SkyActiv is the name being thrown around Mazda's halls lately, and it stands for an initiative it hopes will turn around mounting financial troubles. It will be applied to design across the spectrum, but for the 2012 MAZDA3, it shows up in a new drivetrain that offers significant upgrades in both power and efficiency. While a small refresh for the MAZDA3 also boasts some fresh styling that tones down the “happy factor” we’ve seen in recent years, it’s this new drivetrain that’s getting all the attention.

And for good reason, too. The MAZDA3 has always been an enthusiast’s choice in the compact car segment with responsive engines, slick transmissions and class-leading handling. Efficiency has been a different story. Fuel consumption is usually secondary for an enthusiast entrant, and the MAZDA3 has so far followed suit. 2011’s ratings topped out at 25 mpg city/33 highway for the lowliest 4-cylinder in the stable and dropped as far as 18/25 for the sportiest turbo. Not terrible, but with competitors cracking the 40-mpg barrier, it’s not impressive either.

The new SkyActiv engine changes this, with a 28/40 rating from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that still manages 155 hp at 6,000 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque at 4,100. This is with the new SkyActic 6-speed automatic with its reduced torque convertor, although the redesigned 6-speed manual will still get you 27/39. Compare those numbers with the other 2.0-liter engine still offered as an option – 148hp at 6,500 rpm, 135 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm, and 25/33 with a 5-speed manual.

And while the extra gears of the 6-speed transmissions certainly help, it’s simply not enough to account for the jump. Even with the changes made – like sharing the input gear for first and reverse on the manual – something more needed to be done to really increase efficiency. First, the new engine utilizes direct injection and a ridiculous 13:1 compression. (Euro-spec MAZDA3s will get an even higher 14:1 compression profile, but U.S. fuel requirements limited that.) “Controlling the burn” was the aim for Mazda, and a new 4-2-1 header helps do just that by helping to maintain consistent temps in the combustion chamber. Piston cavities are on the same front, creating “rapid and even flame-front propagation.” Spend your own time discussing with a colleague what that actually means. The numbers don’t lie. It’s 40 mpg on the highway from here on out.

An efficiency increase at the cost of performance is one thing, but a lighter engine that provides more power at lower revs means no sacrifice for anyone – other than the wallet. The old 2.0-liter setup will still be available for now, along with the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated and 2.3-liter turbocharged mills.

But let’s not forget the changes to the face of the MAZDA3. That likeable grin we’ve seen carved in the face…er, fascia...of the quirky compact has been toned down for 2012, replaced by a classier curve that designers hope will have more longevity. It seems Mazda really wants to be taken more seriously of late, and it's putting up the numbers to prove it.

Without the resources of some of its larger competitors, Mazda has to be more calculated and conservative in its approach. This is exhibited in the keeping of the base 2.0-liter engine as an option alongside the new SkyActiv 2.0, but will be further seen in the upcoming platforms that will be built through the SkyActiv initiative. We’ll have to wait for the CX-5 for the first example of that, but until then, 40 mpg is more than enough to keep us interested.