Displaying items by tag: Mazda

Monday, 23 November 2020 05:40

2021 Mazda3 Turbo: More Appealing, Still Niche

The verdict:

Endowed with the model’s first turbocharged gas engine since the Mazdaspeed3 left showrooms early last decade, the 2021 Mazda3 can muscle past slower traffic with little effort — a commanding, if reserved, degree of performance that should raise the car’s appeal among Mazda fans. Still, broader obstacles remain for mass-market audiences.

Versus the competition:

The Mazda3 is among the most fun-to-drive cars in its class, and a new engine only furthers that strength. But for daily driving, many competitors are easier to live with.

As before, the 2021 Mazda3 is available as a sedan or hatchback, with standard front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. Last year’s four-cylinder engine carries over for most models, but Mazda bookends it with two new ones: a smaller four-cylinder in base trim sedans, and the turbocharged four-cylinder in high-end sedans and hatchbacks.

Seven trim levels (base, S, Select, Preferred, Premium, Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus) run the gamut from the low-$20,000s to the mid-$30,000s with factory options; automatic transmissions come on all except the Premium hatchback, which is available with a manual. Stack the gang up here, or compare the 2020 and 2021 Mazda3 here.

We drove a Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus hatchback, though we’ve also evaluated the current generation, both in sedan and hatchback form, with the mid-level engine.

Powered Up
Although we haven’t tested the base engine, its limited availability means just a sliver of shoppers will buy it. Most Mazda3 examples are likely to have the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which was the only engine available in the 2019-20 Mazda3. It’s a capable, smooth-revving engine, though tall gearing from Mazda’s six-speed automatic transmission limits some of its potential. Accelerate from a stop up to highway speeds, and it’s a long climb through 2nd and 3rd gear — but if you hit the gas while already in motion to tack on more speed, the same automatic readily downshifts without undue delay. You hate it, you love it.

I’ll get to the turbo four-cylinder in a moment, but first some context on how it stacks up:

- 2.0-liter (FWD base sedan only): 155 horsepower, 150 pounds-feet of torque; six-speed automatic only
- 2.5-liter (FWD or AWD, sedan or hatchback, most trim levels): 186 hp, 186 pounds-feet of torque; six-speed manual or six-speed automatic
- Turbocharged 2.5-liter (AWD only, sedan or hatchback, Turbo or Turbo Premium Plus trims): 250 hp and 320 pounds-feet of torque (using 93-octane premium gas) or 227 hp and 310 pounds-feet of torque (using 87-octane gas); six-speed automatic only

Our test car came filled with 93-octane premium fuel, according to the fleet company that dropped it off. In any case, the drivetrain behaves in some respects like a diesel engine, with torque aplenty for vigorous starts but modest power progression once you get past 4,000 rpm or so. It’s not quite a plateau — some additional power still comes if you rev it out — but the drivetrain feels best suited to muscle past slower traffic as you apply steady gas, as opposed to flying around near redline with your foot to the firewall. Accelerate while already in motion and the transmission resists downshifts notably more than with the non-turbo 2.5-liter, but the Mazda3 Turbo’s vast torque and responsive accelerator absolves it.

Ride and Handling
Our impressions from when we first drove the current-generation Mazda3 still stand, which is to say ride quality is polished but firm. Although the suspension employs a cheaper torsion beam setup in back — as opposed to the independent rear suspension offered on previous generations of the Mazda3 — the chassis maintains good body control and clean, reverb-free shock absorption. But tuning is decidedly firm and probably more than what most compact-car shoppers will tolerate. Mazda cites a retuned front suspension with stiffer springs for the Turbo, and it does little to change the car’s character; softer-riding rivals like the Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta seem better suited for the daily grind. The Mazda3 improves on the Honda Civic’s perpetual bounciness, but that isn’t saying much. Mazda shouldn’t wait for a full redesign to revisit suspension tuning.

