While the mighty little Mazda3 has become quite popular here in the States, there’s forbidden fruit on the other side of the pond. Once again, we miss out on the most fuel-efficient models. It’s no secret that Mazda fits a number of thrifty diesel engines throughout its range in Europe, but American Mazda enthusiasts can only look longingly across the ocean in the hopes that one day those torque-filled penny pinching diesel power plants will find their way stateside.
The Mazda3 made a great impression this past summer, when we took it out on an extended highway run, round tripping to Washington DC. While our Mazda3 MPG review reveals highway fuel economy that far exceeds the official estimates, it can’t hold a candle to the remarkable numbers turned in by the Mazda3 diesel abroad.
Ready to get your blood boiling? We’ve done a bit of research to dig up England’s official estimates for the diesel-powered Mazda3, along with its stable mates …
Mazda3 S Hatchback – Diesel
There are three different diesel engines offered in the Mazda3 hatchback:
1.6 liter MZ-CD Diesel
Five-speed manual transmission
90 horsepower and approximitely 158.5 foot pounds (215 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 47.1 Urban / 70.6 Extra Urban / 60.1 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 39.1 City / 58.8 Highway / 50 Combined MPG
0-62: 12.2 seconds
Top speed: 108 MPH
1.6 liter MZ-CD Diesel
Five-speed manual transmission
109 horsepower and approximitely 177 foot pounds (240 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 46.3 Urban / 68.9 Extra Urban / 58.9 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 38.5 City / 57.4 Highway / 49 Combined MPG
0-62: 11.6 seconds
Top speed: 113 MPH
2.0 liter MZ-CD Diesel
Six-speed manual transmission
143 horsepower and approximitely 265.5 foot pounds (360 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 39.8 Urban / 52.3 Extra Urban / 47.1 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 33.1 City / 43.5 Highway / 39.2 Combined MPG
0-62: 9.9 seconds
Top speed: 126 MPH
Mazda6 – Diesel
2.0 liter MZ-CD Diesel
Six-speed manual transmission
140 horsepower and approximitely 243 foot pounds (330 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 42.2 Urban / 56.5 Extra Urban / 50.4 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 35.1 City / 47 Highway / 42 Combined MPG
0-62: 10.5 seconds
Top speed: 127 MPH
Mazda5 – Diesel
There are two different diesel engines offered in the Mazda5 mini-minivan:
2.0 liter MZ-CD Diesel (110 HP)
Six-speed manual transmission
110 horsepower and approximitely 228.6 foot pounds (310 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 38.7 Urban / 52.3 Extra Urban / 46.3 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 32.2 City / 43.5 Highway / 38.5 Combined MPG
0-62: 13.9 seconds
Top speed: 110 MPH
2.0 liter MZ-CD Diesel (143 HP)
Six-speed manual transmission
143 horsepower and approximitely 265.5 foot pounds (360 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 38.7 Urban / 52.3 Extra Urban / 46.3 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 32.2 City / 43.5 Highway / 38.5 Combined MPG
0-62: 11.0 seconds
Top speed: 122 MPH
Mazda BT50
2.5 MZR Turbo Diesel 4×2
Five-speed manual transmission
143 horsepower and approximitely 243 foot pounds (330 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 27.4 Urban / 39.7 Extra Urban / 34.0 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 22.8 City / 33 Highway / 28.3 Combined MPG
0-62: 10.4 seconds
Top speed: 105 MPH
2.5 MZR Turbo Diesel 4×4
Five-speed manual transmission
143 horsepower and approximitely 243 foot pounds (330 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 25.9 Urban / 36.2 Extra Urban / 31.7 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 21.5 City / 30.1 Highway / 26.4 Combined MPG
0-62: 11.9 seconds
Top speed: 98 MPH
Mazda2 – Diesel
1.4 liter MZ-CD Diesel
Five-speed manual transmission
68 horsepower and approximitely 118 foot pounds (160 Nm) of torque
British Gallons: 53.3 Urban / 76.3 Extra Urban / 65.7 Combined MPG
US Gallons (equivalent): 44.4 City / 63.5 Highway / 54.7 Combined MPG
0-62: 15.5 seconds
Top speed: 101 MPH
They are not in the US because like you wrote this would be a car only for “enthusiasts”, not mass market.
a) Not all gas stations offer diesel – too inconvenient for Americans.
b) They don’t come with automatic transmission.
Bringing such car to the US would be suicidal for Mazda. I couldn’t buy it either.
@Paul H – Many thanks for your thoughts, although I beg to differ. 🙂 The least powerful and most thrifty of the bunch surely isn’t an enthusiasts car … take a look at the 0-62 time … it’s pokey.
While I don’t have an exact figure, I’d venture to say that roughly half of all service stations have diesel these days (at least around these parts). It’s not nearly as obscure as so many folks make it out to be. Not to worry … this is a common misconception that’s continually pushed by conventional media.
You’re on to something with the lack of an automatic trans. Most Americans prefer automatics over manuals. That having been said, I’d reckon that Mazda owners tend to be a sporting bunch and favor a stick shift more than the average Joe.
Oh man… if this were an option stateside my decision on new car would have gotten all the much tougher. I still stand by my decision on my new 2009 VW Jetta TDI but man oh man I like the looks of those Mazda3’s….
I believe a lot of American drivers would love to drive a car with a diesel engine, especially with that kind of MPG. Availability of diesel fuel would go up with demand and the price might come down with an increased demand. American drivers need to speak up if they want access to these vehicles. It seems like as with many things, the Europeans are advancing ahead of us.
The reason we don’t get diesel cars seems obvious to me. US Govt. They just don’t want us to be able to drive such fuel efficient vehicles. They say they want us to drive fuel efficient cars, but aren’t willing to allow dealers to buy and sell them. I’ve never trusted the US Govt. They say that a Diesel engine is more environment polluting than gasoline engine. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. We’ve been poluting the air as long as we’ve been driving cars. My favourite vehicles that have Diesel engines are the Mercedes-Benz, the Isuzu P’up Diesel, the Volkswagen and the new Subaru Boxer Diesel. Unfortunately, they have never sold as well here in the US as gasoline cars. I believe that what we need to run all Diesel powered vehicles on Biodiesel or even Straight Vegetable Oil. Something that can burn cleaner than the petroleum based Diesel. From what I’ve been told, it is possible to do that.
Diesel fuel not only produces less CO2 than gasoline but it has more BTU s available. What I don’t understand is why our government is throttling diesel car production in this country with emission regulation specifically targeting diesel but they don’t account for the 30-40% increase in mileage. Using less fuel = producing less emissions. This should be taken into account.
Diesels here in the us hold there value coz they are so rare and so efficient. Diesel VW’s, Jeep Cherokees, etc from the 80’s eBay for top dollar. I almost bought a JDM diesel all-trac driveline to transplant into my gasoline Previa All-trac, but decided it was too much money and I didn’t have time. Saw a Plymouth Grand Voyager diesel with 5 speed manual made for the export market once, would love to have one to haul my family economically, but I suppose this stuff would not go over in the horsepower hungry, comfort (diesel is noisy and smelly) oriented American market where most drivers don’t know how to drive a manual transmission…