Auto123 is putting the 2023 Mazda CX-50 to the long-term test. Today, part 3 of 6, as we try to put the importance of fuel economy versus power into perspective.At the moment, all Mazda models sold here use a 4-cylinder gasoline engine, except of course the MX-30 electric SUV. However, the automaker recently announced that by 2030, all of its North American models will include at least one hybrid, plug-in hybrid or 100-percent electric variant.
I'd like to digress for a moment to remind you that the strength of Mazda's SkyActiv technology lies in its high compression ratio. The higher the compression ratio, the more power it generates, the less fuel it wastes and the less pollution it causes. In the CX-50's regular 2.5L, this ratio reaches 13:1, whereas 10:1 is the usual average .
That said, I'm currently running the GT Turbo on regular gas , which gives me 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Mazda says that if I were to use premium gasoline , I would have 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. A higher-octane rating reduces the risk of auto-ignition because it can handle warmer temperatures. It also promotes a higher compression ratio of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders, which is the trademark of SkyActiv engines.
In concrete terms, we're talking about a difference in acceleration. About 9 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h with the naturally aspirated 2.5L and 7 seconds for the turbocharged. Two seconds difference. Is it worth the expense? In a road network teeming with congestion, potholes, photo radar and T-RV-7s ? We think not.
Knowing that I'll be paying more for my gas, it's funny how I think I can guess the results of my experiment in advance. Unless I find one of those gas stations that offers premium gas at the same price as regular gas on a specific day of the week!All four members of the lineup pair their engines with a 6-speed automatic transmission, with the turbo version adding paddle shifters.
Source: Financial Digest (financialdigest.net)
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