2010 Mazda3 Gas Mileage Roll Call...Please...

[cjre1]

Everyone and anyone who owns a brand new 2010 Mazda3 (all Models),

Please post how many miles you have on the car and what your best and worst gas mileage is City/Hwy please.

Thanks.

[DonnieWB420]

I only have 560 miles on my 2010 i-touring. No highway miles as of yet, been getting around 24. I always use the shifting option versus D-auto.

[cjre1]

I only have 560 miles on my 2010 i-touring. No highway miles as of yet, been getting around 24. I always use the shifting option versus D-auto.

Thanks for the post. When you get hwy miles, please let us know.
I wonder if that acutally will make a difference (shifting vs D-auto). You pose something that is not in the book or listed on my research.

[Mazda3]

Thanks for the post. When you get hwy miles, please let us know.
I wonder if that acutally will make a difference (shifting vs D-auto). You pose something that is not in the book or listed on my research.

You will get better mileage leaving it in D.

[Lord_Zath]

yeah most people rev too high when using sport shift.

[cjre1]

You will get better mileage leaving it in D.

Makes sense. Thanks.

[graviongr]

I have a 5 speed 2.0L iTouring model, and I just filled up my gas tank and I got 33mpg. Majority of driving was to and from work at 60-65mph, with some periods of high speeds thrown in there.

Total mileage on the vehicle is around 970.

[wingzero_]

2000 Kms on mine, so 1200 miles. On average I get 25.4mpg. I'm a six speed though, and do some spirited driving.

[mcharet2]

2000 miles. 2.5 motor 6 speed, mix highway/city (Detroit & suburbs). 26.5 mpg, average 45 mph.

[brandini]

www.fuelly.com

[Latka]

I have a weird question as a new 3 GT owner. If any of you here could make sense out of the following I would really appreciate it. I filled up my car for the first time this morning after my fuel light went on and 1 bar left on my fuel gage (just dropped to one bar within 1 mile of my fill up). The tank is supposed to hold 15.9 gallons of gas correct? I pumped in 11.4 gallons of gas (even topped it off). Does the fuel light come on with still 4.5 gallons still left in the tank? Should I assume that it is completed safe to drive all the way down to no bars on my fuel gage? It just seems like the fuel light will be on for a long time before you are in real danger of running out.

P.S. I only had 347 mile on my trip and said I had 40 miles left on my range. My fuel estimates by the computer were exactly what I got which was 30.4mpg. I do about 90-95% highway driving. I just didn't want to run low on gas in my first tank.

[GoFast]

I am not sure of the actual specs on the new 3's fuel capacities but typically, there is a "reserve" that is built in to the fuel light. On my 07 it is about 3 gallons.

[Latka]

Thank you for the info. My 96 Camry had a 2 gallon reserve but if my numbers are correct, the fuel light maybe going on a little prematurely in the GT. 3 gallons is lot in the tank as well, from previous models. So to sum it up, what you are saying is you do not have to pull into a gas station right after the light goes on (or in my case not for 120 miles......ok maybe 60 to be safe).

[GoFast]

Thank you for the info. My 96 Camry had a 2 gallon reserve but if my numbers are correct, the fuel light maybe going on a little prematurely in the GT. 3 gallons is lot in the tank as well, from previous models. So to sum it up, what you are saying is you do not have to pull into a gas station right after the light goes on (or in my case not for 120 miles......ok maybe 60 to be safe).

lol yes basically. I usually go about 20-30 after the light is on but I am sure the 2010 could be different and you could go farther if the tank is bigger

[skylar2ups]

I have a weird question as a new 3 GT owner. If any of you here could make sense out of the following I would really appreciate it. I filled up my car for the first time this morning after my fuel light went on and 1 bar left on my fuel gage (just dropped to one bar within 1 mile of my fill up). The tank is supposed to hold 15.9 gallons of gas correct? I pumped in 11.4 gallons of gas (even topped it off). Does the fuel light come on with still 4.5 gallons still left in the tank? Should I assume that it is completed safe to drive all the way down to no bars on my fuel gage? It just seems like the fuel light will be on for a long time before you are in real danger of running out.

P.S. I only had 347 mile on my trip and said I had 40 miles left on my range. My fuel estimates by the computer were exactly what I got which was 30.4mpg. I do about 90-95% highway driving. I just didn't want to run low on gas in my first tank.

