Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Real-world MPG difference between 2.0L and 2.3L Mazda3? (2004-2009)

1337 · 01-01-2013, 06:21 PM

In the first generation (04-09) Mazda3, there were two I4 engines offered:

2.0L -- EPA MPG: 24/32 manual, 23/31 4-speed automatic
2.3L -- EPA MPG: 22/29 manual, 22/30 5-speed automatic, 21/26 4-speed automatic

I'm considering getting a used first-gen manual Mazda3, and I'd prefer to have the versatility of the hatchback. Unfortunately, the hatchback bodystyle is only available with the 2.3L, so I'm trying to weigh the tradeoffs.

Questions:

Are the EPA figures realistic?
In real-world driving, how much of a difference is there between the manual 2.0L and the manual 2.3L in terms of MPG?

I did a little bit of homework: I found two 2004-2009 Mazda3 entries in the Ecomodder garage that have more than a couple of fillups: a 2.0L manual getting 35.9 MPG and a 2.3L 5AT getting 29.2 MPG. I'm still interested in hearing everyone's two cents on this.

01-01-2013, 06:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
1337 In hypermiler central Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UC Berkeley Posts: 230 [SOLD] Highway Warrior - '00 Mazda Protege LX 1.6L Manual 90 day: 35.93 mpg (US) Basic Miata - '06 Mazda Miata Touring 90 day: 30.93 mpg (US) Thanks: 55 Thanked 6 Times in 3 Posts	Real-world MPG difference between 2.0L and 2.3L Mazda3? (2004-2009) In the first generation (04-09) Mazda3, there were two I4 engines offered: 2.0L -- EPA MPG: 24/32 manual, 23/31 4-speed automatic 2.3L -- EPA MPG: 22/29 manual, 22/30 5-speed automatic, 21/26 4-speed automatic I'm considering getting a used first-gen manual Mazda3, and I'd prefer to have the versatility of the hatchback. Unfortunately, the hatchback bodystyle is only available with the 2.3L, so I'm trying to weigh the tradeoffs. Questions: Are the EPA figures realistic? In real-world driving, how much of a difference is there between the manual 2.0L and the manual 2.3L in terms of MPG? I did a little bit of homework: I found two 2004-2009 Mazda3 entries in the Ecomodder garage that have more than a couple of fillups: a 2.0L manual getting 35.9 MPG and a 2.3L 5AT getting 29.2 MPG. I'm still interested in hearing everyone's two cents on this. __________________ Last edited by 1337; 01-01-2013 at 06:37 PM..