Mazda's continued resistance to using CVT is one reason I love Mazda cars. Fit, finish and quality is above most Car brands. I now downsized to a CX30 from a CX9 as my kids are no longer kids. Probably three cons which Mazda needs to address to sell more cars are- lack of a Hybrid or EV in all their Lineup, rear room space and trunk space.
I was a Mazda tech from 2005 to around 2019. There was definitely a perception that mazda was a Japanese ford and many stayed away from them. All though there were some extremely reliable versions back then like the BP engines. In my opinion as soon as they got rid of the horrific Cx7 AWD turbo and distanced themselves from ford they got way better. Was very skeptical about the skyactiv technology at first mainly because of the many issues they had with the MZR turbo platform, but I've been pleasantly surprised about the skyactiv platform and how they are performing. Would still avoid anything with a turbo, but that's just personal opinion.
Hi, this comment is so informative! We were looking at Mazda cx5 2019 all over, and we found a turbo for good price, so I wanted to ask if there is a good reason why the turbos are bad?? We have been leaning towards a grand touring fwd but the signature trim being just 1k more has us kind of confused
I routinely drive vehicles with anywhere from 300,000-750,000 miles (not kilos) on the odometer, and every single one of them are turbocharged engines. Keep fresh, high quality synthetic oil and a good oil filter in place, and turbochargers very seldom are the primary source of engine failures.
My wife and I just bought our first new car this past weekend. 2023 Mazda3 Premium AWD. When shopping around we were blown away at all the features and interior quality it had for the price in the segment. Nothing else came close. Looking forward to many good years with it.
I like that Mazda has increased their style and reliability over the years. I myself own a 21 cx30 and love the vehicle a lot. Traded up from a Mazda 3 sedan. The fact that Mazda vehicles still carry a regular automatic transmission versus a CVT was my biggest selling point.
@@ThhVkk Yes, it's actually slightly longer, but the suv is ofc significantly taller. In all other ways the vehicles are almost identical - available AWD, cargo capacity, etc, all pretty much the same. It's perception. Going from a sedan/hatch to an suv is always perceived as an "upgrade," regardless of real numbers (cx-30's base price actually starts a touch lower than Mazda3 - go figure).
@@notfiveo Yup. For sure. We have 2 Mazda3's at our house (the kids drive em) and they are the most wonderful cars to drive, with Toyota level reliability.
The one thing which you didn't mention--and possibly the most important--is customer satisfaction. Mazda's best advertisement is the joy that owners get. If you look at the recent increase in sales (percentages) versus other competitors, Mazda is for sure headed in the right direction. Slow but steady growth is perfectly fine. I see MANY more Mazda's on the road today than 6 years ago. Much more popular and expanding. Mazdas are more fun to drive and deliver superior interiors plus better (in my opinion) styling. I have never heard of a Mazda owner wishing they had purchased a Subaru or a Toyota or Honda.
Never heard of a Subaru, Toyota or Honda Owner wishing they had bought a Mazda either! I'm Old but when I think of Mazda I remember those old Mazda Rotary TV Commercials, wasn't good! My sister-in-law owned a Mazda (drives Highlander now) looked nice but when I drove it it seemed kinda...thin, cheap, not solid like the Corollas I've driven. My brother-in-law recently wanted to get a Mazda CX-50 until I looked around and noticed (kinda generic looking so never noticed how many there are out there!) nothing special and all driven by older couples (live in FL). So he bought a beautiful Toyota GR86 - Midlife Crisis Car! Could have gotten a Miata really a Daily Driver for a Family Man? GR86 is at least a 2+2. Lastly they are all smaller than their competitors, why I bought a '23 Subaru Ascent, larger & better value than CX-90. But just my opinion(s)...
@@user-cy4wx8ry8m You can not decide what current mazda is by looking at previous when it was within ford and even before with rotary engine era. I am telling two most important year greatly make mazda surplus toyota. In 2014 Mazda get rid of ford and make their own car with skyactive eyerhthing, since the skyactive concept was born in 2014 people found out their 2014 vehicles are very reliable just like toyota. However mazda are still not good for sound insulation and using thin material like Toyota. 2017 is the year that Mazda surplus Toyota and Honda in general. Since 2017 Mazda greatly improve the sound insulton of their vehicles especially their cx5, made cx5 the quiet car in the class. Also it is also the safety car in the class. When 2017 and post generation mazda has the same level of reliability with Toyota and Honda. Mazda is better in noice insulton, better handling, safer in side-crashing, more luxurious, better looking(personal appearance). The only 2 points mazda is still weaker than Toyota and honda is the interior room and rust problem.. Not even mentioned the reason why mazda has less interior room is because it use thicker material to make mazda a safer car and quiter car. I think by posting your comment, You dont know what happened to mazda at all.
When I was shopping for a new car a few months ago I thought about Mazda. I’ve driven Toyota, Subaru, and Honda and when I test drive a 2023 Mazda3 I was astonished at how premium it felt despite being a cheaper vehicle. And this was a 2.5 Select, not even a Carbon Edition or something. I love that Mazda is staying away from CVTs as well. I ended up purchasing a Red 2023 Mazda3 Select and it is easily my favorite car I’ve ever driven. A quality car without needless accessories that rack up the price unless you want those accessories added on later. Might be a Mazda customer for life now.
Dude I was driving around town and passed by a mazda dealership. Saw the Mazda 3 in red and was blown away by the design and the that red color was just beautiful. Now I'm thinking of getting one once my lease on my Toyota is up.
@@gerdz101 It’s a gorgeous vehicle. And Toyota still rocks but I wanted something cheaper and something new without a CVT and boy has my Mazda3 delivered.
