Here's another very interesting review of the Mazda3 Skyactiv with manual transmission. Though I love the automatic this review makes me kind of wish I'd gotten the manual. Enjoy.
http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/05/28/66599/
Here's an Australian review of the Mazda3 Skyactiv. Unfortunately, the I-Stop technology hasn't been included in the Skyactiv in Canada.
http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/shop...onomy/7624464/
I absolutely love mine...couldn't get the manual tranny though...wifey doesn't drive stick even though she has her own Mz2 :-/
2012 Mz3 GS SkyActiv CWP Mods; DDM 50w 6k lows / Headlights tinted with Lamin-X 6% overlay / DRL Nokya Hyper Yellows / Foglights; Morimoto 35w 3K's with Lamin-X yellow overlay / Dealer tinted sides n rear / KiCkER kx 600.4 4ch amp / Alpine Type "R" comps front / Alpine SPR-68's rear / License plate LED's / Interior LED's /***MY ICE UPGRADE***http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...-Zoomahh's 2012-SkyActiv-ice-upgrade*** /Detail Day July 2013 http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...il-Day-!-!-!-D
2011 Mz2 GX CWP (wifey's car) / led interiors only
Here's another good review just out from the Globe and Mail.
"The 2.0-litre gasoline direct injection engine of the latter is also mated to either a reinvented manual or automatic six-speed transmission and both are very good. Truthfully, the 2012 Mazda3 SKY exceeds expectations – expectation that were very high given the months of hype coming out of Mazda. This is an entertaining little car, especially the version with a slick-shifting manual gearbox."
In my opinion the auto is no slouch either.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...80/?cmpid=rss1
Here's an exhaustive video review of the Mazda3 Skyactiv Sport MT. I like the tan seat covers even better than the black in mine.
http://newsvideos2012.blogspot.ca/20...ack-6-spd.html
The Mazda3 makes number 4 on Torquenews' selection of the 10 coolest cars of 2012. Should be number 1 in my opinion. Bizarre choices for the top 3.
http://www.torquenews.com/1081/dodge...lest-cars-2012
Here's another interesting review of the Skyactiv 3 that makes some points I hadn't seen in other reviews. He really likes the manual.
http://www.carpages.ca/blog/2012/06/...and-road-test/
"Mazda zooming to new heights with Skyactiv"
http://www.nsnews.com/sports/Mazda+z...866/story.html
2012 Mazda3 Sport: Road Trippin' Mazda's Hot Hatch
July 18, 2012, by Jeremy Freed
http://autos.sympatico.ca/reviews/14...zdas-hot-hatch