Which Mazda Has the Best Gas Mileage?
The Mazda MX-30 is the most fuel-efficient Mazda model, the first all-electric Mazda ever available. Read more here!
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Brittni Brinn
The 2022 Mazda MX-30 is the most fuel-efficient Mazda vehicle you can buy, thanks to its all-electric powertrain. Unfortunately, the MX-30 is only available in the state of California. For everyone else, the 2023 Mazda 3 is the most fuel-efficient Mazda in the current lineup.
While Mazda is often praised for its reliability, most Mazda models have fairly middle-of-the-road fuel economy ratings. But with gas prices rising each year and climate change becoming more of a concern, electrified and fuel-sipping vehicles are becoming top sellers.
Mazda has yet to release any other electrified vehicles, although more details on the CX-70 and CX-90 are set to be available soon. These will be powered by mild-hybrid inline-six engines. The Mazda MX-30 is also slated for a plug-in hybrid version that will feature a rotary engine that can charge the electric motor.
Car insurance
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has all the info you need on the Mazdas that are best on gas—and the one that doesn’t need gas at all. We’ll look at the classic compact Mazda 3 and its fuel-sipping stablemates, and we’ll also tell you the best way to save money on your Mazda insurance costs
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhich Mazda vehicles have the best gas mileage/fuel economy?
The top three Mazda cars for gas mileage and fuel efficiency are the Mazda MX-30 electric vehicle, the Mazda 3, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Here are their EPA ratings:
- 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV: Up to 92 MPGe combined
- 2023 Mazda 3: Up to 31 mpg combined
- 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata: Up to 29 mpg combined
Of course, these basic numbers don’t necessarily give you the full picture. Let’s take a closer look at each model and its most efficient versions.
2022 Mazda MX-30
The all-new 2022 Mazda MX-30 is a bit of an odd duck when it comes to new EV models. It only has a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, big enough for a range of only 100 miles, less than any other battery electric vehicle (BEV) on the current market—it’s as if Mazda didn’t finish their plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain fast enough to release the MX-30 as a hybrid. The next batch of models should be freshly equipped with the rotary engine, allowing for far more range.
One thing that everyone seems to accept about the Mazda MX-30—built on a similar chassis to the CX-3—is that it’s a pleasure to drive. It delivers responsive handling and acceleration that’s specifically designed to feel just as good as driving a gas-powered Mazda.
There’s only one configuration available for the MX-30, and remember, it’s only available in California (so far). Its electric powertrain provides 143 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque.
Driving in the city, you’ll get a miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 98. Efficiency is reduced to 85 MPGe on the highway. Despite its seriously low range, the Mazda MX-30 has a frustrating 36-minute DC fast charging time, but this issue is being addressed in upcoming versions.
Not only is the MX-30’s range less than impressive, but its price also leaves something to be desired—it starts at $33,470 MSRP. The 2023 Nissan Leaf is still the cheapest EV you can get, with an MSRP of $27,800 and the potential for up to $7,500 of federal tax credit. In its most basic form, its range is 149 miles, and it’s more efficient too—the Nissan Leaf S gets 123/99 MPGe (city/hwy).
So while the Mazda MX-30 is the most efficient Mazda you can buy, it definitely comes with its downsides in its current form.
2023 Mazda 3
While it’s no longer the best-selling Mazda vehicle—it was overtaken by the CX-5 crossover SUV—the 2023 Mazda 3 compact car has the best gas mileage of any Mazda vehicle. It’s also an undeniable classic that offers wonderful driving manners and plenty of options.
The Mazda 3 configuration that gets the best fuel economy is the sedan with the base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive (FWD)—this car is rated for 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Both the hatchback and all-wheel drive (AWD) options will result in a slight decrease in fuel efficiency—the AWD hatchback with the base engine is rated for 26/33 mpg (city/hwy). FWD hatchback models are available with a six-speed manual transmission which does not alter fuel efficiency.