I don't know why hell you guys would complain about the CVT when you never driven one yoursel😂. The truth is this Mazda does exactly everything you accused of the CVT! Noisy and whinning like a cheap rent or worst and a very lazy automatic gearbox matted with a highly compressed powerful engine hence you got a very dull lazy car with sporty look and feel😢. Lack of power at of bottom end and neither it can produce power at the top end for such a light weight car with a powerful engine. What a lemon😢. I hope somebody read my comment and don't spend their hard earn on this silly car. Indeed my 5 years old Honda Crv sounds even better with the CVT as it gets older. Just very smooth and seamless and never had single problem since I bought them. In contrast with this Mazda 3 which uses the conventional torque converter. It s shit noisy, jerky and lazy e.g holding gear 1 when the rev has already posted 4.5K rpm crying😭. You wonder why it s whinning like a shopping trolley😭
I know this will not be popular with Mazda dealers but I appreciate the fact that they are less popular. I distinctly began looking a Mazdas because I didn’t want a different version of what everyone else was driving 😅. They are beautifully designed and “relatively” unique on the road. The recent Mazda profile always catches the eye.
We have a few CX-5s in my surrounding neighborhood. I have mixed feelings about red cars ... but wow, that Mazda red on a CX-5 turns my head every time. I never thought I'd say that about a SUV 😅
no their quality isn´t good. They have tons of issues with part tolerance which lead to a variety of issues like knocking sounds of the suspension, shifting issues with their gearboxes (grinding noises or blocking) . Their suspensions tend to be very unrefined. The paint is incredibly sensitive (gets scratches from looking sharp at it). The metal of the chassis is extremely thin. The road noise is high. The design of the cars is good. And if you are lucky, maybe you get a good one. But there is a lottery factor in their quality. I wouldn´t buy another Mazda.
@@segoiii I couldn't disagree more. Everyone that I know who has a Maxda rave about how reliable they have been and what a joy they are to own. Not one has had any major issues whatsoever. No really minor ones either. My wife has a ‘21 CX-5 GT and it has been the best car we've ever owned (except for our ‘01 Lexus RX that was wrecked over 15 years ago). Prior to that she had a Volvo XC and it was horrible. So many weird little issues and it was very expensive to repair. It drove amazingly and had a ton of power, but it wasn't worth always worrying about what was going to fail next. So far we haven't spent a penny on the Mazda other than oil changes. I did a ton of research before purchasing because I wasn't very familiar with many Mazda vehicles and I couldn't find anything negative to be said about them. Article after article and video after video all claimed the CX-5 to be a fantastic vehicle. It has a time-tested engine with a “real” transmission and it is an incredible value. I couldn't agree more.
@@JeffCD77 i have a CX3 from 2021 and i have many issues. Suspension knocks that cannot be properly solved. Knocking from steering which was solved by replacing the steering column. Sticky steering around middle position in the cold season on long distance drives which are very hard to reproduce and therefore weren't solved. Wobbly mirrors. Defective mirror motors. Defective hood lock. I'm not satisfied with this car. My Former VW was better.
Sorry, but you are the only person that I've heard of who's had issues with their Mazda. That's too bad. As mentioned, it’s been the best car we've owned. You must have gotten one that slipped through the cracks.
@@JeffCD77 the german cx3 forum is full of cases like that. And newer cars like the CX60 are even worse. Be happy if you have a good CX5 but Mazda quality is definitely russian roulette nowadays.
Mazda is the most underrated vehicle manufacturer. They build such amazing beautiful vehicles. They blow the competition away in handling and overall quality. The best thing to happen to Mazda was to get away from Ford, since they have gotten away from Ford the quality has went up. Mazda has made me a believer, I was a GM guy until I purchased my first Mazda, Now I’ve got Mazda Passion!!
I have owned a Ford Fiesta before i purchased a Mazda 3. And i can tell, that Ford was the worst car i have drove and owned. That car literally stranded me by the road 3 times. I regularly made service and always took car of all the cars i have drove.
Anytime a Mazda Owner is in the Room, they always talk about how Great their car is. I always saw Mazda as just a boring brand, however there is the one girl in my Car Crew that has a Mazda 3Speed. And I was amazed of what that car can do. I'm more of a Mopar/Honda guy so I never really pay attention to any Mazda. But after this video. I may get a mazda😂😂
I have my CX 5 2018. Have never had any problems with vehicle. For 5 years only routine maintenance. And every time I am behind the wheel - only pure pleasure from driving it!
I just purchased a 2023 CX-5 Premium in Deep Crystal Blue Mica. I've never owned one before and absolutely love it. Make a CX-5 with a slightly larger rear trunk space (8") and it's going to blow the competition away.
Man, you hit it on the nose Jonathan! As a former Mazda salesman and a current CX5 & 3 sedan owner, I shout it from the mountaintops, but we have a ways to go. Keep up the great videos!
Bought a 2019 CX 5 Signature brand new. Best car I have ever owned in my 60 years of driving. Fit and finish is perfect, features are excellent. It has everything a person could want in a car. A real transmission with real gears, and the engine does not shut off when you come to a stop. Everything works as it should and never a problem. The only problem I have with Mazda is they don't sell small pickup trucks in North American. The day they start I'll be first in line. If their pickups are as good as their cars, they should be able to sell a lot of them. Why they are only available in Asia and Africa, not sure about Europe, is a real bummer. Get them to North America, both Canada and USA. Mazda is the most under rated car maker in the world, but once people buy one, they are going to be hooked for life.
I had a RX-8 back in the day and it was a lemon. Spent more time in the shop than on the road and traded out of it after 18 months. I came back to Mazda in 2021 and bought a CX-30. Absolutely love this car! Huge difference in craftsmanship and reliability.
We crossed shopped several brands in 2013 and Mazda offered a far better quality car and more features as simple as a Homelink system which their competitors did not offer. Needless to say we bought a 2013 CX-5, then a 2016 CX-9, a 2017 MX-5RF and now 10 years later driving a 2024 CX-90. Mazda is just addicting with all they have to offer😍
As a 2020 Mazda 3 owner in the Uk, the current Mazda 3 is a rare sight. I like that it stands out, amongst the common 1 series, A Class, Ford Focus etc. After three years of ownership, I still love the looks, reliability, premium feel. In the Uk Mazda need to push the product more, through increased advertising and brand awareness. We definitely need more dealerships too, where I live in a large town, our local dealer who had the brand dropped Mazda for Sales many years ago, and has now stopped being a Service agent too. I think if people gave Mazda a try, they would be amazed now with the premium feel and looks of the cars. Keep bringing us more great videos!!!
