Mazda3 Hybrid And CNG Versions Make Tokyo Debut

Unlike most other automakers, Mazda as so far resisted the allure of hybrid and electric cars, focusing instead on its fuel-efficient SkyActiv gas and diesel engines. But executives at the small Japanese automaker have finally caved, and at this year’s Tokyo Auto Show a Mazda3 Hybrid will join a CNG-powered version in a joint world debut.

For now, Mazda is keeping the most-important details, like fuel economy and pricing, under wraps. With the standard 2014 Mazda3 rated up to 41 mpg on the highway though, expectations are running high that a true hybrid model should exceed 45 mpg or more.

The Mazda3 CNG also lacks any pertinent details other than it is a bi-fuel car that can utilize both gasoline and compressed natural gas. Whether or not either model will make it stateside remains to be seen, though Mazda will have to do something if it hopes to remain competitive with a market that is utterly focused on fuel economy.

 Source: Mazda

2013 Volkswagen Golf - REVIEW

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf is the latest model in a run of distinctive German compact hatchbacks that has lasted more than 35 years. From the very first Rabbit introduced in the mid-1970s through several generations of Golf (and a transitory, mistaken return to the Rabbit name from 2006 through 2009), the Golf has always stood for sensible, solid, well-handling hatchbacks. The bulk of Golfs sold these days are the five-door model, though VW also offers a rare three-door hatchback that finds few buyers outside the sporty GTI and high-performance Golf R variants.

The Golf competes with compact hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza, and the Mazda Mazda3, plus the newer Hyundai Elantra GT and the Kia Forte. And the segment that's growing again, as the industry mantra that "buyers don't want hatchbacks" slowly fades. The Golf's Jetta four-door sedan sibling is still more popular, but the Golf has its place and VW is one of the few makers that's sold hatchbacks continuously in this segment.

The Golf's selling point is that it feels like more of a premium car than most of those competitors. The downside is that its European pedigree, more sophisticated technology, and high-quality interior make it one of the priciest compacts sold by a mass-market brand. The Jetta and Passat are Volkswagen's volume cars, and the Golf remains more of a niche player.

You can get a Golf with several different powertrains. The base model starts below $19,000, but while it feels perky behind the wheel, its 170-hp five-cylinder engine is neither fuel efficient nor refined. It comes with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission, both rated at 26 mpg combined. The sporty GTI model is a blast to drive, powered by a smooth, flexible turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine that's rated at 27 mpg with a six-speed DSG direct-shift automatic, or 25 mpg with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The even higher-performance Golf R version, sold only with the six-speed manual, adds a version of the 2.0-liter turbo engine that produces 256 hp , powering all four wheels with a version of VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive system, a performance Haldex clutch pack, and many other improvements including stronger brakes, a lower, stiffer suspension, and dual exhaust outlets. Its gas mileage is rated even lower, at 22 mpg.

For fans of fuel efficiency, by far the most appealing Golf will be the TDI diesel model. The torquey, long-lived 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine not only delivers a combined EPA rating of 34 mpg, its owners report that the car often exceeds those numbers in real-world usage. The highway cycle rating of 42 mpg points to the diesel's true strength: its extreme efficiency running at sustained speeds. In city usage, the 30 mpg rating is less impressive. The diesel can also be ordered with a six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, considerably retuned to match the diesel's narrow power output band, and that combination is rewarding to drive at the same time it delivers great fuel economy. But be warned that low fuel costs don't come cheap: The Golf TDI starts more than $6,000 higher than the base gasoline version.

Behind the wheel, the 2013 Golf offers a firm but quiet and comfortable ride, with responsive electric power steering that delivers enough road feel to hide its digital origins. The TDI diesel models have slightly sportier suspension settings, and brakes are a strong point on all Golf models. Front seats are comfortable and supportive, though the Golf lacks back-seat space compared to newer compact hatchbacks--and getting into and out of the back in the three-door models is an exercise in contortion. The cabin provides a pervasive feeling of quality and refinement, with no-nonsense instruments and controls and thankfully little electronic distraction.