That base engine offers a respectable 191 horsepower, but the Mazda 3 2.5 Turbo and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trims get a—you guessed it—turbocharged version of the base engine that results in an output of up to 250 horsepower when using 93 octane gasoline. As you can expect, this engine slurps up a bit more fuel, resulting in 23/32 mpg in sedan form. The turbocharged hatchback loses one more mile to the gallon on the highway.
Including fees, the 2023 Mazda 3 has a starting price of $23,615. But when it comes to fuel-efficient compact cars, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid hatchback is the model to beat, and it starts at only $24,695.
The
Ioniq Blue
is the model with the lowest price point and the best fuel economy—58/60 mpg (city/hwy). Not only does it undercut the class-defining Toyota Prius
in price, but it also manages better EPA ratings.2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Not only is the 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata undeniably the coolest Mazda vehicle, but it’s also one of the most fuel-efficient, thanks to its lightweight roadster design and efficient 2.0-liter inline-4 engine.
Regardless of which transmission you choose, the Miata gets 26 mpg in the city. With a manual transmission, you’ll get 34 mpg on the highway, as opposed to 35 mpg with the automatic gearbox.
The catch is that you’ll need to use 91-octane premium gasoline, meaning you’ll still end up spending more money on fuel.
But with a starting price of $28,715, the Miata is the most affordable among its budget roadster competitors, the Toyota GR86 and
Subaru BRZ
, as well as the most fuel-efficient.2023 Mazda CX-30
The Miata technically consumes less fuel than the 2023 Mazda CX-30, but the CX-30 is able to use cheaper fuel. Plus, it deserves a mention as Mazda’s most fuel-efficient SUV (not including the MX-30).
It’s offered with the same engines as the Mazda 3, allowing for 26/33 mpg (city/hwy) with the 2.5 S engine. If you want the extra power of the 2.5 Turbo, fuel economy is reduced to 22/30 mpg (city/hwy), and maximum horsepower is only unlocked with 93 octane fuel.
MORE:
Are Mazdas good cars?
Mazda fuel economies by model
Of course, there are plenty of other Mazda models to be aware of! Here’s a list of every Mazda vehicle on the current lineup matched up to its gas mileage. Click the links to see how you can find affordable car insurance for each model!
Model | City mpg | Highway mpg | Combined mpg |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 Mazda MX-30 | 98 | 85 | 91 |
26 | 33 | 29 | |
2023 Mazda CX-30 Turbo | 22 | 33 | 25 |
24 | 30 | 27 | |
2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo | 22 | 27 | 24 |
2023 Mazda CX-50 S | 24 | 30 | 27 |
2023 Mazda CX-50 Turbo | 23 | 29 | 27 |
22 | 28 | 25 | |
2023 Mazda CX-9 AWD | 20 | 26 | 23 |
33-37 | 26-28 | 29-31 | |
2023 Mazda 3 Turbo | 23 | 31-32 | 26 |
26 | 34-35 | 29 |
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How to save on Mazda insurance costs
With gas prices as volatile as they’ve been in recent years, fuel efficiency is an ever-important stat to consider when choosing a new vehicle, because it can significantly affect your long-term transportation expenses. But if you’re concerned about consistent savings on vehicle expenses, don’t pass up the opportunity to let
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FAQs
Which Mazda gets the worst gas mileage?
Particularly when equipped with AWD, the 2023 Mazda CX-9 full-size crossover SUV gets the worst gas mileage out of Mazda’s current lineup, but it’s still a lot better than some of its competitors. With AWD, it gets 20/26/23 mpg (city/hwy/comb).
What is the best SUV for gas mileage?
The
Tesla Model Y
Long Range is still the most fuel-efficient SUV on the current market. It gets 129/116/122 MPGe (city/hwy/comb). If we’re strictly talking about gas mileage, the winner is the new Ford Escape Hybrid
, which gets 41 combined mpg.
