2013 Mazda MAZDA3: Skyactiv Takes A Bow

Compact cars have long been a hit all across Canada, and the Mazda MAZDA3 regularly posts total yearly sales in the top five.  The 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 continues the company's push towards cornering the Canadian compact market with a very affordable - and very fuel efficient - lineup of hatchbacks and sedans.  We were given the chance to pilot a 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 Sport (hatch) GS-SKY for a week and came away suitably impressed by what the perennial favorite continues to bring to the table in a very competitive segment.

Pretty On The Outside, Familiar On The Inside

The 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 hatchback hasn't deviated too much from its semi-smiley-faced styling game plan that was first introduced in 2009, but last year's aerodynamic tweaks to the exterior and the fact that most people are now used to the wide-mouth grille and intake treatment afforded to the car helps it to polarize fewer buyers regarding its looks.  The MAZDA3 is in fact a welcome break from the chunky lines and awkward proportions that have infected some of its compact competitors, proving that simple and slippery curves never go out of style.  Although somewhat more reserved when approached from the rear, the hatch's front end gives it a sporty appeal to match its driver's car reputation.

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Inside, the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 plays it safe by offering shoppers essentially the same package as the year before, with a few items moving onto the standard equipment list for each of the hatchback's three respective trim levels.  There's a lot to like about the simple presentation and reasonably soft plastics found on the dashboard, steering wheel, center console, and side panels, and the GS-SKY's multi-level heated seats were a welcome respite from its cold winter leather.  Most of the must-have features are present and accounted for, with a pair of small dash-top LCD information screens taking the place of a center-mounted touchscreen to keep track of vehicle and entertainment systems, but part of the MAZDA3's affordable pricing means accepting its place as an entry-level player.

Perhaps the one area of the interior where the Mazda falls down has to do with rear-seat room.  There's just not a lot of space behind the front two positions, which can be a problem if you are ferrying around more than a single adult passenger on a regular basis.  The 'trunk' behind the back seat provides decent cargo hauling, although you will need to fold the rear row forward in order to free up enough space for larger objects.

Great Blend Of Power And Handling

The centerpiece of Mazda's marketing push for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 is its Skyactiv-G engine.  This 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit might offer the same displacement as the base model's mill but it delivers better power and impressive fuel efficiency without the need for a turbo.  Skyactiv technology isn't just found under the hood (where it takes the shape of direct fuel injection, high compression, and numerous other efficiency-oriented features) but also in the automatic transmission that came as an option with our test vehicle.  Combining both a torque converter and a clutchpack that are computer-controlled in order to deliver a balance between performance and frugality, the tranny complements the Skyactiv-G engine well (a six-speed manual is also available with the car).

The Skyactiv 2.0-liter engine produces 155 horses and 148 lb-ft of torque from its four-cylinders.  This might not sound like an overwhelming amount of power, but coupled with the lightweight design of the MAZDA3 and its top-of-segment handling it's the perfect dance partner for the hatchback's supple suspension tuning.  Despite the fact that the MAZDA3 isn't intended to be a track-day performer it's by far one of the most engaging inexpensive commuter cars around.

The additional payoff of the Skyactiv engine is its casual disdain for refueling.  The Mazda MAZDA3 that we drove is rated at 7.1 l / 100 km in city driving and an astonishing 4.9 l / 100 km on the highway.  In mostly city travel we weren't able to match these figures, but then again we took mostly very short trips in extremely cold weather, which is a recipe for low fuel economy.

Mazda Fights Back Against The Big Boys

Mazda is one of the auto industry's smaller players, and it can't afford to gamble when it comes to pouring money into research and development.  The decision to pursue additional internal combustion engine efficiency instead of developing or licensing a hybrid drivetrain has played a major role in allowing the brand to keep the price of the MAZDA3 Sport so low.  The GS-SKY edition of the car that we drove starts at under $20,000, which is great value for such an advanced drivetrain.

Yes, there are cars with more power, and there are even those that come loaded with more high tech gadgets for around the same money.  There are few entry-level automobiles, however, that can match the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 Skyactiv's combination of driving dynamics and efficiency.  This makes the compact hatch a must-drive for anyone in the market for a sub-$20k car.