Is the 1.5L engine of Mazda 3 Axela powerful enough?
4 Answers
Mazda 3 Axela's 1.5L engine is sufficient for daily use. It is equipped with the Skyactiv-G 1.5L engine, whose function is to convert the thermal energy of gasoline into mechanical energy by burning and expanding gas in a sealed cylinder to push the piston. Taking the 2020 Mazda 3 Axela as an example, it belongs to the compact car category with body dimensions of 4662mm in length, 1797mm in width, and 1445mm in height, a wheelbase of 2726mm, and a fuel tank capacity of 50L. The 2020 Axela features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. It is powered by a naturally aspirated engine with a maximum horsepower of 117ps, a maximum power of 86kw, and a maximum torque of 148nm, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
I've been commuting with this car for two years, and it's perfectly fine for city driving. The 1.5-liter engine paired with a 6AT transmission provides a light and smooth start, always half a car length ahead when the traffic light turns green. However, when fully loaded with five people climbing a slope with the air conditioning at maximum, it noticeably struggles, with the engine RPM soaring but speed increasing slowly. Overtaking on the highway requires planning ahead, given its maximum horsepower is only 117. If you're after a strong push-back feeling, you might be disappointed, but it's absolutely sufficient for daily commuting, with fuel consumption around 7 liters per 100 km. The money saved on gas each month is enough for a hot pot meal.
As someone who frequently drives on highways, I find the power adequate but don't expect thrilling performance. Cruising at 100 km/h is quite stable, but overtaking requires deep throttle input to wait for the transmission to downshift. Once when fully loaded climbing mountain roads, the lack of power reserve was noticeably apparent. Compared to turbocharged cars in the same class, it's indeed weaker, but the Skyactiv technology ensures very linear power delivery, and the chassis support is excellent—taking corners is much more fun than those numb front-wheel-drive cars that are just fast in a straight line. For friends who frequently drive long distances or in mountainous areas, I'd recommend the 2.0L version, while the 1.5L is perfectly fine for city commuting.
The manual transmission version offers a distinct driving experience with its short gear lever travel and crisp shifts. The 1.5L engine delivers maximum torque at 4300 rpm, and I prefer keeping the revs above 2500 rpm for quicker power response. It handles city ring road traffic with ease, offering brisk acceleration up to 60 km/h. The transmission logic is more reliable than a dual-clutch setup, and while the engine is slightly noisy during cold starts, it smooths out once warmed up. If you're after driving pleasure, the car's chassis tuning compensates for the lack of power.