Like the Civic, the Mazda3 redeems itself on the handling front, perhaps even more so in the Turbo. Mazda claims the AWD system on Turbo models can distribute more torque to the rear wheels, and the car indeed feels more neutral around sweeping corners than its non-turbo sibling. You can slide the tail a touch with aggressive mid-corner gas, something the non-turbo Mazda3’s AWD all but prohibited, and understeer remains well contained throughout.

Mazda claims retuned steering hardware for sharper response on all Mazda3 variants for 2021. The ratio still isn’t as quick as some rivals’, but feedback remains very good. Flinging the Mazda3 around cloverleaf sweepers is a lively, communicative experience — an increasingly rare quality these days, even among sporty cars.

Interior and Tech
Cabin materials in the well-equipped Mazda3 we evaluated were exemplary for this class. Mazda’s optional leather upholstery would feel at home in any entry-level luxury car — cloth and leatherette (imitation leather) are also available — and generous padding covers the armrests and areas your knees touch. Controls feel meticulous all around, and most surfaces — save a low-budget headliner — appear universally rich. Impressively, the backseat sees little drop-off in materials quality, a widespread practice among Mazda’s rivals.

In contrast to all that, the Mazda3’s multimedia system remains a weakness. It constitutes a high-mounted dashboard screen measuring a healthy 8.8 inches diagonally, but the ultra-wide aspect ratio limits overall display size with just 3 inches of screen height. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come on all but the base sedan, and CarPlay leverages the screen’s full width, but the backup camera does not. What’s more, the screen isn’t a touchscreen — not that such functionality would help much, as it’s mounted too far forward to easily reach — and requires a knob-based controller behind the gear selector. For straightforward user-friendliness, that’s a step backward; the related Mazda CX-30 SUV has the same system, and it ranked last for usability of controls in a recent four-car comparison we conducted.

Seating and Cargo Space
Craftsmanship notwithstanding, the Mazda3 isn’t particularly roomy or easy to see out of. The driver’s seat sits relatively low to the ground, and larger drivers will no doubt find the space narrow between the center console and doors. The hatchback blocks over-the-shoulder views with giant roof pillars and a tiny rear window; the sedan has mercifully thinner pillars, though rear glass is still undersized.

Backseat knee clearance is tight, and we measured a modest 13.1 cubic feet of cargo volume behind it. That’s through Cars.com’s independent cargo measurements, not manufacturer-advertised specs, which we’ve found unreliable. Versus the Mazda3 sedan, the hatchback carries inherent advantages to maximizing cargo space when you fold the backseat down, but for those who need to carry passengers and cargo, the sedan may have considerably more room. Although we didn’t have access to a 2021 model-year sedan to measure cargo space with our latest methodology, we found the current-generation sedan’s trunk roughly a third deeper than the hatchback’s cargo area — with similar width and height to the tops of the seatbacks — when we tested both body styles two model years ago. (There is more space above the backrests in a hatchback, but loading above this height compromises cargo containment and rearward visibility, both safety hazards.)

That’s not surprising. Indulge me a minute on this: Manufacturer-stated cargo specs usually employ separate methodology between hatchbacks and sedans, rendering spec comparisons tenuous at best. The Mazda3 hatchback isn’t necessarily an outlier, with as-tested cargo volume similar to that of most entry-level SUVs in our recent comparison. But you’ll find more cargo volume in many sedans, and less in many hatchbacks and SUVs, when measured the same way — which is to say, up to the tops of the seatbacks. With apples-to-apples methodology, the current Civic, Sentra and Corolla sedans have some 40-50% more usable cargo volume than a Mazda3 hatchback.

Should You Buy a Mazda3?
With the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the Mazda3 starts at $21,445 with destination, which is competitive for the class. Standard features include the automatic transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels, one-touch power windows all around and the 8.8-inch multimedia system, albeit without CarPlay or Android Auto. Also standard are stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. The well-rated AEB helped the 2020 sedan and hatchback both earn top ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but IIHS has yet to publish ratings for the 2021 model as of this writing. When available, the 2021 report and its changes, if any, can be found by searching for “Mazda 3” here.

