MAZDA CX-90 G50E M HYBRID AWD AZAMI ROAD TEST

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

MAZDA3 SEDAN

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

MAZDA2 IS A WELL-EQUIPPED AND AFFORDABLE CITY CAR

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

MAZDA CX-60 G40E AZAMI HYBRID

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

UPGRADES CREATE MORE TRACK-FOCUSED MX-5

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

CX-60 REWRITES THE RULEBOOK FOR MAZDA SUVS

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

MAZDA CX-8 PLUGS THE GENERATION GAP

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

MAZDA CX-3 UPGRADE

Mazda has released details of an upgrade to its CX-3 compact SUV due to arrive here in September. It will include new safety features, equipment enhancements and technology across the entire CX-3 model range. For 2023, the line-up will comprise of the entry-level Sport, Pure, Evolve, Touring SP and range-leading Akari grades. Pricing ranges from $26,800 for the Sport to $38,620 for the flagship Akari, and all grades gain a significant uplift in equipment in addition to their already ample specification lists. The latest update also offers an exclusively front-drive… Read more

MAZDA RX-3

The RX3 is best viewed as an uprated, restyled R100. Its heart was still the 10A rotary, which drove back through a slick shifting all-synchro four-speed to a live rear axle suspended by leaf springs. To reduce its emission and noise levels, the RX3’s 10A differed somewhat from its predecessors. On smooth roads it could be coaxed around corners reasonably quickly, but as with its stablemates any kind of bumps threw the RX3 quickly off line. In the wet, the leaf- sprung rear end slid readily when the driver poured… Read more

FAREWELL TOUR FOR MAZDA CX-9

A luxury seven-seat family SUV, the CX-9 has been Mazda’s flagship model since it arrived here in 2007. With seven seats standard across its range, vehicles such as the CX-9 have effectively replaced people movers especially when they come, as the CX-9 does, with the choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The former contributes to better performance, lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions — the latter providing extra traction for towing or mild off-road capability. The current, second generation CX-9 has been around since 2016 and is due to be… Read more