As someone who's now on their 8th (!) Mazda since 2014 when I first bought the then newly-redesigned 6, I've been amazed at not only how beautifully designed and FUN to drive these cars are, but also how much 'bang' you really get for your buck, especially when compared to some of the other more popular makes and models... This was especially true only just s few months ago before we finally got our beautiful new CX-90 PHEV Premium! We had a 21 CX-9 GT and at first felt we couldn't afford the 90, so we were aiming for the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus... Unfortunately, the seats were too hard and uncomfortable for my wife, and the cx-30 was too small for us, so - as hard as it was for me - we ventured outside the Mazda brand... We looked at the Highlander, Pilot, and were aiming more for a minivan, either the Oddyssey or the Sienna... What we learned pretty quickly is that the grass really wasn't greener on the other side! Between the inexplicable rarity of both the Oddyssey and Sienna, and the insane dealer mark-ups on both of those plus the Highlander and Pilot (nether of which can hold a candle to the CX-90 in terms of exterior design, interior materials, and - of course - handling and driving engagement)... We decided to give the 90 a second look and discovered that not only was it a better value than all of those other models in terms of offering more features for less $$, but that the monthly lease rate on the 90 PHEV was really not horriblly more than the plenty nice but much smaller and far less substantial CX-50 with a similar dowb payment... So we went with the gorgeous Machine Gray Metallic PHEV Premium now gracing our driveway and we LOVE it! The one thing Mazda nedds to address to become more popular is to try to make their cars a bit roomier to address the ongoing knock they are too small...
I’ve been a Mazda owner since 1981, had many models auto and manuals. My attraction back then was I worked for Mazda but as I moved on in different industries I felt that Mazda still served my needs. They looked good, offered a good range and in the early days sportiness Zoom Zoom. Currently in Australia 🇦🇺 Mazda is still the second biggest seller behind Toyota but the Koreans and recently the Chinese manufacturers are closing in. Mazda Aus has lost touch with some buyers dropping manual options across their model range, they could have reduced it to two models to each range. I’ll live out my car ownership as a Mazda owner depending on what model next.
Unfortunately some people remember Mazda with Ford and think they still are even though they separated years ago. Some people think Mazda is still using Ford engines which keeps them away. I would love a Mazda but the dealerships are to few and to far away. Most people like their dealer near their home (30 minutes or less) especially older folks. Mazda needs to add hybrids to the entire lineup and soon. The CX-90 is a start but I don't need anything that big. Maybe a CX-30 would be big enough for me. If not a CX-5 for sure.
Crazy that people in Australia buy Chinese. Would think that's their main threat. In Oz i guess not having 4WD cars is another popularity issue. It's definitely one that would make me forget about Mazda.
Quite wrong indeed,Chinese brands are even now more innovatively reliable and efficient and growing in 0:00 statute of assured trust.Toyota will have a BYD designed and developed hybrid system in their cars soon.As this is more advanced,reliable,and easier to manufacture. Volkswagon,Toyota,Hyundai and the likes,are putting themselves out of business as they are longer affordable by most consumers.Greedy and supremely arrogant,of how out of touch are they, from your everyday consumers needs and the ability of the ease of a non costlier purchase.Volks wagon and Mazda Australia are the worst,getting rid of their entry level models,making them so much more expensive and deleting the safer, ever alert driving manual transmission as an option!!!! I want to feel like a proper full cognitive functioning human being,competently capable of driving a car. Not to allow a machine to do the driving for me.
Hi, Jonathan. I’m on my third CX-5 lease. In looking at other similar vehicles, I found that the body style and interior quality of the Mazda to be superior to the others. Personally, I love the features like Heads Up Display, Heated steering wheel, folding side mirrors, Backup camera, and more. Similar vehicles did not have all these features or the classy looking exterior. If Mazda had made a Hybrid (non-plug in) CX-5, that would send me over the top. I think it’s a mistake that they haven’t done this yet. What I get next might depend on the hybrid issue. I’m not interested in an EV vehicle. Thanks for your informative videos.
The 2025 CX5 will have a hybrid guaranteed. I believe that's why they didn't bring the CX60 to America, because it would steal market share or be too similar to the redesigned CX5. I mean look at the CX60. Isn't that what you would expect the new Cx5 to look like? It's a bit bigger, more storage, more power, and a hybrid.
After trying out the new Corolla, Civic and Mazda 3, I went for the latter even tho it was a little more expensive, but I felt that I was getting more car for my money over those other 2. Driving dynamics, interior appointments and styling pushed me to sign on the Mazda dotted line.
I was deciding between those three cars and concluded the same. I ended up with the Mazda 2 becuse in Australia it’s the only model with a manual and a proper handbrake. I would have loved a Mazda 3
I can personally say that I have recently purchased a 2023 Mazda CX-30 with the turbo package because they’re seriously underrated. I don’t mind that they don’t have a Hybrid option because I like how zippy these vehicles are and handle just like sedans. I recommend that new buyers seeking a thrill of a fun SUV or sedan reconsider a Mazda as this will be the third one I own and can honestly say they don’t disappoint.
JUST bought a 2023 CX-5 Premium Plus for $34K OTD today with *5k miles!* I will admit, they're behind on transmissions and lack of hybrid for efficiency and cargo, but if it fits your lifestyle, you get TONS more features for thousands less I might make a few videos on my channel soon on it and my experience
YES, I think this is true. The CX-5 fits my lifestyle and is just right for me. I am very attached to the added features of the Premium Plus. The backup camera is wonderful, but I would love the 360 feature. I’d love a non-plug in hybrid to improve gas mileage, but the other features can’t be beat looking at similar vehicles.
