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- Protege5 2003
Hi all.
I am considering buying a Mazda3, probably a used 2015. Years ago I drove a Protege5 and found that the mileage going back and forth to work, entirely suburban driving, with a lot of stop lights and a top speed of about 40 mph, was considerably lower than the expected "city" MPG. This was probably because it was only 7.5 miles each way and it took a mile or so for the car to warm up enough to go closed loop. That is, the first mile or so it used more gas because it was open loop, and then for the rest of the way it was what was expected. As I understand it EPA numbers are calculated on warmed up cars.
The Mazda3 is rated at 30 mpg in the city, which is pretty good for a non-hybrid car. I wonder though, is there anything in skyactiv designed to make the car warm up faster, or is it still going to take a mile or so?
Also, EPA numbers for the 2.0 and 2.5 engines are really close, but the fuelly results show a lot of 2.5's with much lower average mpg than the 2.0. The latter has the usual sort of bell shaped curve, but the curve for the 2.5 is nothing like that. Is the lower average for the 2.5's because the EPA is off or because the people with the 2.5's drive them harder?
In terms of options I would want a backup up camera, and if at all possible blind spot warning. (Modern cars have much worse rear and side visibility than the older cars I am used to driving. The wife and I test drove a Volt and it felt like we were driving a slot car with a cheap plastic interior while wearing horse blinders! ) Are those in specific trim levels or option packages? I'm thinking iTouring is about right for us, but I'm not sure which of those features it has.
Thanks.
I am considering buying a Mazda3, probably a used 2015. Years ago I drove a Protege5 and found that the mileage going back and forth to work, entirely suburban driving, with a lot of stop lights and a top speed of about 40 mph, was considerably lower than the expected "city" MPG. This was probably because it was only 7.5 miles each way and it took a mile or so for the car to warm up enough to go closed loop. That is, the first mile or so it used more gas because it was open loop, and then for the rest of the way it was what was expected. As I understand it EPA numbers are calculated on warmed up cars.
The Mazda3 is rated at 30 mpg in the city, which is pretty good for a non-hybrid car. I wonder though, is there anything in skyactiv designed to make the car warm up faster, or is it still going to take a mile or so?
Also, EPA numbers for the 2.0 and 2.5 engines are really close, but the fuelly results show a lot of 2.5's with much lower average mpg than the 2.0. The latter has the usual sort of bell shaped curve, but the curve for the 2.5 is nothing like that. Is the lower average for the 2.5's because the EPA is off or because the people with the 2.5's drive them harder?
In terms of options I would want a backup up camera, and if at all possible blind spot warning. (Modern cars have much worse rear and side visibility than the older cars I am used to driving. The wife and I test drove a Volt and it felt like we were driving a slot car with a cheap plastic interior while wearing horse blinders! ) Are those in specific trim levels or option packages? I'm thinking iTouring is about right for us, but I'm not sure which of those features it has.
Thanks.