Mazda3 1.5L SKYACTIV-D - Geneva Motor Show Live

Engine is very efficient with up to 26.32 km/l of fuel economy and 99 g/km CO2 emissions rating.

Late last year, Mazda added the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel engine to the engine options of the Mazda3 in Europe. At the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the company is showcasing the SKYACTIV-D 1.5-powered Mazda3. The car went on sale with this new engine option in December last year in the UK. There, both 5-door hatchback and 4-door saloon, which Mazda proudly calls 'Fastback', versions can be had with this engine in all trim levels with prices starting at £18,895 irrespective of the body style.

Introduced in Geneva in 2014, the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel engine is already available in the Mazda2 and Mazda CX-3. In the UK-spec Mazda3, this engine offers 105 PS (77 kW/104 hp) at 4,000 rpm and 270 Nm of torque from 1,600-2,500 rpm. It is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission as standard in both hatchback and saloon versions, however, the former does have the 6-speed automatic transmission option.

Mazda claims that the engine's remarkably low 14:8:1 compression ratio "sets new standards of efficiency and performance. The company's I-stop idle-stop system is a standard offering with this engine.

Combined fuel economy ratings and CO2 emissions ratings of this engine for the Mazda3 hatchback with manual transmission, Mazda3 hatchback with automatic transmission and Mazda3 saloon are 26.32 km/l, 22.73 km/l and 26.32 km/l respectively and 99 g/km, 114 g/km and 99 g/km respectively. As for the performance, 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration figures are claimed to be 11.0 seconds, 11.6 seconds and 11.0 seconds respectively in the same order. The top speed is common to all three models – 116 mph (187 km/h).