Would be nice for the gas tank to be 2-3 gallons bigger. The 360 standard would just make the price keep going up. Exactly. CR-V or Rav4 could have been another $5-$8k for the same features and they look more econo car @@kosmosbjm
I bought my first new car in March, which is a 2023 Mazda 3 Turbo. I absolutely love this car, it has everything that I wanted in it. I was looking to get a Toyota, but dealerships were adding markups on their cars. After seeing that, I decided to look at Mazda and got what I wanted with no markups. Happy I got a Mazda
Love my 2016 Mazda 6 2.2 diesel. The handling and roadholding are the strong points. Also impressively quiet (for a diesel) Main issue with this earlier diesel model is leaking fuel injector seals causing fuel to solidify and block the oil pick up gauze. I changed mine as a precaution. It gets serviced every 3-5k miles. Great cars if you know how to maintain them properly.
I think production capacity and lineup are the biggest factors. I recently sold my manual Mazda3 hatch but plan to get a CX30 Turbo in the near future. I like that Mazdas are a hidden gem with great quality
My Mazda Miata continues to surprise me. I would use the word crisp to describe the overall behaviour. For example when using the digiatal display it instantly reacts. The automatic windshield wipers do a great job without me adjusting them at all. The auto high/low headlights also don't require adjustments as they work on their own. I could give many examples but sufice to say this car does a lot of things right that my other cars (Honda and Toyota) don't do as well. It's a great little car which makes me want to look into other Mazda models.
Supposed to take delivery of mine in October. Did you get PPF for yours? I'm looking into it but with work there's no telling of I'll be able to do it same day.
I once had an RX 7. I really loved that car. Somebody stole it from right in front of my house. My heart was broken. It was found, but it was trashed, taken for parts. I cried for days.
Just purchased my first Mazda a week ago. 2019 CX5 Sport in Soul Red. Even without the turbo it has enough get up and go for me. I'm really impressed with the smooth ride and handling.
Speaking as a tall guy and previous owner of a 3 in 2008 for a short time, my biggest issues was interior space. I have also tried the CX-9 since and the CX-5 and faced similar issues even though the cars were bigger. I think competitors cars, from the Asian brands anyway, are more roomy inside for "big" Americans overall. I also find the tech quite lagging behind at Mazda as well. I do love the stance and overall look of the CX-50 in the lineup the most at the moment.
Agreed. I am tall and wide and while I loved the CX-9, the seats just didn't feel comfortable to me. That was the main reason I didn't end up going with it.
I disagree about the tech: others invested a lot in useless, distracting tech. that also do not always work very well. Never had any issue with Mazda’s in about 15 years now. I drove many other vehicles lately, and wouldn’t trade any of them for the Mazda, eventually.
agree with brand awarness. bought a 2023 cx-5. love it biggest bang for the buck. saying that, mazda was the last car dealership i went to looking for a new car
I read the reviews on Consumer Reports on for the CX-5, they were very good for customer satisfaction and quality. So I did a deep dive, their engine did not have dual fuel injection which drastically reduces carbon build up on intake valves after they hit 100, 000 miles. The car I just replaced was 19 years old and had a 160,000 miles on it, I keep my cars for the long haul so this matters to me. I liked the fact that it had an automatic (6 speed) transmission, in general they are more reliable than CVTs. I liked that it had a 187 HP that you could get without needing a turbo charger. Gasoline Turbo chargers or good for adding power but not good for fuel economy and make the powerplant less reliable than a normally aspirated engine. I get into all of the details being that I am a retired automotive engineer. I did not like the fact that they only made it with All Wheel Drive, AWD adds significant cost to the car, reduces mpg by two and it is not uncommon for the drive shaft needing to be replaced at the ten year mark. All of the reports I have seen on AWD says for almost all consumers it is not needed. So I went and test drove the CX-5, it had just been prepped of the trailer and I was the first driver. I put it in drive and at speeds from 0 to 5 mph the transmission made an unhealthy whine, the most probable cause a bad bearing in the transmission. There was a good chance if I would have driven a different one ( the dealer said he had five on the lot for immediate delivery) the noise would not have been there. So the RAV4 checked all of the boxes that were important to me, plus it had a reputation for being a reliable car for the long run. I put down my deposit and waited five months before one became available. I have put 7,000 miles on it, no complaints. Life is full of choices.
Mazda is becoming the new “Toyota”. Long lasting. Reliable and high resale value vehicles but also with above average interior materials, drivability and value pricing. I’m a 2023 cx-5 select owner. Also, See reviews by Scotty Kilmer and The Car Care Nut for proof. There’s also a RU-vid videos on the manufacture of Mazdas - high tech mfg and a conscientious workforce.
The Mazda is not only a great vehicle in terms of fit, finish, engines, transmissions and technologies, but it's stylish and good looking. The problem is, you can't often get the vehicle you want. For example, I would have purchased an MX5 this year, but there were virtually none to be found.
Mazda had made a major turnaround in the styling department. I would NEVER even consider buying their cars if they were still putting out that "smiley face" front end. The new CX-90 looks pretty appealing, so I may consider them again.
Zoom Zoom, Mazdas are popular in my family, mine is an 11yro Mazda 6 manual hatch, my wife a 2018 CX5, my daughter a 2019 CX3, we are happy with these choices.
Back in 2005-06 I fell in love with the 2006 Mazda 6!! A smaller 4 door sporty sedan with sporty spoiler on the back. With a 4cyl or 6 cyl option! Also back then you saw the Mazda Speed turbo models on the road, so cool looking and fast. Born and raised in Detroit I always had domestic made cars. Would’ve never considered buying Japanese. But I test drove the ‘06 Mazda 6, and I was forever hooked and sold! I loved that car. It was so well built on the inside and out. 1000 times better quality than any of my domestic made cars I ever owned. Last month I just purchased my 5th Mazda 3. They keep getting better and better every model year. I’ve never had any major mechanical issues with any of my Mazda 3’s. I can’t believe Mazda isn’t more popular either, but I know the people who choose to own or lease them are all loyal to the brand. If you don’t drive a Mazda you are missing out on a well built, quality and affordable automobile thru and thru. Zoom Zoom forever!!!!