Most fuel lights do come on with a few miles left in the tank. Topping off will do more harm then good.

[Latka]

Most fuel lights do come on with a few miles left in the tank. Topping off will do more harm then good.

I agree...I slightly topped it more to find out if there really was only 11.4 gallons to this fill. It really took me by surprise. (plus I only added 80 cents worth more of gas). There was a lot of gas (must have been) left in the tank.

[graviongr]

I just completed a 285 mile trip over the holiday weekend, vast majority was at 70mph, with some periods of 60 going through some towns.

Arriving at my destination I got 36.96 mpg. Basically 37mpg. Didn't really get a change to guage on the way back since I forgot to reset.

Miles on car are around 1400 now I think.

[Latka]

I just completed a 285 mile trip over the holiday weekend, vast majority was at 70mph, with some periods of 60 going through some towns.

Arriving at my destination I got 36.96 mpg. Basically 37mpg. Didn't really get a change to guage on the way back since I forgot to reset.

Miles on car are around 1400 now I think.

That is awesome! I truly think this car is capable of getting that kind of mileage on longer trips. I drive 80 miles a day (almost all highway) and I am addicted to watching the mpg and average speed. It has become almost a game to try and get the highest mpg and average speed.

What is strange and correct me If I am wrong, but I am getting more mpg at 70mph than at 55mpg. When I travel at 70mph my mpg increases more than driving at 60mpg. It is strange since most/all cars are I thought were supposed to get the best gas mileage between 55-60mph. My numbers might be skewed a little since I very rarely spend time in the 55-60mph on my 80 mile trip (and It might be my perception of wanting more mpg at higher speeds). I do spend most of my drving on the highway at 65-70mph. Yesterday on my second half (40mile) trip I averaged 34 mpg. Seing your results make me very happy.

[Lord_Zath]

Glad to hear you're getting high mpg numbers. IMO, it gives the car a reason to grin on the front end :)

[brandini]

What is strange and correct me If I am wrong, but I am getting more mpg at 70mph than at 55mpg. When I travel at 70mph my mpg increases more than driving at 60mpg. It is strange since most/all cars are I thought were supposed to get the best gas mileage between 55-60mph. My numbers might be skewed a little since I very rarely spend time in the 55-60mph on my 80 mile trip (and It might be my perception of wanting more mpg at higher speeds). I do spend most of my driving on the highway at 65-70mph. Yesterday on my second half (40mile) trip I averaged 34 mpg. Seing your results make me very happy.
Are you measuring this with the car's average readout? Do you zero it out before you hit the highway or when you start the car? I use a scangauge that zeros every time I start the car so it factors in idling for the trip before you begin, and it can also tell mpg for the tank. Great little toy.

Areas where you go 50-60mph will have more stoplights, traffic, and fewer lanes -requiring slowdowns for turning vehicles - think country road. I get my best mpg at 40mph because my car goes into 5th at 36mph and the T/C locks at 39-40mph so I'm driving the wheels with less loss of power transfer and I'm not pushing much air out of the way of the car (vs at 100 you're doing a lot of that).

Warm days with low humidity will also give you a good mpg bump, my car hates rain.

Also if you get a Scangauge you can watch the gallons/hr readout and it's fun to see it read zero when you're coasting at speed. I get 36mpg on trips around town with low average speeds if not foiled by red lights and buses because I can coast down hills for nearly free.

[Latka]

Are you measuring this with the car's average readout? Do you zero it out before you hit the highway or when you start the car? I use a scangauge that zeros every time I start the car so it factors in idling for the trip before you begin, and it can also tell mpg for the tank. Great little toy.

Areas where you go 50-60mph will have more stoplights, traffic, and fewer lanes -requiring slowdowns for turning vehicles - think country road. I get my best mpg at 40mph because my car goes into 5th at 36mph and the T/C locks at 39-40mph so I'm driving the wheels with less loss of power transfer and I'm not pushing much air out of the way of the car (vs at 100 you're doing a lot of that).

Warm days with low humidity will also give you a good mpg bump, my car hates rain.

Also if you get a Scangauge you can watch the gallons/hr readout and it's fun to see it read zero when you're coasting at speed. I get 36mpg on trips around town with low average speeds if not foiled by red lights and buses because I can coast down hills for nearly free.

