Lol at the fake user digging this thread up.
I read through this whole thread earlier today and it’s interesting how things turned out, compared to what was predicted here. I’ll cover an overview of what’s happened with Mazda in the years since the last real post here.
SkyActiv-X failed to launch, and SkyActiv-D was DOA due to being delayed and nerfed to no end to get it to comply with American (read: Californian
) emissions. I wouldn’t be surprised if the few diesel CX-5s around in the US become an even bigger Japanese unicorn than the Kizashi. The MX-30, Mazda’s first full EV, is also kind of a dud, at least on paper. TBH I’d totally get one lol. My commute is short, the exterior is growing on me, and the interior is really interesting (even more so than the conventional Mazdas). Most of you won’t see one in person for a long time since it’s California-only for a time. I wonder how good the MX-30 could be if Mazda had access to Lucid’s more energy-dense batteries and smaller motors…
The Mazda3 came out, and while it’s a good car, it got a lot of flak for the whole rear suspension going away from multi-link thing. I think if you took the average driver and didn’t tell them the suspension setup was changed between the current and previous generation, they might not notice. Also a shame about the manual transmission being relegated to the FWD, non-turbo hatchback only, if I recall. Say what you want about Honda, but at least they put the manual in a lot of Civic configurations. They can also afford to do so, too.
Savagegeese has done some good reviews of the Mazda3, especially the reviews from when the current gen launched. It helps that he owned a previous gen Mazda3. The vids have a great rundown on how dedicated Mazda is to developing that philosophy mentioned earlier in this thread. IMO, while Honda may be up there in terms of driving dynamics, I think Mazda is the best when it comes to making the car an extension of yourself, of being at one with the car. That’s what they seem to really be going after; driving dynamics is just a part of that. They certainly seem to directly target that more so than other automakers. It makes the Corolla and Sentra seem like the glorified appliances that they are. That said, some people need appliances for cars, and the Corolla and Sentra are very good at that in their own way. The current crop of cars in that class are all pretty good at what they set out to do.
Savagegeese also has a pretty similar opinion to Ron on the proliferation of electronics in modern cars and how they’re likely to eventually malfunction or break. Like when I was reading this thread earlier, it was a little funny how Ron’s troubles with his Mazda’s sensors were
exactly what Savagegeese warns about in nearly every video, of the automakers’ over-reliance on technology. It’s refreshing that someone actually discusses this part of car ownership; most reviewers don’t delve into longer-term ownership in this manner.
I also spotted a Kizashi in one of his other reviews (will add it to the spotting thread here), for what it’s worth.
The Mazda3 is roughly the same exterior size as the Kizashi. Its 2.5L engine is of similar displacement and power figures compared to the Kizashi, but it nets much better fuel economy. The interior definitely feels a bit more cramped, at least in back, from what I recall at the auto show a couple years ago. I’m sure the paint is thicker than the Kizashi’s, too; Mazda3s always look so darn good and their paint has a lot of depth and glossiness. Interior quality is very good, but in order to get it to that level, Mazda sacrifices some features that other brands offer, especially the value-forward brands like Hyundai and Kia. I can’t recall which features exactly, unfortunately, but I’m pretty sure they’re mentioned in those reviews I referred to earlier.
The Mazda3 is probably priced similarly to how the Kizashi was (not sure about inflation, though). Unlike the Kizashi, it has an upgrade engine and a real automatic transmission that won’t fail before 200k (…I hope?). If I had to get a new car with a budget similar to what the Kizashi was listed at when new, the Mazda3 would be at or near the top of my list. The new Civic is supposedly rather excellent, but it doesn’t feel special to me (because Civic
), and I’d rather have the 2.5 non-turbo in the Mazda over the 1.5L turbo in the Civic, as far as long-term goes.
The turbo that first appeared in the CX-9 is now in basically every Mazda besides the Miata (and MX-30, obv), which is pretty cool.
New Mazda CX-50 to be made alongside Toyotas and sold alongside the newly refreshed CX-5 as a more rugged alternative. It’ll also get a hybrid powertrain from the RAV4, I believe. Shame it won’t get the PHEV powertrain from the RAV4 Prime; those are very well-regarded. I like the CX-50 but it feels like it could have been a trim level, like how literally every other mainstream automaker is making “tough” soft-roader versions of their crossovers.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3825 ... -revealed/
The Mazda6 sedan is gone (for now), but the Mazda patents seem very interesting: RWD Mazda6 successor and inline-6 engine for it and maybe the upcoming CX-70 and CX-90. And maybe a rotary engine for a range extender in the MX-30. I can’t remember if that last one was a dispelled rumor, though.
Next Miata will feature hybridization, which I can only hope will be implemented well enough so that the core values of the Miata are retained.
Speaking of Toyota, I read today that they make a Mazda2 hatchback for certain markets (i.e. a rebadged Yaris), while Mazda has been making the Yaris for certain markets, including ours (a rebadged Mazda2)… Am I the only one who finds this a little funny and odd?
Oof, I really went off on a tangent about the Mazda3. Whoops?