Remember Toyota / Honda will go basic in entry level trims because they want you to keep Lexus / Acura open if you want a somewhat luxury trim
But Mazda doesn’t have an upper luxury name so they put what they can into it while trying to keep their price within their competitors range.
For me it was between the Mazda3 and Corolla Hybird base models. 25 and 26K OTD respectively. Main factor in my decision was the engine and transmission. Standard and hella reliable 6spd auto and a 2.5L na instead of a CVT and a tiny, tiny engine with a electric motor backing it up. If you couldn't tell, I like my mazda.
The CVT in the Corolla Hybrid is a ECVT (or planetary gear) and share nothing with a traditional CVT other than the continuously variable aspect.
I won’t disagree that the 3 is a nicer car for the money however.
Bro I'm on vacation with my mom, drive her rav4 for the 1st time in a while, it's crazy how little feeling is in that wheel, like theres no resistance at all, freaks me out a little, and yeah just super joyless, lit a point a-to-b machine and nothing else
Had a Corolla AWD Hybrid SE as a rental last month. Was a joke. Noisy as hell, slow, boring and got a cheap feel to it. I'd have prefered an Elantra to be brutally honest. Atleast Hyundai tries to make them interesting.
Same when I've had Corolla for a rental car. Basic interior and the engine felt pretty weak. This is from a conservative driver. I think the Civic is a much fairer comparison to a Mazda3.
It's amazing how many people see "CVT" and think "run away!". It's important to know the difference between the two - good that you highlighted it. The ECVT is actually really efficient and very reliable.
I'm sure Mazda 3 has superior handing than corolla~ but Corolla hybrid is damnnnnn money pig the more you drive the more you save! Really wish Mazda 3 can get new Toyota hybrid system soon.
Yea it handles really well for what it is. And yea a hybrid would be nice, especially when living in Texas like I do where you have to drive everywhere
The highway mileage is nothing to scoff at on these. I speed and still get 35 mpg on the highway. I also live in texas. City is pretty bad sometimes though, dipping into 25 mpg with how I drive.
I did a big 10,000km road trip. I averaged 6.3-6.5L/100kms (whatever that is in murican) in my 3
The TransCanada has a 90km/hr speed limit in northern Ontario where it curves a lot through the shield. Which seemed to be the sweet spot, and the prairies were completely flat.
For a 4 cylinder 2.5L is a reasonably large displacement. That's some great efficiency right there. On the highway the car barely sips gas.
True, but there are advantages to a naturally aspirated engine. Especially a larger displacement 2.5L that's making the similar power and efficiency as a smaller turbo charged engine.
It's going to last longer without forced induction, and it's simpler when it needs repairs. Turbos will also usually fail before an engine does and they're a boat load of work and cash to replace. Turbos on GDI engines also generally make them more prone to carbon build up as well.
Similar power and efficiency out of a 2.5 vs a 1.5-2.0L with a turbo is exactly why it's a bit of an impressive design.
Lifetime avg at 22 brother. Mostly just short city driving with the occasional longer trip. A hybrid is what I should have got if I'm being honest but I wanted a bigger engine.
I’m realizing that as well. I’ve never wanted an electric car, but considering my short driving habits, it might be a good option. That or hybrid at least.
The CVT is not a true CVT in the Toyota Hybrid System. It’s called an eCVT and it has no belts, and is honestly one of the simplest transmissions you could ever make, you are hard pressed to ever think about it breaking also.
The ECVT is actually completely different from a CVT other than being continuously variable. It’s actually a much more reliable design than the standard automatic transmission or a standard CVT. There are no belts or chains in a ECVT, just gears, and less moving parts than an automatic.
Leave it to Toyota to make something more reliable lol, but just completely lifeless. I get it tho, they're like a 100x bigger than Mazda, obv they're doing something right
Just steer clear of the turbos. They’ve been known to have trouble in the 2.5. Those 6-speeds are awesome, though. Like what on earth do you need 10 gears for (cough Ford cough)
I test drove Corolla Hybrid few years ago. The worst driving experience ever!
Sluggish is understatement and the growl unbearable.
2020 Camry hybrid on the other hand is amazing! Acceleration, handling (especially SE) 2 leagues above at marginal price difference.