Compared to more value-oriented Asian imports, the Golf may not deliver quite the equipment-per-dollar level of a Kia or a Hyundai. But its features and options distance it from the "economy car" end of the compact spectrum, with TDI versions including a touchscreen display for the stereo system, satellite radio,Bluetooth, and audio controls on the steering wheel. The GTI adds more features yet, including 18-inch 'Detroit' alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, a sport steering wheel, and various exterior and interior appearance upgrades. A touch-screen navigation system and a sunroof are optional, but it comes up slightly short on the kinds of active safety systems that are now appearing rapidly even in the compact car class--specifically in newer models like the Ford Focus, which is perhaps the closest of all competitors in character and equipment to the Golf. Finally, the Golf also lacks Bluetooth connectivity in base mdoels, a notable omission.

Source: Green Car Reports

2012 Mazda3 With SkyActiv Technology: The One Sentence Review

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Mazda, the company who brought us “Zoom-zoom.” I finally got a chance to drive the all-new Mazda3 sedan and see for myself see what Mazda’s “Zoom zoom” was really all about.

Performance: The car Mazda delivered was the 2012 Mazda3 sedan with the all-new SKyActiv engine under the hood. We’ve covered the SkyActiv engine at length before, but to summarize, Mazda engineers have used a combination of direct injection, a high compression ratio, and special pistons to deliver a powerful-yet-efficient driving experience.

Over the course of the four days I got to drive the Mazda3, I averaged 33 mpg in mostly city driving. Rated at 28 city and 40 highway, this was much better than expect, especially given that I drove the Mazda3 much harder than the Mitsubishi i I also reviewed. This isn’t what I would call a rocket-ship car, but I had plenty of fun driving up on-ramps and dipping through the back roads surrounding my local reservoir.

One Sentence Review: The SkyActiv engine is everything Mazda says it is, powerful, efficient, and capable of delivering a fun driving experience.

Exterior: Everybody has their own opinion when it comes to the looks of the 2012 Mazda3. Personally, I wasn’t all that enthused with anything save the paint, Sky Blue Mica (pictured). But every female I showed to the car absolutely fell in love with it from front to back. My sister, who drives a slightly-older Mazda3, got right on trying to convince my parents that she needed THIS one.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad looking car…but I much prefer the hatchback look. That’s just me though. Also, pardon the use of stock photos…my camera died just days before I got the Mazda3, and my camera phone pictures just weren’t up to snuff.

One Sentence Review: Not a bad looking car, especially in this color, but I prefer the looks of the hatchback over the sedan.

INTERIOR: The 2012 Mazda3 has some of its strongest and weakest elements on the inside. I love the dash layout, and I found the radio controls to be perfectly placed and amongst the easiest to operate of any modern compact. The seats were comfortable enough, though I’ve had better. But what really knocks the Mazda3 down a few pegs is road noise.

This is not a quiet car. Engine noise is constant, and not exactly pleasant. I didn’t have a chance to take the Mazda3 on any particularly long drives, but I could see myself getting annoyed at all the road noise generated by the tires. I have to say, this was by far the most disappointing aspect of the car, and one that should be given a lot of attention going forward.

One Sentence Review: A well-designed interior that is often drowned out by noise from the road and engine.

VALUE: With a MSRP of $24,970, the as-tested price of this Mazda3 puts its solidly in mid-size sedan territory. Granted, this is a fully, fully loaded car that includes ambient lighting, a technology package with an EXCELLENT blind spot monitoring system, alarm, xenon headlights, and other premium features. Add to that the 155 horsepower SkyActiv engine that is amongst the most powerful and efficient motors in this segment, and you have a compact car that definitely feels a bit more upscale.

With a starting MSRP of $17,275, the Mazda3 is on the higher end of the scale in terms of pricing, with cars like the Ford Focus ($16,200) and Chevy Cruze ($17,130) being cheaper, though the list of standard features is long and impressive. It is also arguably the sportiest offering in the compact car range, though I feel like I missed out on the best part of the driving experience with the optional automatic transmission.

One Sentence Conclusion: The 2012 Mazda3 with SkyActiv technology is both fun and efficient as billed, but that performance means sacrificing comfort  and spending a little extra.

Source: Gas2.0