What is Mazda M Hybrid?

Good guess, but no. Mazda M Hybrid is the Japanese brand’s mild-hybrid system, so it’s ‘M’ for ‘mild’.

If we were talking about salsa here, mild would signify that it’s not very spicy. In the context of a hybrid system, it means that the car has a very small battery and motor – in other words, it’s not very hybrid.

What does Mazda M Hybrid mean?

Mazda M Hybrid means the car in question comes with a conventional petrol engine, but also a system to recover energy while slowing down and store it in a small battery.

The captured energy is then used to power some of the car’s secondary functions, such as the sat nav and audio system. This takes some of the load off the engine, and so the engine will consume very slightly less fuel because it’s not working quite so hard.

How does Mazda M Hybrid work?

The Mazda M Hybrid system comprises of four parts:

• Regenerative friction brake coordination system
• 24V Lithium-ion battery
• DC/DC converter (converting from 24V to 12V)
• Integrated starter-generator

The regenerative braking coordination system controls the process of recapturing the energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration. This is located on the front axle. The energy is scooped up and stored in the li-ion battery, which is mounted under the floor of the car (typically under the front passenger seat).

The integrated starter-generator (ISG) does the job of a starter motor and a small e-motor in one. It starts the car, but also shuts the engine off when you’re slowing down to a stop. It ensures the car’s anciliary features, such as the radio, can still be on while the engine is off. If you're slowing down and the engine has turned off, you're not burning any fuel.

Additionally, the ISG smooths out the start/stop process, reducing noise, vibration and harshness when the engine is turned back on. It also makes gear shifts a bit smoother by filling the torque that the engine isn’t providing at that moment.

The Mazda M Hybrid is a more sophisticated, more joined up set of systems than Mazda’s early i-Eloop system, which captured energy and stored it in a lightweight capacitor to reduce engine load.

Does the Mazda M Hybrid system save fuel?

A little. But probably not enough that you’ll notice a tangible difference at the pumps. On paper, the difference is a couple of mpg – Mazda reckons you’ll see 56mpg from a mild-hybrid Mazda 2 versus 53mpg for an older car without the M Hybrid assistance. CO2 emissions should be lower in mild-hybrid cars, too.

Which models have an M Hybrid engine?

Mazda’s M Hybrid system is fitted in the Mazda 3, Mazda CX-30, Mazda CX-5 and in versions of the Mazda 2 with a manual gearbox. Confusingly, you’ll need to look for an ‘e-Skyactiv’ engine to get the mild-hybrid tech – the ‘e’ represents the mild electrification and Skyactiv is Mazda’s name for its clever and innovative engines.

Elsewhere in the Mazda range, the CX-60 and CX-80 come with a plug-in-hybrid engine, which boasts a bigger battery but needs to plugged in to the mains to make the most of the setup. There’s also the Mazda MX-30 R-EV – a ‘range-extender’ that has electrical components and a petrol engine, but the engine plays more of a secondary role. This also needs to be plugged in.

Mazda 2 M Hybrid, or Mazda 2 Hybrid?

There are two completely different versions of the Mazda 2. Huh?

The Mazda 2 M Hybrid is a Mazda-developed car with a mild-hybrid 1.5-litre petrol engine. Remember the e-Skyactiv designation.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid, on the other hand, is a rebadged Toyota Yaris. The Yaris-based car is powered by a completely different 1.5-litre engine, and it’s a ‘full’ hybrid system with a bigger battery and the ability to drive on electric power at low speeds.

The Mazda 2 M Hybrid comes with a manual gearbox (automatic versions don’t get the mild-hybridity) whereas the Yaris-based Mazda 2 Hybrid is only available with an automatic gearbox.

To confuse things further, the Toyota Yaris for the US market is a rebadged Mazda 2.

Which Mazda hybrid is the best?

Our favourite hybrid Mazda is the Mazda 3, for its supermodel looks, classy interior, economical petrol engines and vibrant handling. If you need more space than the 3 offers, the CX-30 ticks that box.

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