I think that I would prefer Camry XSE or even better Hybrid XSE (esp TRD) over Mazda3 . New Mazda 3 series dropped the ball a little in suspension and handling department.
If you are going hybrid go Toyota IMO. They have one of the best hybrid systems out there IMO. They've been doing it for quite some time now. The Prius first released in Japan around 1990 something then hitting U.s. markets around 2000 something. If you want better handling though Mazdas aren't too far behind in mpg for non hybrids.
The Mazda 6-speed auto is a godsend in this world of derpy 10-speeds and CVTs. First auto I've had that shifted and felt and sounded natural and didn't make me want to go right back to a manual. I couldn't consider any other affordable car unless I lived in California and NEEDED a hybrid to stomach the gas prices.
Only thing I don't like is it feels like a CVT off the line. Rides in first gear with the torque converter unlocked for way too long. Once it locks up and shifts into second it's lovely.
Looks is one thing, reliability and how the company operates is another. Plus the feeling of driving a Honda is just.... Meh. I've never been a Honda guy, owned 2 and couldn't Care less for them.
I have a new CX30 and a new civic. The build quality is not comparable. Every Honda I’ve owned has been a ratting box of shit. I’ve owned 3 brand new ones. They’re reliable, but there’s a ton of rattles. CX30 doesn’t have one rattle yet in 3 years, definitely built tighter.
I was looking at the Mazda 3 or Honda Civic both 2024 and the Civic around the Mazda 3 Preferred price range just couldn’t match up against the Mazda. The Mazda interior was definitely better.
The accord and acura interior have been pretty similar for awhile too. Tl that is. Now they've gone their own way, but a specced accord still has soft everything, decent deadening, and blows cold air on your ass.
The avalon has mirrored Lexus pretty well. It's all about models and trims. Old lexuses are the best, on par with a modern base three series or a4. Different mission statements to be fair.
Not mirrored. Lexus mirrored Toyota.... The es350 is built based off the Avalon. They basically have identical engines. Just the Es350 has more sound dampening and "luxury" materials.
Reminds me of the ls400 interior as well, that plush shit on the door. Both engines are stupidly resistant to abuse. But there's certain aspects even on the es where the entire dash differentiates. Probably just start with the Toyota in mind they're basing off of and add a few extras, and the designs are nicer. No reason, modern day to spend the extra money unless you want rwd, v8 or sportier chassis i6 or v6 with awd. Most people would be happy with the avalon lol. I'd get a newer lexus because high revving v8s are few and far between. And not having to do rod bearings would be nice.
The platform is based off the Avalon. Meaning the frame. So of course it has a different dash. Suspension might be different. They do have similar driving dynamics with the Lexus being much softer cause of whatever they did with the suspension. For the price though like I said if you ain't doing long distance the Avalon is good enough. Same engine also both fwd. The Lexus V8 is a beauty. They take the abuse because the engine can truthfully output a lot more power they just underpower it for longevity.
Imagine a supercharged or turbo charged is350 or an super charged is500. The N.A. V8 is already pushing close to 500hp if Toyota could pair it with an ZF my god. You have a crazy luxury japanese muscle car
Zf8 is the first auto I've had in a long time. Would be an amazing combo. Mines holding more power than I can use with b58. The is300 is ridiculous with even 15psi. The 350/500 would be overpowered if awd with minimal boost as well. I'd love to see the lfa engine utilized, but it probably won't happen. Yamaha and mercury need more influence lol. They made the lt4 c4 a completely different experience than any other American car at the time in mass production. Yamaha specifically needs a seat with the Germans for one last v10
People slept on that LFA v10. It was old school high revving goodness. A carbon fiber frame like they would have in F1 cars. It was an engineers wet dream. What I'd give to own one. It was basically an F1 car for the streets. Don't get me wrong the B58 after Toyota put it on the chopping block and sliced it open with the katana is beautiful. The way they handle cooling and everything give it another couple of years and if there aren't any major gasket issues. Then it'll be one of the best engines Bmw produced in quite a long time.
