Mazda MX-3 Specs and Model Overview (1991–2000)
Full mazda mx 3 specs overview: coupe built 1991–2000 with 90–136 hp, one generation, FWD, manual and automatic gearboxes, and which versions to pick.
The Mazda MX-3 is a compact coupe produced from 1991 to 2000, with power ranging from 90 to 136 hp. Anyone comparing mazda mx 3 specs will find a single front-wheel-drive generation with manual and automatic gearboxes — a car suited to drivers who want a light, affordable coupe with either an economical 1.6 or a livelier 1.9 engine.
Mazda MX-3 generations
1 generation (1991–2000)
The 1 generation Mazda MX-3 was built from 1991 to 2000 exclusively as a coupe and covers all 5 modifications of the model. Power spans 90 to 136 hp, every version drives the front wheels, and buyers could choose between Automatic and Manual transmissions. The range is built around two engine sizes: a 1598 cc unit in the 1.6 versions and an 1845 cc unit in the top 1.9. The Mazda MX-3 1.6 AT (1 generation) with 107 hp was the mass-market choice, while the 1.9 MT (1 generation) with 136 hp sat at the top of the lineup with a 0–100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds.
Which Mazda MX-3 to buy
- 1.9 MT (136 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful Mazda MX-3 at 136 hp, accelerating to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds with fuel consumption of 8.8 l/100 km.
- 1.6 MT (90 hp) (1 generation): the most economical version at 7.5 l/100 km, and despite its 90 hp it reaches 100 km/h in a respectable 10.5 seconds thanks to the manual gearbox.
- 1.6 AT (1 generation): the mass-market version with 107 hp from the 1598 cc engine — the natural pick for buyers who want the automatic transmission.
Since every Mazda MX-3 dates from 1991–2000, any example on the used market is well over two decades old, so condition and maintenance history matter far more than trim differences. The single-generation, FWD-only lineup keeps the search simple: the real decision is just engine size and gearbox.
Which Mazda MX-3 to avoid
The numbers point away from the Mazda MX-3 1.6 AT (1 generation): with 107 hp it needs 14.0 seconds to reach 100 km/h, versus 10.5 seconds for the cheaper-to-run 90 hp 1.6 MT and 8.5 seconds for the 136 hp 1.9 MT. Unless the automatic gearbox itself is the priority, both manual versions beat it on acceleration — the 1.6 MT while also offering the best fuel economy in the range at 7.5 l/100 km. Questions about mazda mx 3 reliability come down to age here: with production ending in 2000, the newest car is the same generation as the oldest, so a well-kept example of any version is a better buy than a neglected top engine.