In the compact car segment, the considered “cold war” of long-running automotive horsepower maybe considered as coming to a halt with the surfacing of 2012 Mazda 3.

For this year, Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback are available with the introduction of Mazda’s “Skyactiv” powertrains components: a 2.0-liter four-cylindered engine paired to either a newly six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The bright intellects behind Mazda’s car engineering system has gone beyond ordinary car’s standard concepts, essentially going through the engine’s internal combustion with a fine-toothed comb, seeing through the countless inefficiencies and coming up clever solutions to address those.

The result? It just answers Einstein’s equation that when it is powered up, it hits the 40 mpg which shifts the car into top gear-like at the earliest opportunity. As the introduction of the Skyactiv engine, who slots between the carryover 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, a factor that slims Mazda 3 up to the top versus the most celebrated Hyundai Elantra and Chevy Cruze Eco – whose ability also hits up to 40 mpg. With this new engine, it also complements the car’s other existing strengths, including sharp handling, a stylistic interior and having a hatchback body style. Although the Elantra, Cruze, and Focus are the best choice when it comes to small sedan or hatchback, but nothing beats the Mazda 3 in the competency of fuel economy and a fun-to-drive nature.

The 2012 Mazda 3 is on four-door sedan and body hatchback styles. Both vehicles are available on 3i and 3s trims. The 3i SV and the luxurious Sport trims are only available on the sedan. The SV is lightly equipped 16-inch steel wheels, with power mirrors, an adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player plus auxiliary audio jack and steering wheel controls. On the Sports is the additional air-conditioning system, power locks, keyless entry and a display on what is the temperature outside the vehicle.

The rest of trims are available on both the sedan and the hatchback. The 3i Touring is added with the Sports equipment the Skyactiv-G engine, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, a steering wheel and shifter which is leather-wrapped, a center armrest for the rear seated, a trip computer, Bluetooth and a six-speaker sound system. The Touring also can be with a package that includes a sunroof and a Bose surround-sound audio system. Those are standards on the 3i Grand Touring.

Standard safety system on every 2012 Mazda 3 comes with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, brake assist, side curtain airbags and front side airbags. A blind spot warning also comes handy which is categorized as an important factor of the Mazda 3 safety system. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2012 Mazda 3 the highest rating of “Good” in the frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength tests. Really a safety upgraded.

Overall, the 2012 Mazda 3 is supercharged with cool facilities, which is run with the most secured safety system.

Feel free to browse the 2012 Mazda 3 gallery of images below.