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    Why does my speedometer go so high if the car can't go that fast?

    Mazda Mazda Advice Mazda 3 Mazda 3 Advice Mazda 3 2016

    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 April 2024
    David Morley

    It’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.

    Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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