I got 200,000 on my '06 Mazda 6, even if it was half Ford. My current '16 Mazda 3 truly is the best car I have ever owned, very little has had to be done to it to keep going, currently at 207,000 miles. I do think it's time for a new one, maybe a CX-30 this time.
In 2013 I purchased my first car which was a Mazda 3 in green mica. This is when Mazda changed the model of Protégé to Mazda 3 that car lasted 14 years. That car was a beast hence the reason I’m going back to Mazda to purchase the cx30.❤
I have a friend who was a quality control for one of the big three. He rated my 2023 Mazda 3 materials, fit, and finish as the same quality as a mid priced luxury car from other manufacturers.
The fun factor and reliability of the RX5 RF (Miata) is the main reason I am getting one. After watching many videos and driving a few cars, I need to own one. There is no other car company that makes an affordable, RF roadster like the Miata.
When I bought my 2018 CX5 Sport the response from my friends was why Mazda? I replied I wanted the handling of a Porsche , styling of a Alfa Romero, reliability of a Lexus, and the price point of a Kia. I am not disapointed. I bought it as a leftover in 2019, the dealer let it go for $22.4K , only 118 miles on it.
11 дней назад
You need to go back and get back some money from that dealer. YOU GOT RIPPED OFF!!!. $22 thou for a 2019???? You got socked!!!
I have a 2021 Mazda3 AWD hatchback. Living in Northern Michigan, my nearest dealer is 2.5 hours away…. So one issue is they they simply have a lot fewer dealers in the US. I have lost count of the number of people who have expressed surprise at my car, unaware that the 3 is available with AWD at all. They also think my car was far more expensive than it was based on the styling. So, to your “lack of brand awareness” comment, agreed. That said, I think Mazda has always been a bit of a niche brand in the US. I hope they continue to make the Mazda3 and come out with a new 6 rather than going to an only SUV lineup. In fact, In think they should go after some underserved types of cars rather than trying to compete head on with Toyota. Offer more manuals in the 3. A Mazda6 wagon (without being “outbacked” with stupid plastic cladding) would give them exclusivity. And as the market shifts away from SUVs as it inevitably will, they won’t be left flat footed like GM and Ford are already… with lots full of unsold unaffordable trucks and large SUVs.
Just like you just mentioned. My limited experience with Mazda was having a 1990 Ford Probe which was said to have a Ford body over a Mazda chassis and Mazda did a great job for my car at least. Recently at work a woman told me Subaru is the car to get because she heard that Mazdas would always be in the shop getting fixed. And IMO as to why Mazda isn't as popular is because of what they are these days which is staying a smaller car company and building vehicles in a quality way. The only big thing I would love them to change if they could is having a 10 year warranty like Hyundai/Kia
there sure are some, namely the very recent turbo engines, which within 50k miles often have 4500$ gasket/something jobs, as seen on Car Wizard here on youtube. Car Wizard is a legit real deal honest place.@@briansturm6618
As a Toyota guy i ve own 8 Toyota modells through the years i must say watching Mazda lately that is completely underrated! The quality of Mazda cars is so good like this of Lexus models the design of them is extremely good and the prices are very competitive, I think right now Toyota has the advantage of the Hybridization of the fleet but this it isnt for everyone a must, Mazda achieves great MSRP figures even without the hybrid system. Fakt is that the line up it isnt so wide like this of Toyota but for some ppl Mazda has enough alternatives. Any way for me Mazda is again completely underrated and i guess my next car will be a Mazda.
I've owned 3 total Mazdas so far, and I've had nothing bad to say about any of them (even if one is from peak Ford days). My love for them comes from feeling connected to each one I've driven. There's passion in them, and they don't feel like basic commuter cars to me. It might also help that the 3 is one of the last hatchbacks to offer a manual, and I don't want to give that up.
I also wonder how much this could be due to the lack of a halo model or luxury brand. The MX-5 is basically their halo car and soul of the brand, but it's also not really an aspirational model because it's relatively affordable. Part of the reason Honda and Toyota have more prestige in North America is because they have Acura and Lexus, and the perceived quality of those brands is indirectly associated with everything else they make. They also have some very high end low volume halo models that draw the attention of both the public and enthusiasts. Outside of Mazda's old Vision concepts from years ago, they don't have anything that really serves as an aspirational moon shot that people can actually lust after either. I've always wanted to see them do something like a grand tourer, like an MX-7, a bigger Miata with that new straight six and better NVH tuning, less of a track car and more of a grand tourer to provide a more genteel alternative to Toyota's track-oriented Supra. Something really unique that the other JDMs don't do.
Thanks Jonathan, useful info! Our first Mazda was a 1995 Miata soft top. Very reliable performance in all 4 seasons. Everything worked! Sold it after 10 years of Toronto winters for half what we paid. Needed a new battery and that's it! We have owned a Volvo S60 T6, Subaru STI, Jaguar Mark X. None of these were more fun to drive than that Miata! So eventually, we purchased a 2020 CX-9 without hesitation and still love it today. Runs good, looks good, everything works well and I mean everything! We are still discovering useful features today that are usually associated with much more expensive vehicles! Best Features: drivetrain, handling, fuel savings, low maintenance, quiet and the dog likes it too. :) I see more and more Mazdas on the road every day as people are discovering them. I will not, however, be buying a cx-90! Weird interior, you need a ladder to reach the dipstick, under-powered and disappointing handling. Mazda has lost it's mojo with this car. The way the whole industry is heading I am looking backwards to used models of Toyota/Lexus with lots of life left and simpler, proven set ups. Thanks again, Best wishes!
