BEST-SELLER OUT TO MAINTAIN MAZDA’S WINNING WAYS

Like the Queensland State of Origin rugby league team, the Mazda3 has continued to feed off a winning formula for more than a decade. Regarded by the Japanese auto maker as ‘The Mazda’, the small car has become the brand’s most popular model around the world. The current Mazda3 arrived in Australia at the start of 2014 as the third model to join Mazda’s new-generation product line-up. Now the new version has gained the latest in small-car styling, plus a raft of innovations, including G-Vectoring control, Mazda’s new-generation vehicle dynamics… Read more

SECOND-GENERATION MAZDA CX-9 IS A SUPER CRUISER

CX-9 is the largest model in Mazda’s Australian SUV range ahead of its compact CX-3 and mid-sized CX-5 siblings. Unlike the two smaller models which sit on top of the sales charts in their respective categories, the ageing CX-9 has struggled to compete against its segment’s big guns headed by the Toyota Kluger. The arrival, in July 2016, of the second generation CX-9 looks likely to provide a significant boost to sales with noticeable improvements throughout the vehicle headlined by an all-new turbo-petrol engine. Seven-seat SUVs such as the CX-9… Read more

TALENTED MAZDA6 IN SOFT-SHOE SHUFFLE ONTO MARKET

The Mazda6 origins go back almost 30 years to the Mazda 626 medium-size sedan. A nomenclature change to its present form accompanied its repositioning as the company’s flagship in 2002. Lately midsize SUVs have been assailing the sales charts like mountain goats at the expense of conventional sedans and wagons. The exception is the Mazda6, which has maintained a firm foothold in the market, making it the most popular midsize car import under $60,000. With the latest update, Mazda expects to sell 380 units a month through continued evolution of… Read more

MAZDA BT-50: LATE SCRATCHING AN UNAVOIDABLE HANDICAP

A day at the races – Melbourne Cup, Magic Millions or Cox Plate – usually involves putting on appropriate clobber and catching a short ride, probably in a limo, to the track. That is unless it’s the Birdsville Races. The idea was to pick up Mazda BT-50 utilities at Leigh Creek and drive them ??? kilometres up the Birdsville Track to the famous races recently. However, Mother Nature intervened by dumping an ocean of rain in the area, leaving the south-west Queensland town an island of disappointment to members of… Read more

MAZDA2 2002 – 2016

2007 Mazda2

While Mazda3 and CX-3 have been grabbing all the headlines in the sales race, the smallest model of all, the little Mazda2 hatchback has been quietly working away in the background and keeping its end up. Mazda2 is quite spacious for a small car because its relatively tall body allows good headroom. It can work as a small family car if you are downsizing and the kids are in their preteen years, though it mostly sells to singles and couples. The great majority of Mazda2 bodies in Australia are five-door… Read more

MAZDA3 IS SMARTER THAN EVER

Mazda has never been a company to follow other auto makers and the updated Mazda3 is a prime example of this. While it has received a mild facelift, the main emphasis is on what you can’t see, with major changes to the steering and suspension systems. Safety, long a strong point with the Mazda Australia organisation, has been further enhanced. It has become customary for Mazda Australia to fly senior engineers from its Japanese head office for car launches downunder. A real honour to our local guys and gals that… Read more

2016 MAZDA MX-5 REVIEW

Mazda’s evergreen MX-5 has weathered not one but two pretty impressive financial meltdowns – the huge Asian financial disaster in the nineties and the global crisis that is still causing drama. Cars like the MX-5 are usually the first to go during tough times, but has motored on to its much-anticipated fourth generation. What’s even rarer is a carmaker leaving alone a winning formula like the MX-5’s and cutting the price at the same time. It must be quite something… VALUE The ND series MX-5 comes in two trim levels… Read more

ALL-NEW MAZDA CX-9 SHINES

The first Mazda CX-9 was launched here just before Christmas 2007 and despite its age has been selling pretty well, being a long time favourite on the family SUV market. In recent years, though, buyers have been asking Mazda Australia to update it. That somewhat overdue new CX-9 is finally here and has the latest technology in infotainment, powertrain and suspension technology and offered in a number of models and drivetrains. Australia continues to be Mazda’s biggest selling market on a population basis so several important guests, including Mazda CX-9… Read more

2016 MAZDA CX-3 MAXX REVIEW

Small SUVs are all the rage at present and Mazda’s stylish new CX-3 is sitting high on the popularity list. Interestingly, both 2WD (front drive) and 4WD CX-3s are coming to us downunder. Mazda Australia feels some owners will want the added traction of all-wheel-drive for use in slippery conditions, such as in snowfields. Perhaps even in gentle off-road running when exploring forestry trails and the like. Two familiar Mazda model names, Neo and Maxx, are used for the CX-3, but are joined by two new ones; the upper-middle CX-3… Read more

MAZDA FLAGSHIP FLOATS INTO SAFER HARBOUR

Australia’s most popular mid-sized imported car, the Mazda6, has just ducked under 50 grand. As a bonus safety features have been added to the 6 Sport, Touring and GT models at no extra cost, while the range topping Atenza receives a price cut in view of the safety equipment added to the GT. The Atenza with the 2.5-litre petrol engine drops by $1030, while the 2.2-litre diesel alternative is down by $1380, making the entire Mazda 6 range now available for less than $50,000, without on-road costs. Mazda6 is available… Read more