Category: Mazda

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MAZDA NUMBERS GAME IN PLAY FOR SUV BUYERS

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Mazda’s march upmarket with its reworked range of CX large sports utility vehicles, the new CX-80 only leads to a plethora of choices for potential buyers. But does it all add up? Mathematically, maybe but matching models with nomenclature could lead to confusion. In fact, Mazda admits there will be some subtle ‘nudging’ between the CX-60, CX-70, CX-90 and now by the CX-80 but is confident customers will have the nous to deal with the situation. Aping the three powertrains offered by its smaller CX-60 twin – an inline-six petrol,… Read more

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MAZDA CX-70: A MATTER OF GIVE AND TAKE

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As the Merlin of Mazda would say: Pick a number between 60 and 90, say 70. Now add CX and GT or Azami, then take away two seats and cap it off with a $10k-plus price advantage over its seven-seat twin. You now have the CX-70, the fourth SUV from the Japanese auto maker’s new rear/all-wheel drive ‘Large Product Group’ platform. It’s the same size as the ‘wide-body’ seven-seat CX-90 flagship, with the third row removed, Then there are the CX-60 and CX-80 twins, the latter riding on a wheelbase… Read more

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INTRODUCTION TO MAZDA RULING CLASS

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As in life, the automobile world lives by its own class system. So-called social stratification rules cover rungs strictly on a wealth basis. With vehicles measured on price, pedigree and performance the story is replete with strictly observed grades with little or no upward mobility. Most automobile manufacturers over time have stuck to the model playbook of ‘horses for courses’. Now, one of their ilk, Mazda, has broken ranks with a bid to take its larger SUVs upmarket, starting with the CX-60. Mazda has form in this, in the 1990s,… Read more

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MAZDA CX-90 G50E M HYBRID AWD AZAMI ROAD TEST

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I must be seeing double. Apart from the difference in size, the Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 could be twins. They look the same. They share the same chassis, the same engines and transmissions and their performance is very much the same. Everything is the same, same, same – or is it? STYLING At 5120mm and 2220kg CX-90 is the largest Mazda to date and is available in six- and seven-seat configuration, with a choice of petrol or diesel engines – both of them hybrids. That’s 38mm longer than the CX-60… Read more

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MAZDA3 SEDAN

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Mazda3 has been on sale here for almost 20 years on the Australian market. Indeed, you can make that 45 years if you include the 323 that preceded. The ‘3’ has been a consistently high seller for most of its life often contesting the top spots in both its small-medium segment as well as overall sales against perennial rivals like Toyota Corolla, Kia Cerato, Nissan Pulsar and Hyundai i30. The latest, fourth generation, Mazda3 arrived here in February 2019 year in five-door hatchback form with the four-door sedan joining it… Read more

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MAZDA2 IS A WELL-EQUIPPED AND AFFORDABLE CITY CAR

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The Mazda2 is the smallest vehicle in the Mazda range, and recently celebrated its 21st year on the Australian market. The current (third generation) Mazda2 has been on sale since 2014 with upgrades in 2019 and June this year. The demand for small city cars like the Mazda2 has been dwindling in recent years with so many SUV alternatives becoming available. Unlike its few remaining competitors in the circa 4.0-metre field such as Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio, Hyundai i20 and Suzuki Swift the Mazda3 comes with the option of a… Read more

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MAZDA CX-60 G40E AZAMI HYBRID

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The Mazda lineup is becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Once upon a time there was the Mazda2, Mazda3, and Mazda6 and it was easy to follow the progression (not forgetting the MX-5 and RX-8 sports cars). Then along came the SUVs, denoted by a CX in front of the number — CX-3, CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9. All good so far, except perhaps for CX-3 which actually sits on the same platform as Mazda2, making it smaller than its name might suggest. More recently the CX-30 and MX-30 were added, including… Read more

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UPGRADES CREATE MORE TRACK-FOCUSED MX-5

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Mazda has upgraded the MX-5 with new track-focused technology that makes it more exhilarating to drive. A new Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) mode, DSC-TRACK, has been optimised for race circuit driving. There’s also a newly developed Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential (Asymmetric LSD). Both are fitted exclusively to models with a manual transmission. DSC-TRACK is reserved for the flagship GT RS grade and gives maximum control to the driver. It intervenes only when the car is liable to spin out of control. Asymmetric Limited Slip Differential (Asymmetric LSD) stabilises vehicle turn-in… Read more

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CX-60 REWRITES THE RULEBOOK FOR MAZDA SUVS

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It appears the CX-60 has inveigled its way into the Mazda sports utility vehicle family with the bearing of an imperious European aristocrat. Indeed, an industry specialist who deals with vehicle brands daily says, at first sight, the CX-60 reminded him a lot of a Jaguar. Mazda makes no bones about taking the Yellow Brick Road to a spot ‘over the rainbow’ inhabited by the best mid-size SUVs around and the CX-60 debuts with three sophisticated new powertrains – inline-six turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, in mild hybrid guise, plus… Read more

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MAZDA CX-8 PLUGS THE GENERATION GAP

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Mazda sports utility vehicle sibling rivalry just got hotter, with a reborn five-year-old CX-8 refitted out and snapping at big brother CX-9’s heels, while fending off the challenge of the mid-size CX-5. Available in six grades – Sport, Touring, Touring Active, GT SP, Asaki and Asaki LE – with petrol or diesel power front or all-wheel drive, the entry-level Sport FWD petrol comes to market at $42,060, plus on-road costs, while the Asaki LE diesel AWD tips the scales at $71,410. Rearranging the chairs, the Touring Active takes over where… Read more