mazda3 owners, come in

[Gibson486]

What is your gas mileage like? I have the atuomatic HB and the gas mileage kind of blows...

I get about 20 mixed.... Should I bring this back to the dealer and start bitching?

 

[SilthDraeth]

I don't know what good it would do you to take it back and bitch at the dealer. You bought the car knowing the stated EPA. The fact that you are on this website, means you know how to look stuff up on the internet, consequently you should know that the "old EPA" numbers for highway where figured for driving at 55 mph.

If you want good mileage by a manual Corolla. I got 40 mph, on the highway going 70-80 in it.

 

[NTB]

I have an 4-speed auto 3i sedan here, and it does about the same - a little over 20MPG just putting around town. It's great on the highway though - I've gotten 30+ MPG on the 300-mile trip between where I live in Arkansas and my old neighborhood in St. Louis, MO.

My biggest complaint about the vehicle is probably the factory speakers. They're cheapo OEM, so I know I shouldn't expect much, but still - they just suck The AC seems to get a little overwhelmed sometimes too, and either takes forever to cool off, or just never really does. Only seems to happen on the most god-awful hottest days though. And it doesn't help that I have a black car with a black interior

Nathan

 

[NutBucket]

You can certainly have the dealer check the AC for proper operation.

As for the OP, you have a lead foot, hence the "poor" fuel economy.

I admit though, I'd be pissed if that's all I got considering I do better than that in my Suby which weighs more and has tons more power.

 

[NFS4]

25- 31 recently. Lifetime average according to the trip computer is 24.9 MPG (29,000 miles)

'06 Mazda 3s hatch 5-speed auto

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
You can certainly have the dealer check the AC for proper operation.

As for the OP, you have a lead foot, hence the "poor" fuel economy.

I admit though, I'd be pissed if that's all I got considering I do better than that in my Suby which weighs more and has tons more power.

I do not have a lead foot at all...I have been driving like a grandpa because this is my first new car and I am still afraid to push it.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: NFS4
25- 31 recently. Lifetime average according to the trip computer is 24.9 MPG (29,000 miles)

'06 Mazda 3s hatch 5-speed auto

Did fuel economy get better as your car grew?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NFS4
25- 31 recently. Lifetime average according to the trip computer is 24.9 MPG (29,000 miles)

'06 Mazda 3s hatch 5-speed auto

Did fuel economy get better as your car grew?

Cars can grow?

Nathan

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: NFS4
25- 31 recently. Lifetime average according to the trip computer is 24.9 MPG (29,000 miles)

'06 Mazda 3s hatch 5-speed auto

Did fuel economy get better as your car grew?

Mileage sucks in the winter (due to gasoline additives) and is pretty good during the summer. I averaged 28 on the last tank doing 60%/40% city/highway.

I've seen as high as about 34 with 100% highway miles

 

[theeedude]

About 30mpg with 5speed manual when I drive like a granny. About 26 when I drive like a juvenile.

 

[theeedude]

Make sure you aren't using the brake a lot, coast to stop if possible. If you are using the brake, you are wasting energy, meaning you wasted gas accelerating for no reason. And also enable the computer and turn on current fuel economy. It will give you instant feedback on how you are driving.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Make sure you aren't using the brake a lot, coast to stop if possible. If you are using the brake, you are wasting energy, meaning you wasted gas accelerating for no reason. And also enable the computer and turn on current fuel economy. It will give you instant feedback on how you are driving.

I have the sport version, so i do not think it has the fuel economy computer.

 

[SearchMaster]

20? Wow, that sucks - my Odyssey does about that well. My Maxima averages about 27, though it's quite a bit more broken in than yours. According to fueleconomy.gov, the lowest anyone has reported is 22. I hope yours gets better.

 

[dud]

I would have bought one of these (the dealers are clearancing them right now) if my wife hadn't insisted on a Civic. The $3,500 I would have saved would have bought A LOT of gas to counter the poor gas mileage you are having.

