronically controlled automatic.

The top-of-the-line MazdaSpeed3 5-door is unquestioningly intended for the enthusiast. The little hot rod wagon’s turbocharged Direct Injection Spark Ignition version of the 2.3 liter four cranks out a whopping 263 HP and 280 foot pounds of torque. The MazdaSpeed3 is exclusively equipped with a six speed manual transmission; an automatic is not available. Mileage estimates are 18 city / 26 highway, on premium fuel.

European Mazda3’s can also be fitted with 1.6 or 2.0 liter diesel engines, resulting in a remarkable increase in fuel efficiency over the gas-engined models.

Mazda3 Review:



Mazda3 Gas Mileage – 2004-2010

Year Manf. Model Engine Disp. Fuel Trans. City Hwy
2010 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S5) Auto 24 33
2010 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 25 33
2010 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (S5) Auto 22 29
2010 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.5 liter R (M6) Manual 21 29
2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter P (M6) Manual 18 25
2009 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (S5) Auto 22 28
2009 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2009 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 22 30
2009 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 32
2009 Mazda MazdaSPEED3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter P (M6) Manual 18 25
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (S5) Auto 22 29
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (M5) Manual 22 29
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 23 31
2008 Mazda Mazda3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 24 32
2008 Mazda MazdaSPEED3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter P (M6) Manual 18 26
2007 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (S5) Auto 25 31
2007 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter P (M6) Manual 20 28
2007 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (M5) Manual 26 33
2007 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 26 34
2007 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 28 35
2006 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (M5) Manual 26 32
2006 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (S5) Auto 25 31
2006 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 26 34
2006 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 28 35
2005 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (S4) Auto 24 29
2005 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 28 35
2005 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 26 34
2005 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (M5) Manual 25 32
2004 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (M5) Manual 28 35
2004 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (M5) Manual 25 32
2004 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 26 34
2004 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.0 liter R (S4) Auto 26 34
2004 Mazda Mazda 3 4 cylinder 2.3 liter R (S4) Auto 24 29

Note: the EPA tweaked their testing procedure, starting with the 2008 model year, with the end result being that the 2008 MPG estimates are now lower than previous years. As always, YMMV.

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11 thoughts on “Mazda3 Gas Mileage”

  1. Pingback: 30 MPG Cars

  2. I own a 2005 Mazda3s. I routinely get 31-34 mpg depending on how hard I drive it in mixed city/highway. I took it on the (mountainous) highway for 75% of a tank and averaged 38.2 mpg! The car’s not even rated to get close to that. It’s a good feeling to go over 400 miles on 11 gallons of gas.

  3. This site is dreaming. I own the 2.3 l automatic 2007 5-door automatic, and it is nowhere near what you have said its mileage to be. It gets about 19 mpg in the city, and that is allowing it to coast whenever I can. There are few stops that I encounter in my city. The mileage on this vehicle is a black eye to an otherwise great car. A 4-cylinder vehicle should not be getting such poor mileage nowadays. Mazda will not be on my trade list when I get rid of this vehicle.

  4. @Steve – With any given vehicle, gas mileage is influenced by when, where, and how you drive.

    The next time you have some distance to cover, start out by checking your tire pressure before topping off the tank. Then, head out for the highway and set your cruise control for a reasonable speed. Put a few hundred miles on it, refill, calculate the mileage, and get back to us …

  5. One day I decided to test-drive my own 2006 Mazda3-s (2.3) manual.

    Drove during 188 miles (as part of a trip from Puebla city to Mexico City to Queretaro City.)
    MPG: 42.5
    avg. speed: 60mph (actually my goal was to never go above 3000 rpm)
    Altitude (mexico city): about 6800ft above sea level

    No one believes me about the MPG, I dont care. I saw it.
    I only did it once because driving so slow is so boring.

    Dont recall about my tire pressure; and surely I did not use cruise control.
    But I was using hankook ventus HR-ii 215/50-17 and I used to keep them at 32psi.

  6. I’ve got a 2005 3s 2.3 with manual trans. I always get between 28-32mpg. I drive agressively when I want and usually cruise the highways around 80mph and still maintain that average.

    The lower mileage is usually in the winter too.

  7. I own a 07 3 hatchback 2.3L automatic and I agree with steve, the gas mileage sucks mixed and city. Of course highway driving will get better gas mileage but who drives only highway? I also own a v6 98 Honda Accord and it gets better gas mileage than me Mazda 3!! KINDA SAD MAZDA! It’s weird, when I take my foot off the ngas in the Mazda it’s almost like it has air brake cuz it just slows down fast, not coasting at all.

  8. Mike: an automatic transmission doesn’t ever “coast”. You need to put it in neutral to coast. The engine will always drag and slow down the car. That’s one reason a manual will usually allow you to get better gas mileage.

  9. @Eli – Lets call it gliding, rather than coasting. Different automatic transmission allow gliding to different degrees. One of these days, I’ll have the ways and means to document the phenom …

  10. i love my 2008 Mazda 3 , but its a “GAS HOG ” surprisingly !! … and we traded a jeep liberty for it ! , i will be taking it out on a trip to Reno from Redlands we shall see how it does then ! … I’m REALLY disappointed !! ….. :-/

    And believe me , i do use the cruise control when im traveling long distance 🙂 .. come on it was calculated for a reason right ?

  11. Truly impressed with the 2013 Mazda3 I drove in Florida last week. Went 184 miles and it took 4.6 gallon. You do the math. I would buy this car.

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