Mazda MX-3 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Mazda MX-3 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 1992 to 1996. Across those years its best rated version returned 29 mpg (1996) and its thirstiest returned 20 mpg (1992). The EPA record holds 20 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 4 | 28 mpg | 20 mpg | #20 of 69 (72th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1993 | 4 | 27 mpg | 20 mpg | #21 of 64 (68th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1994 | 4 | 28 mpg | 20 mpg | #15 of 56 (75th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1995 | 4 | 28 mpg | 20 mpg | #10 of 50 (82th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
| 1996 | 4 | 29 mpg | 20 mpg | #9 of 38 (78th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Mazda MX-3 placed highest in 1996 at #9 of 38, and lowest in 1993 at #21 of 64. It spent 5 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 20 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | V-6 (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.8L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | V-6 (FFS) | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 23 | 31 | 26 | 442.3 | 11.4 | $2,400 | 341.8076923076923 | n/a |
| 1996 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 26 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 306.44827586206895 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | DOHC V-6 (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | DOHC V-6 (FFS) | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | DOHC (FFS) | 22 | 31 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1995 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | DOHC (FFS) | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | V6DOHC (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | V6DOHC (FFS) | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | DOHC (FFS) | 22 | 31 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1994 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | DOHC (FFS) | 25 | 34 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (FFS) | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | 4VALVE (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1993 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | 4VALVE (FFS) | 24 | 32 | 27 | 425.9 | 11.0 | $2,300 | 329.14814814814815 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | K8D (FFS) | 18 | 25 | 20 | 575.0 | 14.9 | $3,100 | 444.35 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.9L 6-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | K8D (FFS) | 20 | 26 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $2,850 | 403.95454545454544 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | B6E4 (FFS) | 22 | 29 | 25 | 460.0 | 11.9 | $2,500 | 355.48 | n/a |
| 1992 | 1.6L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | B6E4 (FFS) | 25 | 32 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 317.39285714285717 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 3 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 → 1993 | 28 → 27 mpg | -1 mpg | 426 gal |
| 1993 → 1994 | 27 → 28 mpg | +1 mpg | 411 gal |
| 1995 → 1996 | 28 → 29 mpg | +1 mpg | 397 gal |
What MX-3 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1996 Mazda MX-3 burns 397 to 575 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,190 | $1,725 | $535 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,388 | $2,013 | $625 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,586 | $2,300 | $714 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1996 model year is $2,150 to $3,100 a year in fuel, or $750 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Subcompact Cars
Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 29 mpg the Mazda MX-3 is 5 mpg better the median, which is worth about $289 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Mazda nameplates
Every Mazda model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.