The most detailed and wonderful model I got to complete as a kid was of a Mazda RX-4. It was rare to see one on the road. Later, a friend in high school was sold a good RX-3 for $60, because the seller was convinced that rotaries don't last more than 40,000 miles. That was a very fun vehicle. I still see the odd original RX-7 around, demonstrating that they don't have to be unreliable if maintained. Many were not. Every Mazda I've driven, or ridden in, has handled beautifully, felt good and been tastefully styled. Lots of other cars have their appeal, but Mazdas just seem to whisper "this is the one".
I think Mazda keeping a simple lineup might be to their benefit, as it simplifies the car buying process. A single car in each product category, with trim levels that are sequential and easy to understand. I think an understated advantage is that all their cars have trim levels that range from affordable in their segment to quasi-luxury. My CX30 Turbo Premium is *really* nice….. but the base model is still pretty good and compares well to the other subcompacts in price.
Mazda made a intentional decision NOT to have a touchscreen. Now they are starting to change but I agree with the non-touch choice. My sister has a Volvo EV and HATES the touchscreen. To change temp, fan, etc you have to touch the screen in just the right place and go through several different menues to get to what you want. Very distracting and far from the elegant simplicity Mazda offers. Be careful what you wish for.
I’m not sure what you mean by zoom in and out of the map, leaving the app entirely is just a button press and zooming in and out of the map itself is a scroll of the infotainment wheel. I was hesitant as well with the non touchscreen but after driving my new CX5 for a few days I learned the controls really well and can now adjust without even looking down or at the screen which is a great safety feature. Happy driving.
From my 626 to my tribute and now my CX5. A lot of people think of myself as a Sybrand and even my friends when I told them I was buying another question it, but when they get inside they’re always blown away at how beautiful the interior is and how nice of a ride it has, so to them I say stay where you’re at and let me love my Mazda.
I’m a Toyota guy for sure having bought 4 of them. I have always liked Mazda due to my brother owning one. Having said that, I just bought a Mazda MX-5. Wow! Love it. I would entertain owning others as well.
I have my first Mazda CX-60 Takumi for 10 months and love it. I thing it is a great opportunity for Mazda and other Japanese and Korean brands to get decent market share here. European brands are totally focused on China and launching facelifts that Europeans hate and trying to copy Tesla. As I was shown the CX-60 interior and test drove around the block it took me 60 sec. to decide to put my deposit down. Ten months later I am even more happy!
My take is that Mazda is not as popular due to a limited dealership network. Outside of more populated areas, consumers are hard-pressed to find dealerships. In the state of Montana for example, there are 2 dealerships (the Zoo and Billings) and both are small and run down. In Mississippi, where I currently live, there are 3, with 2 being owned by the same dealer, but in different cities. Contrast this to the ubiquitous Toyota, Ford, and Chevy dealerships. Hard to sell product when consumers have limited access.
Bingo! Thats the main impediment! I also lived in MT for many years and came across the same issue. Ended up going GM cuz dealers/parts everywhere but always missed my Mazdas. Great cars.
They are nice and I would get one, but the issue is they have few dealerships and they are always in city centers. For me, that means over an hour one way for service. It's the same issue with Subaru. Toyota and Nissan have many more rural dealerships.
I've had two Mazdas, a '14 CX-5 and an '18 Mazda3 Hatchback. Both were manual transmission, got good fuel economy, and were nimble and fun to drive. I didn't continue to buy Mazdas because (A) they did not offer a hybrid model in a size I wanted, and (B) the upfront cost kept climbing faster than my income. They're excellent cars, but there's a point beyond which I'm not willing to make myself a slave to a car payment to enjoy a more vibrant driving experience, and Mazda passed that point a few years back. I don't like CVTs, so when I bought a new car this year, I bought another brand with a 6-speed automatic, but more importantly, it's a hybrid that gets 50% better fuel mileage than the Mazda30 I'd normally be looking at.
I bought my first Mazda in '92. My '19 CX-5 is my 7th (8th counting my husband's '16 CX-5). They have improved dramatically over the years! I think all the points made in the video are valid. I know there still is a lot of misconception from the early days that Mazdas are unreliable. Though thats no longer true, that can be hard to overcome. Not mentioned, I think being a small company with a smaller dealer network hurts too. I hear people say all the time that they never considered Mazda, or they "stumbled" onto them. Kind of the out of sight, out of mind mentality. Also IMO, Mazda has never really tried to compete with the mainstream. They've always beat to their own drum, making cars that are fun to drive. But that has frequently come with a compromise of not having the same space and comfort of some competitors. For me currently, there are two issues that may keep my next vehicle from being another Mazda. First is not having a vehicle of the size I want in the lineup. They dont have anything the size if an Edge, Murano, Santa Fe, etc which is what I want/need. The CX-70 might resolve that, but there are many rumors that it will be as big as the CX-90. The other is lack of hybrid models. They are way behind the times on this IMO, and Im sure it keeps some potential buyers away. The 90 has a PHEV option. But plug-ins aren't practical for many people, including me. They need to offer traditional hybrids too!
Currently a 2023 CX5 GS(in Canada) owner. Pros: I like the appearance; Handling and power are great. Cons: The features packages are not so competitive. Especially on the electical side, so sick of the stupid non-touch screen infotainment. Power adjust seat only has 6 directions, competitiors offer 8 at lease.(could be more with lumbar support) In general it's an decent car to drive. Looks like they spend most of the budget on mechanical system without much left for electricals.
