2012 Mazda3 MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Mazda3 is rated 23 to 32 mpg combined across 7 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · sedan.

EPA fuel economy

2012 Mazda3 · 7 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

32MPG combined

28 city 39 highway

$2,100 a year to fuel

2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · sedan

Best version saves $1,500 in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,100 to $2,900 a year. Compared with 2011, the best gas version is up 4 mpg.

One of the Mazda3 years to avoid

The 2012 drew 68 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 26 for a typical Mazda3 year: 2.5 times as many.

Years to avoid: 2010 and 2012. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Mazda3 year ranked The 2012 Mazda3's recalls and problems

Every 2012 Mazda3 version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · sedan Best EPA listing: 3 DI 4-Door	32 mpg	28 / 39	$2,100
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · hatchback EPA listing: 3 DI 5-Door	31 mpg	28 / 37	$2,150
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: 3 DI 4-Door (also 3 DI 5-Door)	30 mpg	26 / 37	$2,250
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 5-speed manual EPA listing: 3	28 mpg	25 / 32	$2,400
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: 3	27 mpg	24 / 32	$2,500
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: 3	25 mpg	22 / 28	$2,700
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual EPA listing: 3	23 mpg	20 / 28	$2,900

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · sedan	$2,095	$175	$10,477
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · hatchback	$2,163	$180	$10,815
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,235	$186	$11,175
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 5-speed manual	$2,395	$200	$11,973
2.0L 4-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic	$2,483	$207	$12,417
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 5-speed automatic	$2,682	$223	$13,410
2.5L 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed manual	$2,915	$243	$14,576

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Mazda3 MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 28 to 33 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2014.

2012: gas 32 mpg

Show as a table

Mazda3 best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2010	28
2011	28
2012	32
2013	32
2014	33
2015	33
2016	33
2017	32
2018	32
2019	30
2020	30
2021	31
2022	31
2023	31
2024	31
2025	31
2026	30

Every Mazda3 year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 Mazda3 compares

2012 compact cars covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Toyota Prius Best: hybrid	48 mpg	–	$1,400
Honda Civic Best: hybrid	44 mpg	32 mpg	$1,500
Hyundai Elantra Best: gas	32 mpg	32 mpg	$2,100
Mazda3 This page Best: gas	32 mpg	32 mpg	$2,100
Volkswagen Jetta Best: diesel	32 mpg	28 mpg	$2,400
Kia Forte Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,250
Toyota Corolla Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,300
Nissan Sentra Best: gas	29 mpg	29 mpg	$2,300

2012 Mazda3 recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 226 owner complaints for the 2012 Mazda3.

Owners most often describe headlight problems (26 complaints, 12%), then loss of power (21). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 Mazda3 recalls and problems

Questions

Does the 2012 Mazda3 need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2012 Mazda3 version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2012 Mazda3's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 32 mpg, up 4 from 28.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.