Mazda3 news - Mazda3 gets stop-start - 2009

Because we all occasionally need some sensible, real-worldly car news to offset drifty Gallardos and 700bhp Ferraris, we’re happy to report that Mazda has introduced a new stop-start system on the Focus-rivalling Mazda3.

Available on the 2.0-litre petrol ‘Sport’ model, the ‘i-stop’ technology reduces CO2 emissions from 175g/km to 159g/km, and improves consumption from 36.7mpg to 41.5mpg.

Manufacturers have been developing subtly different solutions to the stop-start problem, and Mazda’s sounds like one of the smartest.

When you come to a stop, the engine effectively drops into ‘standby’ mode, storing the combusted fuel mix so that it can restart in just 0.35 seconds.

Unfortunately i-stop won’t yet be available on the smaller petrol or diesel Mazda3s – or, as far as we know, the new MPS, which we drive this autumn.

Both the saloon and hatch are priced at £18,025.