Under the Hood

The Mazda3 i comes standard with a 148-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can team with a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Mazda3 s models use a 167-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that works with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The automatic includes a clutchless-manual mode that lets the driver control gear changes by nudging the console gear selector up or down.


A Mazda3 i with a manual transmission achieves the best EPA-estimated gas mileage, with its 25/33 mpg city/highway rating. Selecting the automatic lowers the city rating by 1 mpg. The Mazda3 s, meanwhile, is rated at 21/29 mpg with the manual and 22/29 mpg with the automatic.

    See also:

    An SUV With Zoom-Zoom?
    One of the best things about the CX-9 is its drivetrain. Every CX-9 comes with a 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine that teams with a six-speed automatic transmission with a clutchless-manual mo ...

    Owner Maintenance Precautions
    Improper or incomplete service may result in problems. This section gives instructions only for items that are easy to perform. As explained in the Introduction, several procedures can be done onl ...

    Mazda3 2009 review
    The first-generation Mazda3's viability shows automakers that this is how you do it: Come out with a car that's so competitive when it's new that it's still a good choice years down the line. It a ...