IMO honest to god if your driving on turnpikes frequently or any highways long distance that's 65-75mph I'd go for a Acura or Lexus. The cars are a more stable and less effected by crosswinds. My old Camry was nice. On bridge with high winds or having a truck blow by in the opposite direction you can feel the car veer off by the wind. Not so much in a heavier car. Also there is less driver fatigue on high speed curvy roads. I drive long distance frequently. Have drive at least 3,000 miles in multiple different classes and brands. In the end I don't hate on accords or Camrys but if I'm going the distance highway turnpikes and state highways I'm taking something slightly better if possible German or a japanese sport.
Maybe one trim of the cx90? Otherwise not accurate at all right? I guess it solely depends on where you live. Here Mazda has been a top seller for over a decade, top 5 mostly. They are selling less as they are so expensive now, you can get Korean built Hyundai and Kia here, for cheaper, and offer more tech. Also there is Skoda that offers more features and more premium features for the same money. Mazda is a hard sell for features or premium these days in many markets.
We don’t get Skoda in North America, but as for Hyundai/Kia I completely agree that they offer more features and tech for cheaper.
Here’s where the issue lies… Hyundai Motor Co. has pretty much mastered the ability to feed into the idea that people shop/buy with their eyes. Most people would agree that Hyundai manufactures some of the most appealing, modern, and even futuristic looking cars. So you have to question why they’re so inexpensive.
Our family has often given Hyundai the benefit of the doubt, but before ever purchasing one, we’ve thankfully had a number of mechanics and automotive technicians remind us that when it comes to the basics of what makes a car truly reliable (engine/transmission, wiring/electrical systems) these are the things Hyundai often neglects in favor of the fancy features and tech.
Mazda isn’t perfect by any means, but they’ve worked hard to become one of the most well-balanced manufacturers that prioritize safety and reliability along with incredible driving dynamics and upscale comfort.
Yea okay! I guess because Hyundai/Kia are such a huge company, of which automotive is really just a side gig to how much money they make from their core industries, that is why they are able to save to much money - you will see how smart they are with manufacturing, in that they reuse their screens/software/hardware through many of their range, savings LOADS of money!!
US got screwed with US assembled Hyundai's unfortunately. Everywhere else in the world has seen Hyundai/Kia see top reliability over the last decade.
Yes, Mazda has been a top selling manufacturer here in Australia for a few decades now. Have been well known to be reliable and early on they included many safety features on base trims that others didn't. Again it's a different story today though, with Hyundai/Kia undercutting them while offering crazy fun cars like the N range which obviously offers a driving experience you can't get from Mazda's as they don't even make sporty cars outside the Miata anymore.
Having owned a Hyundai for 4 years now, I can unequivocally say that it's so far as reliable as any Mazda I've ever owned, while offering more tech, safety, and fun than any Mazda 3 I've owned.
Meanwhile we are getting Mazda failures, like transmission failures on CX90/CX50, oil leaks on Mazda 3 turbo/CX30, ND1 mx5 transmission failure, etc etc. Mazda have also had significant recalls recently with poorly assembled or failing parts.
Given all manufacturers have lemon cars, you can only take it with a grain of salt when you get the hearsay biased opinions from mechanics. Most mechanics are just repeating what other mechanics told them honestly.
Either way, I'm belting my Hyundai every day, and taken it to the track with it's track warranty multiple times and thrashed it. It's still feeling like brand new and have had zero issues. I also went to an N car meetup, and honestly all the owners seemed to have a great ownership experience except one or two with known issues.
no this doesn’t make any sense. way more people are comparing toyota to competitors at a similar price than to a lexus. if they held too much back to try an upsell that minority of customers, they would be handing the majority over to competitors on a silver platter. they’re not incompetent.
As a Mazda employee who recently completed Mazda brand training, you are absolutely correct… Premium brand quality was repeated more times than I can remember. As someone else mentioned, the 70/90 are much more aimed at luxury brands. It’s still a Mazda though, which is why they stick with the term premium. It’s even in the trim names.
You want even less logic in Canada? Back in 2017, there was a "grand touring" upgrade package (the I've with the HUD), that you DIDN'T get when you ordered a GT, you had to pay extra for it (could be added to the GS and GT). Apparently, Mazda Canada has no idea that GT ALREADY MEANS "grand touring".
