SKYACTIV® tech is definitely worth it if you’re deciding on a new vehicle. Whereas conventional internal combustion engines only use around 30% of potential energy from their fuel, SKYACTIV® engines are able to compress the air-fuel mixture in their cylinders to an entirely new degree, squeezing out far more energy.

Skyactiv (branded as SKYACTIV) is a brand name for a series of technologies developed by Mazda that increase fuel efficiency and engine output. The initial announcement of the Skyactiv technologies included new engines, transmissions, body, and chassis, which appeared in Mazda products from 2011 onwards.

A revolutionary diesel engine, SKYACTIV-D delivers great fuel efficiency without sacrificing clean emissions. With its world-leading compression ratio of 14:1, SKYACTIV-D provides a fuel economy improvement of 20% over conventional diesel engines and meets exhaust emission standards in countries around the world.

The SKYACTIV-X engine uses a spark to ignite only a small, dense amount of the fuel-air mix in the cylinder. Ten to 30 percent more torque than the current SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine with better fuel efficiency than the current SKYACTIV-D, and a power increase of ten percent.

Mazda Motor Corporation
Skyactiv/Manufacturers

Like most modern cars, the Mazda 3 should last you at least 150,000 – 200,000 miles if well maintained and regularly serviced. Most Americans drive an average of 13,500 miles per year. Based on this, your Mazda3 should last at least 10-15 years.

SKYACTIV-G Vastly improved engine efficiency resulting from high-pressure combustion, delivers a 15% improvement in both fuel economy and torque. More torque in the low- to mid-range where it is most useful in practical driving situations.

The engines of the Mazda3 can last on average 200,000 – 250,000 miles, however there are reports of Mazda3 engines lasting over 300,000 miles. Modern Skyactiv engines used in the third and fourth gen Mazda3 use a timing chain that typically lasts the entire life of the vehicle.