Correct, the average read out is what I use. I find the real time (after every 2 seconds) read out, pretty worthless. It is all over the place even when I am using cruise control. I have zeroed-it-out only after my fill ups. My mpg of 34 mpg was write after a fill up. Unfortunetly, I live in the Chicago area which at this time, of year is humid. My treck yesterday was is a partial drizzle/rain but was warm at 78 degrees. The average mpg gage does a good job of factoring in idling and stopping. Your toy sounds a little more sophisiticated and probably more fun. This car is so new (1 week), I will give more updates if the mpg increases or stays the same. Thanks for the info!

[graviongr]

Filled up at 224 miles on the trip meter, and again hit 37, this time it was like 37.06mpg.

This time it was even a mix of highway driving and city driving running errands. My trip to work is about 20 miles each way so it's a good majority highway miles at 40 miles per day. I usually do it at 60-65mph.

I think the numbers improve after you break in the engine a little and put some miles on it, because brand new it was 33-34mpg. So I gained a couple mpg's.

[cphadley]

2010 3s 6-speed with mixed in-town and highway miles. On last fill I averaged about 25 MPG. I'm not the most conservative driver, though so keep that in mind.

[Latka]

Filled up at 224 miles on the trip meter, and again hit 37, this time it was like 37.06mpg.

This time it was even a mix of highway driving and city driving running errands. My trip to work is about 20 miles each way so it's a good majority highway miles at 40 miles per day. I usually do it at 60-65mph.

I think the numbers improve after you break in the engine a little and put some miles on it, because brand new it was 33-34mpg. So I gained a couple mpg's.

G,
just wondering are you in a 2.0L or a 2.5L engine car. If those numbers are in the bigger engine I am very impressed.

[graviongr]

G,
just wondering are you in a 2.0L or a 2.5L engine car. If those numbers are in the bigger engine I am very impressed.

Well it's on the first page, post #7, I figured it would be redundant to keep repeating that information, but I have no problems doing it. :)

It's the 2.0L iTouring model. But here's hoping that those numbers are that good for the 2.5's as well!

[Latka]

Well it's on the first page, post #7, I figured it would be redundant to keep repeating that information, but I have no problems doing it. :)

It's the 2.0L iTouring model. But here's hoping that those numbers are that good for the 2.5's as well!

My appologies for not looking.

[Smiley2010]

Averaging about 25~26 Miles per gallon, if I did the math correctly. I'm getting roughly 500KM per 50 Litres of Gas on a 2.5 6 speed.

[Eastbeach]

Picked up car April 9th.
10,500kms so far.

My average so far is 27.88mpg

Best = 31.23
Worst = 24.26

I do not break down hwy / city but most of it has been hwy.

[cphadley]

I have been driving my 3s for about 1700 miles now so I can give a better answer than before. I just took it on a 1,000 mile mostly interstate trip last weekend and averaged about 32 MPG with an average speed of 67 MPH.

In town I get about 26. Not too shabby for a 2.5 IMO.

[Lord_Zath]

yeah that's pretty nice - essentially the same gas mileage I get w/my 2.0 liter p5. Looking forward to when I can upgrade to a 3 now :)

[airmaxon1]

only had the car about 2 days, 150 miles, averaging 27mpg, most city driving

[Smiley2010]

Just an update I've had the car for a bit longer now around 2500kms on it.

Averaging 8.69L/100kms now. Much better than the 10L/100kms that I was doing before. I'm pretty sure not using the AC as much helped considerably, not to mention that the car is a bit better broken in than before when I made my first post.

Loving the car!

[edangs]

i just got 2010 iTouring 2.0L manual. I have 2 bars left on my first tank from 250miles of city/highway driving.

If i have to guestimate, i would get around 300 miles on my first tank.

300 miles / 14 gallons = 21miles/gallon

Rather disappointing.

[Lord_Zath]

I wouldn't go by the gas gauge. Rather, do the math when you fill up - divide the number of miles you went by the amount of gas you pumped in.

[graviongr]

i just got 2010 iTouring 2.0L manual. I have 2 bars left on my first tank from 250miles of city/highway driving.

If i have to guestimate, i would get around 300 miles on my first tank.

300 miles / 14 gallons = 21miles/gallon

Rather disappointing.

Yeah, as Lord_Zath said, that's a pretty innacurate way of checking MPG. Fill up your tank, reset your trip meter and start driving. When you get a few hundred miles on the tank, fill up again. So say you get 280 miles on there, and fill up at 7.9 gallons. (280 / 7.9 = 35.4) That's 35.4 mpg. Which is a typical fill up for me, as I also have the 2.0L.