Higher trim levels, including all hatchbacks, all have the smartphone integration and 2.5-liter engine. Spend more and you can get heated leatherette or leather seats, a moonroof, dual-zone climate control, a power driver’s seat and Bose premium audio. Newly optional for 2021 are rear automatic braking, a 360-degree camera system and Traffic Jam Assist, a low-speed lane-centering steering system that’s now here following availability overseas.

Those who want the Mazda3 Turbo will shell out at least $30,845 for the sedan, with the hatchback running another $1,000. Turbo models with the Premium Plus addition (leather, Traffic Jam Assist and the safety extras, in-dash navigation and more) edge close to $35,000, with prices spiraling past that once you add premium paint and various cosmetic enhancements. That kind of money falls somewhere between performance mass-market compacts and entry-level luxury sedans.

As such, there’s a Mazda3 for many performance thresholds. A few years into its fourth generation, Mazda’s least expensive car remains a fun-to-drive choice among compact sedans and hatchbacks. The turbo engine extends the spectrum, though it doesn’t change the nameplate’s limited appeal for left-brained shoppers. As I said when the current generation arrived on scene for the 2019 model year, the Mazda3 seemed destined for niche appeal. The Turbo does much to add appeal — less so to expand the niche.

Source: cars.com

Published in Mazda
Tuesday, 03 November 2020 06:04

Our 2019 Mazda CX-5 Turbo Was Easy to Love

From its excellent road manners to its upscale interior to its perfect reliability over 40,000 miles, Mazda's compact crossover served us well.

You don't have to say "compact crossover" three times in a row to make one appear; the parking lot is already full of them. They've scared away most of their car counterparts, but it's crossovers like the Mazda CX-5 that make us think maybe the future isn't so spooky after all.

Our CX-5 arrived in the top Signature trim with flashy Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint and 19-inch dark-silver aluminum wheels. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and wood trim gave it a luxury feel despite its less than exorbitant price. The Caturra Brown interior combined good-quality dark dash materials with brown ventilated leather seats brought a very upscale finish to the cabin. A few accessories were added; all-weather floor mats went to good use, a rear bumper guard probably saved the CX-5 from a few blemishes, and a roof rack went largely unused.

A 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter four-banger and all-wheel drive come standard in Signature trims, but it's the 310 pound-feet of torque that gives the CX-5 an almost diesel-like power delivery. Print director Eric Tingwall pointed out, "This engine is tuned for a strong low-end tug from zero to 30 mph at about 50-percent throttle. When you floor the accelerator and ride it out through the relatively low redline, the engine feels a bit coarse and reluctant. I remember Mazda saying something about zoom-zoom, but this engine doesn't have any of that spirit." At 40,000 miles, however, the 2.5 did show a little more enthusiasm, delivering better acceleration times across the board.

But that tuning makes sense for the small-crossover use case, which doesn't typically involve regular trips to redline. It does involve regular trips, however, and on that front the CX-5 was often passed over in favor of more capacious competitors. We found the CX-5 stylish inside and out and a pleasure to drive, but its tight cargo space and lack of towing capability explains why it was overlooked for family trips. There were several staffers who asked about it having a trailer hitch—no, it didn't—but even if it did, the CX-5 maxes out at a 2000-pound tow rating. Other long-termers with more cargo space, like the Honda Passport, were often selected ahead of the Mazda despite the CX-5 delivering a more upscale driving experience.

LOWS: Lack of cargo space and not the most fuel-efficient commuter.
The CX-5 completed its test without any hiccups or gaffes, despite being rummaged through by a would-be car thief. We took it to Mazda for six scheduled maintenance visits throughout its long-term test, regular 7500-mile services, and an additional stop right at 40,000 miles to replace the spark plugs. That cost $293, although at the same time the dealer noticed that we were wearing thin of rear brake pad and that those rotors were also warped. Add $574 to the normal-wear column. In terms of reliability, the CX-5 couldn't have been more consistent if it had taken a fiber pill every morning.

The most frequent gripes concerned the Mazda's tiny and slow infotainment system. Sometimes the menu would just freeze after startup or get stuck in a loading cycle when switching between menus. This system has since been upgraded for 2020 models, solving its lagginess. We've been in a new CX-5, and the larger 8.0-inch touchscreen is also a big improvement.

