Car reviewers are loving the new 2012 Mazda3, a compact sedan with some innovative engine block design. While this car doesn’t get much of a body makeover for the model year, the new engine makes it more attractive choice for many consumers who are choosing it over other cars like the Nissan Sentra, Ford Focus, or Hyundai Elantra. As the new Mazda3 comes closer to American dealer’s lots, it’s evident that the Skyactive G engine design we’ve been talking about is turning heads within the auto industry.
In many reviews of the compact sedan segment, the Mazda3 has garnered some accolades for good handling and lots of neat features. However, reviews of past model years have shown the vehicle to be a little clunky, and a little gas hungry. The new 2012 model changes all that with a 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 hp that can help this car achieve the holy grail of fuel efficiency, the 40 miles per gallon that is becoming mandatory across the board for this segment. We’ve previously reported on how Mazda achieves this pinnacle of fuel economy without using a hybrid or similar engine design, and now, as customers wait with bated breath, this improved design is due to hit American lots soon. The auto media world is abuzz with news that the 2012 Mazda3 is now in production in Japan, and this fall, drivers will see for themselves what all of the fuss is about. Mazda is likely to keep the smaller 2.0 liter engine in the base model and offer power-hungry drivers a 2.5, so check lots and see how much of the local inventory replaces the old low-30s mpg with competitive fuel economy for tomorrow.