I have a lot of highway miles on my daily commute though. Even still, even if you were exclusively city driving. If you fail to get at least 25mpg, on the 2.0L I would have to say you are driving wrong somehow. :) (No offense!)

Edit: Less rude note... Whatever.

[Latka]

2010 3 hatch GT, 2.5L engine (auto).

Last two fill ups: 418 miles/ave speed 50, 32 mpg (calculated, computer said 30.0 mpg) Second, 415 miles/ave speed 52, 30.8 mpg (calculated, computer said 30.6 mpg). Computer was more accurate in the most recent fill up. Have two 38 mile trips a day (90% highway). I filled up this morning and my first leg, I got 34 MPG, average speed, 58. I was surprised, It was much cooler this morning that in the last couple of days. Does 40-50 degree weather make for better gas mileage? I drive between 60-70 mph. Traffic is the major variable in that number (average speed).
Just some info I thought I would share.

[BoostisLove]

Yes colder weather better gas mileagr. But ive got a 2010 speed3 im getting aroynd 25mpg

[Fred]

2010 hatch 6 speed manual. Puter says 22-23 mph. Probably 25% highway. I must be a 59 year old racer compared to the rest of you guys.

[SparkySP3]

2010 Mazdaspeed 3 1500 miles. Getting on average 28-29mpg. Worst was 27 mpg. I am taking it to the mountains and then well see the low numbers. Then its time for a break. I believe I have enough miles on it for now.

[Latka]

2010 hatch 6 speed manual. Puter says 22-23 mph. Probably 25% highway. I must be a 59 year old racer compared to the rest of you guys.

Not quite sure what you meant, but if you are saying that you must be speedier driver because you are only getting 22-23 mpg (or mph). I would say it is because of the only 25% highway. I know I only have had this car for 4 months but from the driving I have done, this car gets much better gas when in constant motion rather than stop an go (even at low speeds). I have watched the ave. speed (and average mpg) gauge go down as much as 1 mph (ave speed) just sitting at a long stop light. And just going out of my subdivision, which is less than a mile, it can take .2 mpg off my average mpg.

If you were referring to average speed of 22-23 mph, then I think I get what you are joking at. However, your computer calculates stop lights and pauses in driving which realy reduces your average mph. If you are drving 75% non highway driving then getting a high mph is hard to do. If I am wrong on both, I appoliges as it is late and I am tired, but was still trying to figure out what you were saying.

[Fred]

Not quite sure what you meant, but if you are saying that you must be speedier driver because you are only getting 22-23 mpg (or mph). I would say it is because of the only 25% highway. I know I only have had this car for 4 months but from the driving I have done, this car gets much better gas when in constant motion rather than stop an go (even at low speeds). I have watched the ave. speed (and average mpg) gauge go down as much as 1 mph (ave speed) just sitting at a long stop light. And just going out of my subdivision, which is less than a mile, it can take .2 mpg off my average mpg.

If you were referring to average speed of 22-23 mph, then I think I get what you are joking at. However, your computer calculates stop lights and pauses in driving which realy reduces your average mph. If you are drving 75% non highway driving then getting a high mph is hard to do. If I am wrong on both, I appoliges as it is late and I am tired, but was still trying to figure out what you were saying.

Latka,

I was joking that an old guy must be driving like a kid. Most of my driving is around town so your info is helpful. I will calc mileage without the puter and report back. Thanks for the info.

[Latka]

Latka,

I was joking that an old guy must be driving like a kid. Most of my driving is around town so your info is helpful. I will calc mileage without the puter and report back. Thanks for the info.

Fred,
It is great that you are having fun while you are driving! I think it is easier to enjoy this car without that computer. It needs to be on the screen that just shows the preset radio stations because everytime I start having some fun with the car (and traffic) the average mpg goes down way too soon. It makes me feel guilty and I wind up driving more conservative. By the way keep driving like a kid, it is more fun!

P.S. I am kidding about the computer, I love seeing more data, but sometimes it is hard to deal with when you like driving for fun.

[SparkySP3]

Took it to the mountains today, 266 miles traveled round trip, I got 32.6 mpg avg on the computer, avg speed 44mph, so I was doing pretty well.