Which is the perfect description especially for their lower end items. They’re absolutely premium within their actual segment and demographic but do lack a lot of true luxury features. And importantly the touch points and items that a very average car buyer cares about they’ve clearly spent a lot of time working on
Psst, do the smart card stuff for mba points ;). It adds up quick! Also, mann I hate we are aiming to be "premium" I miss fun mazda 😔. Atleast we still have miatas and I keep hearing talks that Mazda is cookin up something.
You can still get some cars without keyless entry/push button start for $30k...
The 2024 WRX base starts at $33,855(after delivery), and doesn't come with keyless entry or push button start.
Most Mazdas are a step above Toyota’s but below Lexus when it comes to luxury.
The CX-90 and CX-70 might be considered closer to luxury, but I’ve only read reviews - I haven’t driven one yet.
I had a 2021 Cadillac before my Mazda, and cross shopped with Lexus. My fully loaded cx5 has more luxury features, and trim is less plastic. Speaking from experience here.
Not when I made my purchase decision. NX felt cheaper in a dozen ways. Especially in that I’m a font nerd, and the Lexus/Toyota graphical design was a chaotic mess.
Might depend on the trim level. My wife’s CX-30 premium plus is pretty sweet.
She had a 2016 signature edition CX-9 before this which had legitimate wood trim in the interior - it really threaded the needed between premium and commodity.
In new CX-5s it does have the exact same pressure sensors, at least in North America, unlike Europe where they still use the (IMO superior) approach of using the TCS sensors instead. Like many things the issue is 99.9999999% software/firmware.
I still far preferred the 2024 CX-5 to the CX-50 with its dependent rear suspension (oh hello porpoising after any bump like I'm still in my '99 Jeep XJ) and "car-like" seating which makes it harder for someone who finds car seating problematic.
Then their “premium” branding strategy is working. Mazda is trying to go upmarket with their offerings. You get a lot for the money. Luxurious they are not, but you’re still getting good value on something largely considered high-quality and “nice” to the average consumer.
If you go into the new Hondas and Toyotas it is lol the interior for all new Mazdas are the best out of all the other car brands. They’re very modern and very useful.
I came from a Pontiac and I love the whole everything in the center console/shifter area. I wish the window buttons were there but oh well. But that can be someone’s dislike but they still have the better interior than the others imo.
Toyota interiors have always been bad and have somehow gotten worse. Our last gen fleet Priuses were pretty rough, lots of hard plastic, every bad cloth seats, thin door cards etc.
The 2023's we got in were somehow even worse. The door cards are paper thin, featureless plastic slabs with a pad for your elbow and not much more. The seats are garbage, worse than our one remaining 07. visibility is nonexistent, they rattle with less than 40k miles on them and they drive like trash
The $60k retail GR Corolla still has the featureless plastic interior of the base Corolla.
I'm not impressed by the civic either. There just isn't a trim available with even leatherette seats, and the interior is just shod in plastic. The cloth seats aren't terrible though, just not good.
Mazda has come a long way in the aesthetic category, and they run good. On the other side our Toyota wasnt cheap and the interior esp for the driver is the most unwieldy plain looking thing on earth. Quality and warranty and blah blah blah but id swap the body out with a Chevy or Ford SUV if I thought I had the mechanical prowess, it's really that bad.
I test drove an Acura and I was not impressed compared to my CX-9 Signature. Sorry it may not be Luxury but it’s better than the top trims on regular cars.
Slowly but surely more people are recognizing Mazda as becoming similar to Acura/Volvo levels of Luxury.
Not quite Lexus or Mercedes yet, but the CC-90 is damn close, we'll get there soon!!
Volvo’s overall interior design ethic is lovely, just lovely. But its user interface is hard to live with. Distracting.
Mazda’s benchmark has been BMW and, as en ex-Beemer driver, IMHO they are close to the mark these days.
I love Mazda and I see it as more value for the money compared to Volvo. However, as far as luxury is concerned, anyone who claims Mazda is anywhere to close to Volvo has never driven any of the newer Volvos or is a Mazda fanboy
Semi true and swayed my family. My wife has had BMW X5s for years and years. We have had 4 of them. 2018 we decided on an CX9 and never looked back so far. It’s cheaper. It came with all the options and features that cost thousands and thousands on the X5.