How much we like driving this 10Best-winning vehicle should not be diminished by how long it took us to reach 40,000 miles. We took delivery in March 2019 and only made it to 30,000 miles a year later, before quarantine started. It took another six months to knock out the last 10,000 miles. In contrast, our long-term Kia Telluride reached 10,000 miles in only its first three months, but its three rows and usable tow rating makes it far more friendly for a road trip with four or more people.

The CX-5 took us plenty of places, just nowhere very far from home. Most trips were local. It did a lot of commuter work (back when we were still commuting to work), and it ran a lot of errands. Assistant technical editor Maxwell Mortimer was the long-distance champ, venturing as far south as Tellico Plains, Tennessee, and driving 200 miles north of the office to Harrisville, Michigan for a camping trip. We averaged 24 mpg, matching the combined EPA-estimated mileage. We achieved 30 mpg during our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test near the 40,000 mile mark, which also matches the EPA's estimate, but it's still behind the all-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V. But we'd rather burn fuel in the CX-5.

After 40,000 miles we still appreciate the luxurious look and feel of the CX-5's comfortable leather seats, as well as its six-speed automatic transmission in a field rife with continuously variable automatics (CVTs). We wish its competition could step it up and offer the same effortless steering and controlled suspension as the CX-5—or that the Mazda could provide the cargo space of a Honda CR-V or Nissan Rogue. The perfect crossover doesn't exist, but we respect the CX-5's prioritization of the driving experience. Better to be really good at one thing rather than mediocre at everything.

Months in Fleet: 18 months Current Mileage: 40,206 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 15.3 gal Observed Fuel Range: 360 miles
Service: $971 Normal Wear: $574 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0

30,000-Mile Update

The past 30,000 miles of our long-term test with the turbocharged Mazda CX-5 have been trouble-free, uneventful bliss. It’s been the type of ownership experience you’d hope for with any vehicle. There hasn’t even been a single unscheduled maintenance visit or factory recall yet.

The CX-5 has drawn some unwanted attention, though. One night, while parked at a C/D staffer’s apartment complex, someone got into the presumably unlocked CX-5 and rummaged through the glove compartment and center console but left without stealing anything—and we had a bag of tools and a USB cord in there. It’s possible the would-be thief was scared off by something, but it makes us think that this CX-5 is a lucky one.

The 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four under the hood remains a staff favorite. That said, there are a few entries in the logbook that criticize the moment of turbo lag that exists at low rpm. And some staff members complain that this engine lacks power when you twist the tach past 5000 rpm. Quipped deputy reviews editor Tony Quiroga, “This engine makes low-end power and runs out of enthusiasm at high revs like a Fox-body Mustang ‘5.0’ V-8. The quotes are there of course because that engine is actually a 4.9-liter.”

We continue to be grateful that Mazda employs a six-speed automatic instead of a CVT. Shifts are crisp and quick, and the CX-5 never suffers from the dreaded droning sound that CVTs utter under acceleration. We do enjoy the faint sighs of the turbocharger’s pressure relief valve recirculating air on most shifts.

To celebrate his completion of a two-week quarantine after returning from a press trip in Italy, assistant technical editor Maxwell Mortimer took a 1400-mile road trip to the Tennessee–North Carolina border just before Michigan’s shelter-at-home decree hit. He writes that “the CX-5 is awesome. I can’t help but keep comparing its level of entertainment with a Volkswagen GTI's.”

Senior editor Joey Capparella also took it on a trip to Tennessee, where he noted the CX-5’s unexceptional highway fuel economy: “I had to fill up about every 350 miles or so. Out of boredom, I tried to get the low-fuel warning light to show zero, but I chickened out at 17 miles.”

The CX-5 appears to have a very conservative fuel gauge, though, because when Capparella compared the tank size with the quantity he pumped, the Mazda had over two gallons left in the tank. During Capparella's trip, his average fuel economy registered 29 mpg, or 1 mpg short of what an identical CX-5 managed during our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test. Had he wanted to, Capparella could have likely pushed it beyond 400 miles before having to seriously start looking for a gas station.