[Nevaren]

www.fuelly.com

Brandini linked my car :) avging 22-25 mpg, spirited city / suburbs driving.
Computer reported 30MPG on the 1st quarter of my current tank, 100 miles on the highway. see how the rest of the tank averages out with my usual spirited city driving.

[digi0123]

Mostly highway and traffic, sometimes I get a nice day with no traffic. A recent highway drive yielded 35mpg. Usually 28...have the 2.5l Auto. In town I expect 24. I have 5000 miles on the car.

[DarkSpeed3]

speed3 25mpg, avg 45mph

[Eastbeach]

Purchased car April 09.

Now up to 27,000kms

Ave - 28.45mpg

Highest - 35.71
Lowest - 25.64*


* Roof Rack installed with Thule Box.



Methodology:
Recording Km's with each fill up.

[DailyDriver]

* Roof Rack installed with Thule Box.


Which Thule box you got? Any pics of it installed? How do you like it?

Thanks (burnout)

[Eastbeach]

No pics yet, just put it on last week, I had it on my previous car.


The box is a -Thule 668ES Frontier
http://www.rackattack.com/product-pages/thule-668es-frontier.asp


I have had it for a few year and I do not think they make them anymore.


The only downside was it made a ton of noise, so I added some foam around the seal and it seems to have made an improvement.

[Eastbeach]

Which Thule box you got? Any pics of it installed? How do you like it?

Thanks (burnout)

1 Issue-

The hatch does not open all the way up. I have the box as far forward as it can go.

So I would suggest if you are thinking of picking one make sure you can test fit it before you have to buy it.




http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww6/Eastbeach_photos/MazdaThule.jpg

[DailyDriver]

Wow, thanks man. Very cool.

What part of the hatch touches the Thule.... the wing / spoiler I'd guess? This is one issue I have with the Speed3 rear wing, it's larger than the regular Mazda 3 wing and more likely to hit whatever you might have on the roof. When I bought my last SUV, I made sure it did not come with a wing on the rear hatch for this reason.

Anyway, your Thule (according to the spec page) is of the following dimensions:

- 88.5 in. long x 21.2 in. wide x 15.7 in. high

So, 88.5" long... wow, that's pretty darned long actually, over 7'. It's amazing that it'll even go on a Mazda 3 successfully. I would indeed expect it to interfere with the rear hatch. But that's a small price to pay for being able to carry another 11 cubic feet of stuff... as long as you can open the rear hatch at least halfway or so.

And at less than 2' wide and less than 16" tall, I would have thought it would be quite "aerodynamic" and thus not too noisy. But it does make sense that ANY "foreign" object on the roof is going to make some noise at speed.

At the Mazda site currently, an accessory Thule cargo box is available for the 3, the "short" one, it's 55" long x 35.2" wide x 18.2" high, capacity: 13 cubic feet. So, just about the same cubic foot capacity as yours, but not as long. But the penalty is that it's wider and a bit higher and thus not as aerodynamically efficient, likely a bit more noise and a bit less mpg... but it may allow the rear hatch to open 100%. I think I'd rather have better aerodynamics.

There's also a "medium" cargo box for the Mazda 3: dimensions 76-inch long x 33-inch wide x 15.75-inch high... capacity: 16 cubic feet. This might be nice, but it's $475... ouch.... and will be an aerodynamic pig.

Well, one way to look at it, putting a big cargo box on the roof may eat up some MPG, but in the long run you're saving a lot verses driving a larger wagon / SUV all the time in order to carry the same amount of cargo.

The only true downside is the noise. Well... just wear earplugs. When you drive a convertible with the top down or a motorcycle, wind noise is even worse, so... it's all part of the "sacrifice" you make for driving a fun vehicle.

I think I'll need the larger cargo box... the "mother-in-law size".

[Oelna]

Latka, I have a similar issue with my new 3 (s-sport, 6 sp) - 11.4 gallons pumped in following the low fuel light (on a 15.9 gallon tank!). Did you get any resolution on this? I believe normal should be ~1.7 gallons, however I don't have confirmation yet.

[Eastbeach]

Wow, thanks man. Very cool.

What part of the hatch touches the Thule.... the wing / spoiler I'd guess? This is one issue I have with the Speed3 rear wing, it's larger than the regular Mazda 3 wing and more likely to hit whatever you might have on the roof. When I bought my last SUV, I made sure it did not come with a wing on the rear hatch for this reason.

It is the spoiler.

I put some foam pads on the box to prevent scratches.