Our Fleet: Mazda 3 - April 2011

Our resident Mazda 3 has been with us nearly 12 months now and still managed to surpass my expectations this week.

The fuel economy has always been good in the Mazda, ranging between 55-59 mpg. I thought I would put the Mazda to the test this week and embarked on a 100 mile round trip journey to see how much mpg the car could achieve.

Driving from Peterborough to Milton Keynes area, which is predominantly motorway or duel carriageway, the Mazda managed to achieve 60.1 mpg with an average speed of over 60mph. Although impressive, I was convinced that we hadn’t seen the best from it, so the following day I went visiting relatives and drove a 70 mile round trip made up of rural roads. The Mazda managed 62.2 mpg, only 1.8mpg shy of its proposed 64mpg. Quite an achievement when my average speed was at 52mph.

With CO2 emissions at 117g/km the Mazda is an appealing options for fleets, I do miss that 6th gear for that little extra power, but the smooth ride and sporty looks make up for it. Good economy coupled with great handling has made the Mazda a joy to drive and it will be thoroughly missed when it leaves us later this month.