Since our last update, we’ve maintained a steady 24 mpg in combined driving. Currently, the CX-5 is driving on Nokian Hakkapeliita R3 SUV winter tires, which have taken the worst the winter could throw at them. Now that spring is here, we’ll be swapping to the original equipment: Toyo A36 all-season rubber.

Inside, the nappa-leather-trimmed driver’s seat is beginning to become a bit glossy as more and more butts slide in and out of it. Small creases and wrinkles are appearing, too. Left alone and in the warmest setting, the heated seats reach uncomfortably hot temperatures. Within minutes, you end up turning them off for fear of searing yourself. The 7.0-inch touchscreen is a bit frustrating, as it often lags and takes a long time to boot up when you turn on the CX-5. You find yourself waiting for it to load, stuck watching a gear icon spin on the screen for about 20 seconds. It’s one of the few gripes we have, though, as the rest of the interior has an upmarket design and feel.

We still have 10,000 miles to go before our loan ends. We'll see if the CX-5 can maintain its perfect reliability record. We look forward to the day when we can take it for another road trip. Right now, we’ll have to settle for quick runs to the grocery store.

Months in Fleet: 13 months Current Mileage: 30,375 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 15.3 gal Observed Fuel Range: 360 miles
Service: $574 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0

20,000-Mile Update

It has taken nearly a year for our long-term Mazda CX-5 to cross the halfway point in its 40,000-mile stay with us. But that gradual mile accumulation is not for the Mazda's lack of goodness as a compact SUV. While we're not petty enough to shy away from the CX-5's handsome styling, excellent driving character, and trouble-free reliability because of its irksome infotainment system, that aging interface is about the only thing we have been able to consistently criticize.

Indeed, our Mazda is so agreeable that most of the very few entries in its logbook center on the small 7.0-inch infotainment display and both its slow response and less than seamless operation. "It's irritating to have to navigate into menu structures just to browse radio stations," wrote print director Eric Tingwall. "A dedicated seek or tuning control is desperately needed. I normally like these control-knob-based systems, but if it's going to be this clumsy, I'd rather just use the touchscreen." While Mazda has enlarged that touchscreen to 8.0 inches in higher trim levels as part of its updates to the CX-5 for the 2020 model year, this operating system still feels clunky and dated compared to the brand's newer setup found in its Mazda 3 and CX-30 models.

Still, after more than 20,000 miles and no shortage of fresher competitors to sample, the CX-5 continues to impress with its optional 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four. While that engine gains an additional 10 lb-ft of torque to 320 lb-ft for 2020, we don’t miss it on our 2019 model. It might not be the quickest in the compact-crossover segment—that would be the new Ford Escape with its optional turbo 2.0-liter four—but the CX-5 turbo's smooth, responsive power delivery impart to it a little of the MX-5 Miata's spunky personality. We're also pleased with the Mazda's average fuel economy of 24 mpg, spot on with its EPA combined estimate.

Additional satisfaction comes from the CX-5's six-speed automatic transmission, which shuffles gears smartly and effectively enough, especially in Sport mode, that we never feel shorted by the lack of paddle shifters on its steering wheel. Compared to the often mushy and droning continuously variable automatic transmissions found in many of the CX-5's peers, this six-speed 'box is refreshingly well tuned for both lazy and spirited driving. Staffers continue to levy similar praise on the precise and direct steering, the sorted body control that resists disturbances from Michigan's shoddy roads, and the pleasantly upscale interior of our top-spec Signature model.

The CX-5 also has been wholly reliable. Unlike many of our other current long-termers, not even a flat tire or a cracked windshield has interrupted the Mazda's clean streak. Our only visit to the dealer since our last checkup was for scheduled maintenance at around 21,000 miles, which amounted to $162 for an oil and filter change, cabin air filter replacement, and tire rotation.

