Why does my speedometer go so high if the car can't go that fast?
- Mazda 3
- Mazda 3 2016
- Mazda Advice
- Mazda 3 Reviews
- Mazda Hatchback Range
- Mazda Sedan Range
- Mazda
- Family Car
- Family Cars
- Small Cars
Asked by Brian
The speedometer in my 2016 model Mazda 3 goes up to 260 km/h, however the car is simply not capable of achieving anywhere near this speed, even if there was a place to drive that fast. This results in the legal speed range up to 110 km/h, being crammed into an area measuring less than half the dial. The speedos in previous generations of car did not read this high, and were somewhat clearer to read, so is there an ADR that mandates speedometers must read up to 260km/h, or do manufacturers typically use a 'one size fits all' policy?
Answered by CarsGuide
17 Apr 2024It’s a bit silly, isn’t it? There’s absolutely no reason for a speedo in an Australian delivered car to read to 260km/h, particularly in a car that would never manage to gain that much velocity without the help of a mine-shaft. There’s no ADR requirement for it, either, so it’s probably a hang-over from other markets where average freeway speeds are much higher than they are here. In Germany, for instance, where there are still unrestricted sections of autobahn, the 200-plus-km/h speedo makes more sense.
You’re probably right when you suggest this is all a one-size-fits-all approach by Mazda (and many other car-makers) who can save a few dollars by making only one speedo calibration and fitting it to cars for every market. More recently, a lot of cars have both a conventional and a digital speedometer fitted. Many owners have come to rely on the latter for clarity. My preference is for an analogue (needle) speedometer that has 100 or 110km/h at the 12-o’clock position on the dial.
Other Mazda 3 problems
- There is petrol leaking after filling up my 2019 Mazda 3
- 2005 Mazda 3 SP25 is using too much oil
- Ripples have formed on the bonnet and doors of my Mazda 3
- My Mazda 3 ran out of diesel and now it won't start
- 2017 Mazda 3 having trouble starting
- Should I buy a 2018 Mazda 3 Astina or a 2019 Mazda 3 GT25?
- Do you know what the best tyre type is for a 2018 Mazda 3 and an idea of the cost?
- Are we going to see the new Mazda 3 turbo AWD in Australia?
