We just test drove two Mazda 3 Hatch's. One was an 05 and the one we bought was an 06. The entire motor looked different and I am trying to find out why that is. I have searched. but fi the topic has been discussed I am using the wrong key words.

So in short if we looked at two S's one an 2005 and the other a 2006 should there have been a visible difference in the motor set up. The oil dipstick location etc all look to be different.

Thanks

 

No real difference.The engine cover, that silly piece of plastic that does nothing on top, is what you're mostly seeing. They did relocate the dipstick along with it, but thatit. Same engine where it counts.

 

only the 04 had a different motor from my understanding of it.

 

No difference. Even the same engine cover in those years. They lost 4hp somewhere along the way ('04's/'05's rated @ 160,) that's all.

 

the 04 had a 2.0 IIRC.

 

Thanks guys, The dispstick is what threw me off. I think the exhaust manifold was plastic covered as well.

 

now depending that there are 2 engines. a 2.0 and a 2.3. you may have test drove as the lowest model has a 2.0 and the higher end one has the 2.3.

 

Well,yeah.And they still offer the 2.0L, but as Jaimie already pointed out only in the "i" modelsedan (gs in Canada and elsewhere.)All of the S models (gt in Canada, and elsewhere) have the 2.3L in is country. The HB only ever came as an S model, and you can upgrade the sedan to an Sto have the 2.3L also.