So I test drove the Mazda 3 SkyActiv hatchback with an auto transmission today (thanks to homieG @ Avante Mazda
) and here are my impressions and the comparison between the old 2.0L MZR.
The SkyActiv engine is butter smooth and feels very refined. Pretty quiet too.
However, this car is
slow. I'm not sure if it's because it's still using the break-in oil, but it felt really sluggish compared to the MZR.
Under normal driving 40-60km/h, it will keep the revs well under 2000rpm. Not a bad thing considering their aim was to maximize fuel efficiency, I could definitely FEEL that it's gonna save MUCH more gas than the MZR that I'm driving.
The 2.0L MZR, it feels a bit more peppy than your average family vehicle like the Civic or Corolla. The SkyActiv felt like it belonged with that average group. Heck, I got overtaken by at least 3 cars because of it's slow acceleration.
I couldn't really try out the sport mode because I was driving in 40-60km/h zones. However, gear changes are much smoother than the old 5 speed.
Not exactly a drawback, but it likes to jump to 2nd gear IMMEDIATELY. As the light turns green, I step on the gas...it felt like it was lugging something heavy because it just didn't move. You really need step on the gas to about 50% or more if you want to achieve a start like the MZR.
Not sure if they adjusted anything on the suspension or it's just those leather seats, or I totally forgot the feeling of stock tires...ride felt softer and more comfortable.
Nothing else to comment since everything else is more or less the same.
Overall...if you're looking at fuel efficiency, SkyActiv is great.
But if you don't care about that...it's the 2.0L or the 2.5L MZR.
The car just felt boring...it felt NOTHING like the
commercial