I bought a new 2021 Mazda 3 (non-turbo). The car now has 19,500 miles. I've been kind of disappointed overall. Mechanically, the car is sound, no issues so far. That's what is most important to me. However, I do have gripes, especially with regards to the quality of the interior. Yes, the interior looks nice, but I've had simply way too many buzzes, squeaks, creaks, and rattles, which come and go depending on temperature. I think it's a matter of Mazda using cheap quality plastic, which expands and contracts too eaily, causing rubbing and contact. The see-thru plastic cover over the instrument panel also scratches way too easily; it has no protective coating at all. It's impossible to clean without scratching it further. The driver's side window and driver's side seatbelt mechanism can also buzz at times. Also, since it was new, my Mazda has had a fuel gauge that does not go all the way to "Full". The dealer refuses to fix it because there is no service bulletin from Mazda. Finally, I think the exterior paint is too thin and is very prone to chipping. So, I would say Mazda's might have a good mechanical track record, but interior quality and paint quality are issues. It doesn't help that my car was made in Mexico, as now are many Mazdas.
As a former Miata and Rx 7 owner, I’m hoping to buy the CX90 next year but I was pleasantly surprised when my 2 nieces and 2 nephews have gotten on the bandwagon with CX5’s, a CX50 and Mazda 3 hatch. They all love their vehicles.
It is very simple really. I love Mazda but the first one is they are cramped, a Mazda 3 is tiny inside, the lack of rear space is crazy. Same for the cx5, I love mine but a RAV4 and a CRV are far more spacious and it is costing sales. The second one is ride quality, they are quite stiff and most people prefer a smoother ride even at the cost of driver involvement. My mazda 3, even with the 16s could be quite stiff on bad roads. My now new cx5 is way more comfortable but rides much stiffer than a CRV. It is not a boat on the curves most people don't care.
I have a Mazda 6 2016. Manual Transmission. I love it! A simple 4 cylinder engine, smooth drive, reliable and stylish. I have only change the breaks. It’s incredible!
I owned a Mazda Family sized van from 80-85 in Okinawa as a military member and it was wonderful. Smooth on the road, handling and reliability. When I left fo a new assignment, sold it to another family at same cost I purchased to another military family. Sucker was awesome and my mistake was not doing same when I returned to CONUS.
Mazda is approaching best. I'd say it's Best-Adjacent, sorta like Beverly Hills-Adjacent where the homes are similarly large, insanely expensive, with full attention to detail but directly across the street from where the zipcode changes. Fit and finish and details and levels of trim from Mazda are amazing. To get to best, they need to bring back the 6 sedan as Camrys and Accords seem eternal. They need to add complimentary maintenance 2yr/24,000 mi, like Toyota or Honda or longer to approach premium brands. To compete with a premium brand, make the MX 5 bigger or create an MX 7. The styling overall is awesome and distinctive - no changes needed there. Cars with sculptural curves turn more heads than cars that look like boxes.
I kind of enjoy driving my 2021 carbon edition cx5 without passing other ones just like mine every five minutes. But they are great cars and should be considered by anyone who really likes driving.
We purchased our CX-5 on 4/1/22 after returning a leased Mazda 3. The 3 was the most reliable car I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning with ZERO issues in three years. I really hated to part with it but needed we needed more space for traveling. Mazda hit the sweet spot with the 2.5 liter and 6 speed auto which is silky smooth and powerful. The CX-5 now has 31,000 on it again with ZERO issues and averaging over 30 mpg. What more do I need to say?
When I went to buy a new car, I test drove a Mazda to give them a chance, especially since CR recommended them highly. I chose the Honda CR-V Hybrid over all the other cars in their class because of the gas millage dependability reliability and the low cost of replacing the battery. I actually liked the Toyota Venza best of all, but I wasn't going to pay 10 grand to replace the battery in 10 years. The Mazda had a lot of power and was very fun to drive, the Venza had more class. But the interior in the Mazda was just very basic. I wasn't impressed at all. I like an upscale interior. Furthermore, I like to think I am driving a special car. The gas millage on the Mazda was just basic as well, nothing special. I was also not impressed that much with the front end of the car, what some people call the face of the car. If Mazda came out with sleek styling inside and out and bumped up their gas millage but kept their awesome dependability, and reliably, they would sell a lot more cars. At the end of the day, people like me are going to choose a car with better styling if they can get a car with comparable dependability and reliability and gas millage for close to the same price. I am very happy with Honda right so far, but I will let you know after I get 400 thousand miles on it
yeah and u will probably get an easy 400K on the Honda, that is the WHOLE point of Honda and toyota actually. Plus the CRV is very very nice for the price, with no actual legit competition for the ride/quality, etc, though there have been complaints about the ride and noise levels of the brand new model actually. Question for ya though, why would the honda battery also not be a replacement needed eventually, like the Venza/toyota?
Hi, I talked to both dealership shops and they both assured me that the batteries would need replacing in 10 years, why I chose the CR-V is the battery is under the back seat and can be lifted out with a wench or something. The Venza has to have the whole body lifted off of the frame so the cost of replacing the battery for the CR-V was just, 3500 dollars as apposed to the Venza at 10 grand @@18_rabbit
oh it will need replacing in 10 years as well but the big difference is that the battery is under the passenger seat and can be lifted out some how and the new one lifted in. The venza however, the dealership shop told me that the body would have to come off the frame to put the new batteries in plus there are more of them then in the CRV@@18_rabbit
We bought our 1st Mazda in 2022 a CX-9 carbon edition. After researching SUVs in nissan, Kia, Hyundai, toyota and buick. I think Mazda gave us more bang for the buck plus the other brands were more money. We were originally going to get the buick after test driving all of the aforementioned brands in the same class but buick didnt have a wide selection of colors in stock and we really wanted it in their gold color. I'm glad we got the Mazda instead now though. All brands were having inventory issues at the time including Mazda and i refused to put down a deposit to reserve one because we wanted to keep our options open. A couple of months later the sales person at sport Mazda in south Orlando called me about 8pm at night and said they had just received a CX-9 carbon edition and they would hold it in the back until we got there in the morning and we wound up buying it, we've had it for a year and a few months now, it has less than 3,800 miles on it because we're retired and don't drive much, we brought in for its first oil change about 3 weeks ago even though it hadn't reached 5K miles yet...lol we'll be lucky if it has 5K miles on it after owning it for 2yrs.
