MAZDA NUMBERS GAME IN PLAY FOR SUV BUYERS

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

MAZDA CX-70: A MATTER OF GIVE AND TAKE

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

INTRODUCTION TO MAZDA RULING CLASS

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

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

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