https://soundcloud.com/db_drivenmedia/mazda-3-diesel-great-engine-plenty-of-features
Diesel cars were once the noisy and slow option for people whose main requirement was to reduce their fuel consumption.
They have now become quieter and have better performance.
Often associated with SUVs but are diesels the engine for the moderate sized cars like the Corolla and the Mazda 3?
Corolla doesn’t have a diesel in this class but Mazda has released a diesel version.
And it is aimed up market. It is in the top of the range model – the XD Astina.
A distinctive car. Let’s hear what motoring journalist Ian Crawford has to say about it.
- Kodo styling – I parked it in the street and went to a park and was looking down on the vehicle – it looked long and low cut. The nose is something a bit different.
- Diesel is a good one – twin turbo
- Revs out
- mid range torque
- Power in the XD is provided by the same 2.2 litre diesel that drives models in the CX-5 and Mazda6 lines,
- Mazdas ‘active engine sound’ plays a synthesised engine note through the sound-system
- have taken out 42kg out of the engine
- first appearance i-ELOOP – Brake energy regeneration systems convert a vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity as the car decelerates. The electricity is then stored for later use. It can be used to power the headlights, climate control, audio system, or any other electrical equipment. This reduces the need for the engine to burn extra fuel in order to generate electricity, and thereby improves fuel economy. Mazda has utilize variable voltage alternator and low-resistance, high-capacity electric double layer capacitor (EDLC).
- Features
- Radar cruise control
- Includes a seven-inch display, nine-speaker audio, head-up display, leather trim throughout, dual-zone climate control, proximity key and push-button start, a powered sunroof, powered mirrors and driver’s seat.
- SP25 Astina features additional to the SP25 GT include:
- Sunroof
- Radar cruise control
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
- Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW)
- High Beam Control (HBC)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Smart Brake Support (SBS)
- XD Astina is not equipped with Parking sensors (rear)
- Price
- $39,290 (6-speed manual)
- $41,290 (6-speed automatic)
