Selwyn Times: April 28, 2021
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<strong>28</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>April</strong> <strong>28</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
Mazda3 boosted by mild hybrid driveline<br />
IT WAS ONLY a matter of time<br />
before Mazda developed hybrid<br />
technology.<br />
I’m not surprised it has taken<br />
some time for that to happen,<br />
because as a company it has<br />
been concentrating on building<br />
fuel-efficient and low emission<br />
internal combustion engines,<br />
almost matching the benefits that<br />
hybrids represent.<br />
What Mazda has done now is<br />
combine the gains it has made<br />
through their Skyactiv range of<br />
four-cylinder engines with mild<br />
hybrid technology.<br />
So, forget the pioneering designs<br />
that Toyota and Honda have<br />
developed along with the systems<br />
of other mainstream manufacturers,<br />
Mazda’s hybrid isn’t quite so<br />
deep, instead it utilises similar elements<br />
to that of Mercedes-Benz<br />
and BMW, using regenerative<br />
energy to store power in a 24v<br />
lithium-ion battery bank.<br />
The alternator and starter motor<br />
have both been replaced with<br />
an integrated starter/generator, it<br />
captures energy that would normally<br />
be wasted during braking.<br />
This energy is then used to power<br />
electrical systems and assist the<br />
engine under acceleration.<br />
The power it develops is quite<br />
noticeable, but unlike other hybridsthe<br />
petrol engine is operating<br />
all of the time.<br />
That isn’t a bad thing, without<br />
being too technical Mazda has<br />
worked out-of-the-square with<br />
their internal combustion engine<br />
development, the Skactiv-X<br />
engine has a high compression<br />
design similar to what you get<br />
with diesel power, the result is<br />
even greater fuel usage benefits,<br />
more power and more torque.<br />
Add in the hybrid boost and you<br />
have a feisty, fuel efficient engine<br />
that is also amazingly smooth and<br />
quiet.<br />
How Mazda has done it is<br />
beyond my technical understanding,<br />
but I can report that it works<br />
brilliantly and it would be the hybrid<br />
system that I would choose.<br />
The Skyactiv-X engine is available<br />
in both the new CX-30 and<br />
Mazda3 hatchback as evaluated.<br />
Bear in mind that Skyactiv-X is<br />
an option, the standard engines<br />
are still available through both<br />
line-ups.<br />
Therein lies a bit of conundrum,<br />
you do have to pay a bit<br />
extra for Skyactiv-X, in CX-30<br />
form it adds $4000 at the top<br />
end landing at $54,990, while the<br />
Mazda3 lists at $51,995, that’s<br />
$3200 more than Limited specification.<br />
However, in Mazda3 form it<br />
does come loaded with fitment.<br />
Mazda have branded it Takami<br />
and that means high grade, it is<br />
fully loaded with kit, so in many<br />
ways not only are you getting<br />
a premium car, you are doing<br />
just that little bit extra for the<br />
HIGH GRADE: Mazda3’s hybrid technology only comes<br />
with Takami specification .<br />
MAZDA3 SKYACTIV-X: Fuel usage savings along with boost in performance.<br />
environment as well as being<br />
rewarded with a fabulous driving<br />
experience.<br />
In terms of figures, Mazda<br />
claims power outputs of 132kW<br />
and 224Nm from the 2-litre<br />
driveline (up 18kW and 24Nm),<br />
it also lists a 5.5-litre per 100km<br />
combined cycle fuel usage average,<br />
which are all pretty remarkable<br />
figures; and if you take into<br />
account that the torque figure<br />
represents a 12 per cent increase<br />
over the standard 2-litre unit, the<br />
development work is superbly<br />
beneficial.<br />
During my time in the evaluation<br />
car, I couldn’t get near<br />
Mazda’s fuel usage claims, taking<br />
the car back to the dealership<br />
with it showing 7.6l/100km on<br />
the readout. However, that’s more<br />
to do with my driving style and<br />
inner-city commuting, both of<br />
which are never conducive to<br />
good economy. I can report,<br />
though, that at 100km/h on the<br />
highway the readout displays a<br />
4l/100km instantaneous figure<br />
with the engine turning over at<br />
2200rpm.<br />
It’s those latter figures which<br />
are the most significant. If you<br />
are on a long journey, fill-ups will<br />
be infrequent, and a long-range<br />
between fill-ups is guaranteed.<br />
When I picked up the evaluation<br />
car it was showing a distanceto-empty<br />
figure of 550km. That<br />
would stretch on a highway trip.<br />
• Price – Mazda3 Skyactiv-X<br />
Takami, $51,995<br />
• Dimensions – Length,<br />
4460mm; width, 1795mm;<br />
height, 1435mm<br />
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,<br />
front-wheeldrive,<br />
1998cc, 132kW,<br />
224Nm, six-speed<br />
automatic<br />
• Performance –<br />
0-100km/h, 8.8sec<br />
• Fuel usage – 5.5l/100km<br />
That journey would be desirable,<br />
the Mazda3 is a beautiful<br />
car in which to drive, it shares<br />
all the characteristic attributes<br />
that Mazda has worked hard to<br />
develop, it’s an occupant-friendly<br />
interior that has a perfect driving<br />
position and ergonomic purity.<br />
Bear in mind, though, that at<br />
just 1.4m it sits low, and for those<br />
on the tall side you do need to<br />
duck your head under the roof<br />
line on entry.<br />
As mentioned, in Takami<br />
specification the Mazda3 wants<br />
for little, there are nice touches<br />
such as heated seats and steering<br />
wheel, keyless entry and ignition,<br />
satellite navigation, head-up<br />
display, and paddle shifters.<br />
The latter work on a traditional<br />
six-speed automatictransmission.<br />
Between the engine and gearbox<br />
there is solid surge of power and<br />
fluid delivery. The mid-range<br />
electric boost is noticeable and it<br />
contributes to that feel of energy.<br />
For the performance-minded,<br />
the Mazda3 Skyactiv-X will reach<br />
100km/h from a standstill in<br />
8.8sec, and will lunge through a<br />
highway overtake (80-120km/h)<br />
in 5.9sec.<br />
I took the evaluation car on a<br />
loop encompassing Hororata and<br />
Dunsandel, there aren’t many<br />
corners on those roads but my<br />
reasoning was that it was more<br />
of a test of highway fuel usage<br />
efficiencies. Nevertheless, when<br />
pointed at a quick corner the<br />
Mazda3 has traditional frontdrive<br />
handling qualities, grip is<br />
high through low profile Toyo<br />
tyres (215/45 x 18in) and body<br />
movement is negligible thanks to<br />
that low centre of gravity.<br />
What’s more, steering feel is<br />
delightful. A howling nor’wester<br />
was blowing across the plains<br />
during my testing time, yet it<br />
didn’t bother the Mazda3, it just<br />
feels so right under all conditions.<br />
The Mazda3 Takami drew a lot<br />
of attention during the time it was<br />
my care, both my daughter and<br />
her partner said it was a desirable<br />
car, especially with its black<br />
wheels and understated body<br />
design.<br />
That’s no surprise, the Mazda3<br />
is a smart piece of kit and the<br />
Takami hybrid lifts the entire<br />
series up a couple of notches.<br />
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