Mazda 3 hybrid review: Does Mazda's SkyActiv-X hybrid technology work? Paul finds out!

Mazda has a new hybrid car! The 2020 Mazda 3 X20 Astina SkyActiv-X hybrid (what a mouth full!) is the brand's all-new hybrid hatch. It also uses what Mazda claims is revolutionary engine technology that mixes the benefits of compression ignition from a diesel car, with spark ignition from an internal combustion car, along with 24V mild hybrid. Does it work? Paul Maric gives you an honest review of the technology that Mazda claims will extend the internal combustion engine.

Skip Ahead:
Intro: 00:00
Exterior: 00:54
Interior: 02:36
Infotainment: 03:39
Features: 05:41
Practicality: 06:58
SkyActiv-X Technology Explained: 10:13
On the Road: 12:39
Verdict: 18:45

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CarExpert:

Paul Maric:

#mazda #review #skyactivx #hybrid #mazda3 @MazdaOfficial @mazdaaustralia

[boldbeam]

Once you hit or get close to 10k kilometres you start seeing a massive improvement in fuel economy. With cruise control on I'm getting 930+ kilometres on a tank whereas when it was much newer it would do about 680. These are highway numbers as I'm on the road alot. This is how I've also noticed the marked improvement in fuel economy on the car as well

[e.g.]

LIke I've mentioned in previous videos, nobody gives a better auto review than Australian Seth MacFarlane! Nice work!

[MrSunnyBhoy]

beautiful looking car, really love the designs and colours, I think its the best looking hatchback out there.

[stijn]

it's a bit weird he says the fuel economy is 9.1l/100km, while in the article they say it does 5.8l/100km over a 1.5 hour journey and 7.8l when they fully loaded it with camera equipment and some idle time. but the rest of the review is really enjoyable to watch.

[jonfklein]

In SPCCI mode the Skyactiv-X engine will operate with an air/fuel ratio as high as 37:1, which is incredibly high. SPCCI is the future of all internal combustion engines in my opinion.

[jgc]

Cant believe this channel has less than 100k subs. His reviews are awesome!

[Matt-vqjz]

Loved the shorter soft touch measurements! That was perfect.

[MrKagyal]

I own this car and 9.1 liter is unrealistic. Even when I drove it brandnew I had at max 7.5 liter. Now I am getting in summer constantly around 5.4 l (computer is showing 5 liter). Manual and FWD.

[marcell]

I drive this car now for 13000km and the bc indicates a value of 5.1 l/100km. If i calculate the real consumption at the pump i get 5.6l/100km.

[piobu]

I don't really see such high fuel economy numbers in my 2019 Mazda 3 sedan (skyactive-x 2.0 manual), unless the engine is cold (first 2-3km), and I'm stuck in stop/start traffic, though even then it doesn't go beyond 8, 5. Usually i see around 7-8l/100km in the city, and around 6l/100km outside of it. The best I got was I think 5, 7l/100km, but I wasn't really trying - drive slowly, stay below 1500 RPM and you'd be in the 5l-zone most of the time outside of city.


Sedan is better when it comes to visibility and rear headspace (i like the looks better, too), and I've got a wireless charger in the central console, so it just probably isn't available in your market. Oddly enough sunroof wasn't available in EU even as an option, when i was buying it, I've even checked configurators on Mazda's site in various EU countries. This is the first time I'm seeing rear air vents on the Mazda 3 BP, though - must be new for 2021?


I personally really like how driver oriented the dash design is, too - The infotainment screen is right in my line of sight, along with the HUD display, so i rarely need to look away from the road, and the swivel wheel is the best, and safest, way of operating infotainment, anyway - only thing that sucks is entering navigation directions through it, but there are voice commands, too. It's nice to see real buttons for infotainment shortcuts, and real tactile controls for climate control - you hide those in touchscreen menus, and I'm out (though sadly MX-30 seems to have adopted touchscreen hvac controls).