I think Mazda is labeled as outside the box. Subaru was too, but the last few years Subaru appeared to have hit on a formula that gives them greater appeal to a wider audience of the vehicle buyers.
Been looking at awd cars and I like Subaru, but their styling is bland apart from the wrx sti.....not liking the plastic trim they are putting on the outside lately....keep it painted metal
Subaru Reliablity isn't great, but they did pretty well and the sales maxed out their production compacity. I had few of my friends ended up with a Forester, but none of them cared about Mazda. The main reason Subaru did well was their Cars was priced lower than Honda and Toyota. The Forester was cheaper than a Rav4 and CRV, somewhere in line with Kia/Hyundai. Mazda made a mistake of producing a quality cars but priced themselves too high. There was at one point in time I saw A LOT of Mazda 3 and 6 in my City (High population density city). Because they were sold for lower price than Corolla and Camry, or Civic and Accord. Soon as Mazda decided to make "Premium cars" but jacked up their price, their presense died. Don't forget they have to compete with Hyundai and Kia, who bash other automaker's head with rock bottom pricing and 10 year powertrain warranty. They give up profit for Market Share, and it worked.
I'd say marketing. when my first car finally got cost and time prohibitive to repair i went car searching and was surprised to learn they're prices were competitive with honda/toyata. they have a tested drive train combo of a 6 speed automatic transmission with a skyativ engine and have had no major issues in the last decade. the features available on their select trim(second from bottom), would require you to spec up in some other brands. personally i hope they stay low key for 6 more years, would love to get a Miata as my second vehicle for a decent price.
It's kind of ridiculous, effectively over a decade since separates and almost a decade since officially separated. But still saw comments about how they can't wait for the Lincoln version of the CX-90, and how the Mazda3 is just a Fusion. I hear that and I know they're trolling or they're not knowledgeable to be worth engaging
I bought my first Mazda in 2016. i was assigned a work project with a long commute, about 45K miles a year and picked up a Mazda 3. I drove the car for five years, gave it to my son and he is still driving with 227,000 miles. Tires, brakes, battery, accessory belt and a temp sensor. Great reliability, interior, and fuel economy. My other son bought a 3 hatch 6 speed, his fiancé a CX 50, my wife has owned two CX5's, and I just picked up a 2018 Mazda 3 three hatch after having to turn in my company car. Definitely time to line them up for a picture!
I love my CX-9. It’s fun to drive, safe and fuel efficient. It has been very reliable for me, however, I had one issue after the warranty ran out, and Mazda corporate stood behind the product and replaced my driver seat, free of charge at about 42,000 miles.
Currently both my granddaughters own current Mazda CX 5 models. Previously, five Mazdas have graced family garages. I used a small fleet of Mazda pick ups on a contract in Africa. All of the Mazdas I have used have been ultra reliable, tough vehicles and well made. Over the past five years I have seen more of them on our city roads. Anyone looking for a nice SUV at a good price should look at a Mazda. bTW, I drive a Cadillac as does my wife.
I’ve been a master fan since 82 with nearly 14 cars across the model line.. Including one race car did some form of competition in almost all the rest. Incredibly reliable, all cars driven well over 100,000 miles and it’s the only car that feels like, you are driving the car
There is a video on Mazda's manufacturing process. Talking about thorough Quality inspections are insane how they meticulously go over fit and finish inside and out during the manufacturing process.
I converted to Mazda last year. Now on my 3rd one. They’re awesome!! I will also say that I’m a huge fan of the spin dial-type console selector and prefer it to the touch screen like I used to have in my ‘13 Exploder.
My Dad bought a B2000 in 1986, drove it till 1991, then gave it to me. I drove it till 1999 and the only repairs it ever needed was an A/C switch in ‘97, and a clutch in ‘99. It was a great little truck!
I liked my Mazda for the most part. It was mostly reliable, although it had a constant thing with warning lights coming on for no apparent reason. What keeps me from buying another is their use of a rotary knob that must be used instead of having a large touchscreen like most cars have today. Consumer Reports hates that, and it's poor visibility so much they know longer recommend the CX-30.
Thats stupid , the touch screen has no point going into the cx30 , how much are u seriously touching after plugging your phone in and just change the song from the phone lol Idk what your people obsession is with giant iPad screens and touch screen U must be touching a lot of setting on that iPad screen to get your money worth and majority of the time those iPad have more problems , I have no problem with the dial Been using it for the past 3 years on both mazda , screw touch lol
The rotary dial is not an issue. is very intuitive to use and, after a little time, allows you to use it without taking your eyes off the road. That is something you cannot do with a touch screen. I have no problem whatsoever using it.
@cormaro1376 that's another good point. So easy to use. Also have found with the wired Android auto the sound quality from streaming apps like Spotify is so very much better than when using wireless or Bluetooth. This I am told is because the wire has significantly better bandwidth and so carries more data.
Bought my first Mazda ever in 2021 and I am over the moon with the features and quality of my Mazda 3 sedan. It's the most mature and elegant looking car out of all the others at an affordable price with so many features that you would think it was a Mercedes or BMW. People should really go check Mazda's out because I think you will be blown away like I was.
I owned a 2006 Mazda 5 and after 9 years and 90,000 miles I traded it in on a 2015 Mazda5 when that year model came out.. It is an awesome vehicle. It has lots of interior space, gets decent gas mileage, has decent power when not fully loaded, and has great handling capabilities. It is comfortable on longer trips. I am sad they stopped production. My only Mazda complaint is they don't have a huge dealer network so if I move I could be a distance from a dealer for service. There were only a few recalls on both Mazda 5s I owned while the Ford Focus cars I owned had tons of recalls.
My experience is beautiful design, premium appointments, and driving experience with proven reliability. A big plus is the proper automatic transmissions vs the dodgy cvt's in everything else, including sadly Toyota. Would like to see a 3 size station wagon, I would by one. They hold their value and maintenance costs are minimal (I'd still service that auto though despite it not being in the schedule) so total cost of ownership is low like Toyota.