Employed as a utility vehicle, the CX-5 is as capable as it is enjoyable to drive. Road warrior Scott Olman was able to fit a dining room table and six chairs in the back of the Mazda with both of its rear seats folded, which is pretty respectable in any compact ute. The colder temperatures of winter in Michigan also have helped us appreciate the effectiveness of the CX-5 Signature's standard heated front seats and steering wheel, although a shortage of snow thus far has meant we've had little opportunity to test out the excellent foul-weather traction of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires we've installed. There is still plenty of time for more of the white stuff to fall, though, and for us to put many more miles on the CX-5.

Months in Fleet: 11 months Current Mileage: 22,636 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 15.3 gal Observed Fuel Range: 360 miles
Service: $427 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0

10,000-Mile Update

So far, the road to 40,000 miles in our Mazda CX-5 has been smooth, even as winter descends on these Michigan roads. There's nothing shocking about compact crossovers, other than the rate at which consumers keep buying them. So far, the CX-5 has performed as expected, with a few minor annoyances sprinkled on top.

As part of our current 17-car long-term test fleet, the Mazda CX-5 conceals its handsome face behind our more interesting, and sometimes problematic, vehicles. It's easy to be overshadowed by, say, our 362-hp twin-turbo Mercedes wagon, or a long-termer that shall go nameless but is tethered to the future of driverless cars and also has a fart button. (Yes, it's our Tesla Model 3.) The CX-5 is like a comfortable knee brace: you don't want to wear it, but when you do it's not so bad, because it's good at what it's supposed to do.

Our long-termer has the new-for-2019 250-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four. This engine is only available with all-wheel-drive models. Just after we ordered ours, Mazda added a 2.0-liter diesel engine option. The price of our all-wheel-drive Signature trim CX-5 is $39,850, which got us a Bose sound system, adaptive headlights, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats (ventilated in front), and a 360-degree parking camera. The options on ours put it far from the $25,395 CX-5's base price and closer in price to the Jeep Cherokee or the GMC Terrain Denali.

Our experience with the turbocharged engine has generated few comments, which is a good thing. If engineers can create something to keep automotive journalists from complaining, they should box it and sell it to the masses. Mazda appears to have done just that. The new turbo engine emits a noticeable moan. The noise is somewhat expected for an engine that can send the CX-5 from zero to 60 mph in only 6.1 seconds. We've found the CX-5's 187-hp base engine feels underpowered—or, in other words, boring. Which is an adjective we would use to describe most patients in the hospital wing of compact crossovers. Our CX-5 wishes them a full recovery.

That isn't to say our romance with the CX-5 has been perfect. An overwhelming number of entries in the CX-5's logbook cry over slow infotainment loading times. After startup, several staffers were terrorized with the inability to change the SiriusXM channel from E Street to Fly FM fast enough. The 7.0-inch touchscreen loads at the same rate that old hips dance to Springsteen. On occasion, SiriusXM suffered from repetitive lost-signal errors, a problem annoying enough that one of us said it would prevent them from buying a CX-5.

Another common bruise in the logbook was the low-res camera. The 7.0-inch touchscreen is already barely larger than phones tagged XL, but the camera quality was deemed poor by three staffers who had driven the vehicle long distances. The longest trip was an 800-mile weekend journey by testing director Dave VanderWerp, who was unimpressed by the CX-5's driver-assist technology. The absence of lane centering means that when the CX-5 begins to wander from its lane, it doesn't automatically correct and nudge the car back to safety. The CX-5 just buzzes, which isn't much help compared to some of its cheaper rivals with similar assistance tech.

A fresh set of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R3 winter tires came in handy earlier this week, when the first major snowfall hit the Midwest. Senior editor Joey Capparella wrote: "These Nokian winter tires feel pretty unstoppable. The heated seats and steering wheel get nice and toasty." Meaning staffers looking forward to working from home on snow days should not take the CX-5 the night before.

The CX-5 has been back to the dealership twice, but only for routine maintenance to change engine oil, rotate the tires, and for inspections at the 7500- and 15,000-mile marks. The cabin air filter was also changed, but other than that, our CX-5 has been trouble-free.