 

[ZetaEpyon]

That does seem on the low side, but I don't really know what the dealer would do about it.
I generally get better mileage than that in my Speed3 with normal around-town driving. Obviously when I'm having fun it's a different story.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: dud
I would have bought one of these (the dealers are clearancing them right now) if my wife hadn't insisted on a Civic. The $3,500 I would have saved would have bought A LOT of gas to counter the poor gas mileage you are having.

Ah, the Civics have a far better resale value, and will in all probability (going by past Honda v Mazda) last a lot longer. Thank your wife

 

[Dman877]

Wow, thanks for the info. I was actually considering trading my TSX in for something cheaper and better on gas. Guess I'll steer clear of the 3.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Dman877
Wow, thanks for the info. I was actually considering trading my TSX in for something cheaper and better on gas. Guess I'll steer clear of the 3.

Not to mention the TSX is more reliable, as it's all Honda parts.

Corolla owns them both in MPG, but it'd be hard to make the leap, they're much less fun to drive

Civic Si 6spd? 30Mpg highway + 200hp

 

[FDF12389]

2.3 or 2.0? I was considering buying one but Ill reconsider if the 2.0 only gets 20mpg

 

[ognabor]

I have a 2007 3 sedan with the 2.3 and it gets about 27.5, mixed highway/street... mostly street.

and i certainly don't drive like a little old lady.

 

[ggnl]

I averaged 23 mpg for the last tank in my Speed3. Thats 100% city with very spirited driving occasionally. So yeah, 20 mpg seems a little out of the ordinary.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

2007 s sedan w/ 2.3. I avg around 28-29, 50/50 highway/city)

My last tank however, yielded me about 25 mpg (more city driving, and more heavy-footed at launch).

I never got anything below 24 ever.

I have a California version of the mazda 3 2.3 (5 less hp, PZEV emissions rating) *shrugs*

 

[Riverhound777]

I would say yeah it is below avg. But i've heard a lot of stories of people getting mileage around there. One thing you might want to check is your ventallation control. Is it on the right side (meaning the air is blowing towards your feet or the defrost, not your face.)? If you have it past the 12 o'clock position the AC will be on. It is lame but that is how MZ3s are. I found out the hard way myself wondering why my mileage was so bad.

I get 23mpg lately, all short drives in city. I get 26-28mpg mixed, 30-34mpg highway with my 2.3l manual.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: senseamp
Make sure you aren't using the brake a lot, coast to stop if possible. If you are using the brake, you are wasting energy, meaning you wasted gas accelerating for no reason. And also enable the computer and turn on current fuel economy. It will give you instant feedback on how you are driving.

I have the sport version, so i do not think it has the fuel economy computer.

It has it, you just have to activate it.
Trip computer for '06s and '07s:

1. Press and hold down CD and AM/FM buttons
2. Start your car while still pressing down on those buttons
3. The display will read, "DIS ON" which means Driver Information System On.
4. Release the CD and AM/FM buttons
5. Turn off and restart the car
6. Now press the Set button and cycle through your avg. mpg, miles until empty, current mpg, and avg mph!

http://forums.triplezoom.com/z...337643&postid=40503274

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: senseamp

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: senseamp
Make sure you aren't using the brake a lot, coast to stop if possible. If you are using the brake, you are wasting energy, meaning you wasted gas accelerating for no reason. And also enable the computer and turn on current fuel economy. It will give you instant feedback on how you are driving.

I have the sport version, so i do not think it has the fuel economy computer.

It has it, you just have to activate it.
Trip computer for '06s and '07s:

1. Press and hold down CD and AM/FM buttons
2. Start your car while still pressing down on those buttons
3. The display will read, "DIS ON" which means Driver Information System On.
4. Release the CD and AM/FM buttons
5. Turn off and restart the car
6. Now press the Set button and cycle through your avg. mpg, miles until empty, current mpg, and avg mph!

http://forums.triplezoom.com/z...337643&postid=40503274

Thanks for the tip Just went and activated mine, and it said I was averaging 25.4mpg. Not bad, considering most of my driving is low-speed, stop-and-go type stuff.

Nathan