All in all this was the best compact sedan I've found in this price range when it comes to a decent looks/comfort/tech ratio, and performance is more than enough for daily driving.

[hanse]

Seen a few reviews and read some too and none of them have been close to 9 litres pr 100 km. how you managed this is beyond me.

[MysteriousMarsupial]

Note to Mazda - Don't do down the Honda and Toyota styling road and you will be fine

[Crosshead]

It’d be good to see a full back-to-back comparison with both a SkyactivG 2.00 and 2.5 litre. I don’t think most people understand the point of the SkyactivX engine in Australia and much of the blame for that must lie with Mazda. It’s probably more of an issue here in Australia where the SkyactivG is available in both 2.0 and 2.5 litre capacity. Is the SkyactivX a better performing 2.00 litre with similar economy or a more fuel efficient 2.5 with similar performance? Personally, I think Mazda Australia would have been smarter to introduce the 2.5 Turbo about to be released in the US.

[gerrycollins]

Its a pity that Mazda dropped the excellent 2.2 diesel from the previous generation car. Just due to public perception I suppose, because it was as clean as any petrol engine, far more frugal on fuel, amazingly quiet and smooth compared with VAG diesels, and had bags of torque from 1500 rpm (which the SkyActive-X doesn't emulate).

[AccordionJoe]

Mazda is making the best, most efficient vehicles for the money of all the auto manufacturers. For example, my 2016 CX-5 has gotten an average of 30 mpg and I live in the mountains. My previous car, a Honda CR-X, got 24 mpg. Both cars are compact SUVs.

[jacekkaminski]

The interior with red leather looks best in this segment incl. audi, bmw, mercedes. Hands down.

[markusdahmann]

I own a Hatch manual FWD. Several remarks here:

Launch from standstill was poor - far too low in revs when taking off. 4000/min is far better than low 2000 and results in around 0, 5 s less. This is NOT a turbo, so why drive like one??

Break-In is slow, engine frees up at around 5000 kms. Demo car was quite young.

If driven without respect to the technology, consumption may be around 8 L/100 km even with rude driving and high revs in the gears. With lots of engine-breaking (due to high compression engine decelerates quite astonishing), less throttle on acceleration and slightly higher revs in the gears (up to around 3000/min at max) one is "in the flow" with traffic and receives in town around 6 L/100 km, on the motorway with max speed of up to 140 km/h 5, 5ish and on the open (back) road as low as 4ish figures.

A tankful lasts me at least 850 kms, most of the time the range reaches and exceeds 900 kms.

[nickroberts]

7 mins in and I've subscribed. Fantastic review so far, very in depth and flows well. Hope to get one of these as my next car in 2 years when my current contract is up, fingers crossed I time it right for the facelift. Back to it...

[memnon]

Think it’s a very hard sell over the 2.5. If they released a 2.5 skyactivx it would be a different proposition. In terms of fuel economy, I suspect it’s related to the low mileage on your test unit.

My last two Mazda 3’s improved substantially after I put some mileage on them. Currently average in the 6’s on the highway with my 2.5 skyactiv-g. It’s not great for short trips around the neighbourhood, where the engine barely gets a chance to warm up. Noticed a big drop in fuel economy with the new covid way of life.

I just don’t feel that the current fuel price justifies it from a fuel economy point of view. I’d buy it for the toque characteristics, if the capacity was increased. At this point the prospect of a 2.5 turbo is more appealing.

That being said, the existing 2.5 is more than ample for most people.

Prior to my last two Mazda 3 Astina’s, I was a golf guy. With the latest updates to the interior, I won’t go back to VW. Mazda has them beat when it comes to reliability, I don’t feel like I’m losing out in terms of perceived quality and the features i expect aren’t optional extras.

[benturton]

Good review mate. That rear window is a nightmare, especially for kids. My parents have the previous generation and both my boys get carsick in the back. Enjoyed watching. Cheers