Through its first 10,000 miles, the CX-5 has not been the first pick by staffers rushing to lunch on Taco Tuesday. Not because it's bad, but because it's just fine. Now that we've entered snow season here in the mitten state, we'll be monitoring its competence in dealing with Siberian conditions and its ability to whisk us to warmer, sunnier climes.

Months in Fleet: 8 months Current Mileage: 16,331 miles
Average Fuel Economy: 24 mpg
Fuel Tank Size: 15.3 gal Observed Fuel Range: 360 miles
Service: $265 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0
Damage and Destruction: $0

Introduction

Mazda has few obvious problems, but if prodded to highlight some, we'd cite weak brand recognition in the United States and a shortage of fun paint colors, particularly for the MX-5 Miata. If that sounds as if we're reaching, well, we are. The automaker's products are so uniformly likable that finding things to gripe about takes some pedantic effort. Mazda is also pushing hurriedly upmarket, a development that is as easily seen through the lens of the CX-5 crossover as it is in any of Mazda's recent products.

Like the recently updated Mazda 6 sedan, CX-9 SUV, and all-new Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback, the CX-5 stands a head or two above similarly priced mainstream competitors, in this case, the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Chevrolet Equinox. The brand enjoys an enviable quirk: More than half of its sales mix, model for model, consists of the higher trim levels. Mazda has taken this to mean that buyers can and want to pay more for their vehicles, which has spurred it to add ever more deluxe Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims above the previously top-dog Grand Touring spec on some models, the CX-5 included. We've taken the same development as license to sign up for a 40,000-mile long-term test in a loaded 2019 CX-5 in range-topping Signature trim. We for sure wanted to get the newly available turbo 2.5-liter inline-four in our long-termer, and the only way to do that is with the Grand Touring Reserve or Signature trim level. The lesser Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trims make do with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter. And we're not above spoiling ourselves with a top-spec example.

So what does a compact Mazda crossover costing BMW money deliver? For starters, the impression that it should cost BMW money. The CX-5 looks, inside and out, like something that belongs in the compact-luxury-SUV segment. It's mostly true, even at the CX-5's $25,395 starting price, and particularly so on the $37,935 Signature trim. Adding our test car's gorgeous $595 Soul Red paint, $70 cargo mat, $125 floor mats, $400 backlit doorsill accents, $125 rear bumper guard, $250 retractable cargo cover, and $400 roof rack rails brings the final tally to just $39,900. This, we should point out, is for the gas-powered Signature; after we took delivery of our test car, Mazda introduced a diesel engine option available only on the Signature trim. Pricing with that engine starts at $42,045.

LOWS: More people should know what Mazda is.

Mazda includes a number of features that push competitors' nicer trim levels toward the same $40,000 mark, though none of those vehicles does as good an impression of a near-luxury product. (We're looking specifically at the GMC Terrain Denali and Jeep Cherokee, which cost $42,670 and $43,150 when equipped similarly to our CX-5 Signature.) The Signature brings as standard equipment some active-safety gear that's optional on several competitors, including automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning.

Also standard on the Signature: lovely Caturra Brown nappa leather seating, real wood trim, a Bose audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-folding door mirrors, adaptive headlights that point into corners, a power liftgate, power-operated and heated front and rear seats (ventilated in front), a heated steering wheel, a 7.0-inch touchscreen that can also be controlled via a central control knob, navigation, a 360-degree parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, and that aforementioned turbo four, which cranks out 250 horsepower. There are no major options offered beyond a few accessories.

The 2.5-liter in lesser CX-5s makes 187 horsepower, and all-wheel drive is a $1400 upcharge on Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring models. The turbocharged CX-5s are sold only with all-wheel drive. Like every modern, automatic-transmission Mazda, the CX-5 uses the brand's slick-shifting six-speed unit.

The combination of a turbo gasoline engine and all-wheel drive delivers a 6.1-second zero-to-60-mph time and punchy acceleration at most speeds (certainly stronger than with the base gas engine). More of a huffer than a screamer, the turbo four shoves the Mazda along on a wave of low-end torque. It might not be thrilling in the "zoom-zoom" sense, but Mazda doesn't lean on that phrase for marketing anymore, so let's not dwell on the idea that a compact crossover's engine needs to feel racy in order to be wholly effective. For now, we're calling the power delivery a possible hang-up when set in the Mazda brand's predominantly sporty context; we'll deliberate further over the next 40,000 miles. So, stay tuned as we live with our luxurious Mazda day in and day out and see whether our early positive impressions of its smooth ride, quiet interior, and fine road manners are affirmed or challenged.

Source: caranddriver.com

Published in Mazda

Today marks the second time a Mazda 929 will grace us here at Rare Rides. Late last year we featured the successor to today’s car, a pristine 929 from 1992. That smooth sedan had frameless windows, rounded shapes everywhere, and was designed specifically with the North American market and Lexus customers in mind.

Let’s take a look a the much more conservative luxury sedan Mazda designed before Lexus existed.

The car North America called 929 was known in its home market as Luce. Dating back to its debut in 1967, the Luce was Mazda’s flagship. A smaller manufacturer, Mazda did not field a full-size sedan for some time. Available in coupe, sedan, and wagon formats, the Luce remained mid-size through the ’77 model year. For ’78 the LA4 series Luce grew into a larger executive car, leaving the midsize segment to the Capella (626). In its new larger form the Luce coupe went away, and the model’s three-body lineup was maintained via a standard sedan, hardtop sedan, and a wagon. The market segment of the departed Luce coupe was filled from that point onward by the Cosmo.

The LA4 generation didn’t last for long and was replaced by the HB for 1982. Once more the Luce grew in size. Reflecting future trends early, there was no more wagon in the HB generation, only a sedan and hardtop. The hardtop HB had a very interesting front end treatment, by the way. HB had a good run and remained in production through 1986. The Cosmo continued on the HB platform through the rest of the Eighties, and HB was the last time the two cars shared underpinnings.

For model year ’87, HB became HC, and the Luce experienced another growth spurt. Again available in sedan and hardtop guises, the Luce/929 was sold in two sizes. Hardtop versions were longer and wider, at 194 inches and 67.9 inches, respectively. Standard sedans were 184 inches long, and 66.7 inches wide. Though traditional in its form, Mazda saw fit to offer a zesty Wankel engine in addition to standard I4 and V6 power. Inline-fours were of 2.0- or 2.2-liter guises. There was also a tiny 2.0-liter V6, and (in North American examples) a 3.0-liter V6. Notably, the J-series engine was the first V6 Mazda produced. The rotary option was a 13B, a twin-rotor 1.3-liter mill which was not offered in North America. Some Luce trims were in fact more luxurious than the 929 offered in America, as Mazda reserved its rotary power, adjustable suspension, and console refrigerator for the home market.

Mazda saw fit to import only the sedan to North America, feeling no need to come with hardtop length. Canadians had more options than Americans eh, as they received a standard Winter Package on their 929s. That meant a tougher alternator, winter tires, wipers that didn’t hide themselves under the hood, and heated seats. The vast majority of North American 929s were automatic, but a five-speed manual was theoretically available.

The most notable change in the 929’s timeline on these shores was the addition of the S trim for 1990. The 18-valve SOHC engine was upgraded to DOHC, and 24 valves. Performance and fuel economy both increased with this upgrade; horsepower jumped from 158 to 190. S also added two-tone paint and excellent lace alloys.

The 929 was too dated, too traditional, and a slow seller. Mazda got the most mileage out of its new V6 in North America via the very interesting rear-drive MPV. The 929 was replaced with the previously featured generation in 1992. Worth noting, Koreans absolutely loved the HC 929. Once Mazda stopped building it, they sold the design to Kia. Kia did a light front and rear rework and sold it as the Potentia from 1992 until 2001. The 929-cum-Potentia’s base 2.0-liter engine also saw use in the first generation Kia Sportage for many years.

Today’s Rare Ride is located in Germany because Americans can’t take good pictures when they have a 929 for sale. This V6 asks $10,500.

Source: thetruthaboutcars.com

Published in Mazda
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