There are small things that are not as “luxury” but overall very happy with the decision.
I would get a copy Consumer Reports review, they explain the pros and cons of various SUV’s and list their recommendations. Subaru was in the top of their list but the styling lacks for me.
Your husband has no idea how modern luxury cars actually feel and look on the inside. Mazda’s do have slightly nicer interiors than your basic Honda but they’re not even close to an actual luxury car like a BMW for example.
Car prices have gone a lot higher in recent years due to a number of factors, many that are due neither to costs of production nor inflation. In response I think Mazda has pushed their brand up-market with appoinments and features, most likely to offer a sense of value for the prices they have to charge to maintain a decent enough margin to make it profitable.
I bought a '21 Mazda 3 2.5l S, the lowest trim of what used to be their econo-box zoom-zoom car and it's way over-equipped for what I really need or even want. But it's a much quieter car for it too, something I do like.
Just the other day I ran the math on this. Did you know a 2024 Honda Accord hybrid is almost exactly the same price, adjusted for inflation, as a 2010 Accord was when brand new?
I have not done the math for Mazdas but "cars are so much more expensive now" isn't really true. It's dollars that are more expensive.
It can be complicated running that sort of analysis since the price of cars is a significant component of the inflation numbers. If the rising price of cars makes inflationary numbers higher it only makes sense they should track closely.
[Here's an interesting article](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/18/1163278082/car-prices-used-cars-electric-vehicles-pandemic) on why price of cars has gone so much higher since 2020. The article is a bit over a year old, but I believe it's still relevant. One of the major non-inflationary contributions to car prices is the semi-conductor shortages since "when automakers can't make as many vehicles as they would like, they prioritize their most profitable cars..." Mazda appears to have made their low-end cars more profitable by "up-marketing" them. The shortages may have abated but we're still dealing with the after-effects in the used markets which can spill over to the new market when frustrated buyers buy new instead of paying high used prices.
Another non-inflationary contributor is the rise of EV's and PHEV's, a segment in which Mazda has been under-represented. Being forced to sell gas powered cars they must be paying CAFE fines which we pay in the form of a higher price, for cars especially. Mazda appears to have slanted production towards SUV's that are less affected by CAFE regulations and more profitable.
Don't follow the argument. Inflation is inflation. It affects all prices. The value of a dollar is what it is. "Car prices track inflation" was my point. The average price of a new car has not risen dramatically relative to other goods and services that make up the total inflation rate. Car prices have risen in tandem with other consumer durable goods.
Since incomes haven't risen as fast as prices, a car might well cost a higher percentage of the median income now, but that's a different argument. In terms of what an actual dollar was worth in 2010 vs 2024 -- that is, the overall rate of inflation -- the dollar cost of a new car has not risen by more than that rate of inflation , which describes a wide range of prices and costs.
I think the bigger issue is income stagnation and, now, interest rates being high, both of which are very real problems. And the fact that supply constraints keep demand high. So there are fewer deals. And the fact that used cars have risen faster than inflation due both to supply constraints and cars lasting longer than they used to.
But the same dollar that bought you a loaf of bread in 2010 now buys you 2/3 of a loaf of bread. And the same $29,000 that bought you a top spec Accord in 2010 now buys you 2/3 of a top spec Accord, roughly.
Doesn't mean cars are cheap, but they weren't cheap 15 years ago either.
>"Car prices track inflation" was my point.
And of course you are correct because car prices are one of the major components making up inflation. I'm just saying it's important to isolate the major factors affecting car prices that are independent of the broader inflationary factors that are driving them up to understand both properly.
And I do agree with you about the affects of inflation and the lagging rise in income. But that will (or should) balance out with time, if the inflationary spiral can be brought in check. And for those not on fixed incomes.
Another way to view it is that SOME prices have risen faster than the overall inflation rate -- housing and health care especially. But new car prices (outside of the immediate pandemic years) have not. Used car prices may have.
(Some things have not risen as fast as the overall inflation rate too, such as consumer electronics.)
Even then, from reviews, the bmw has more storage hobs, more convenience hooks like shopping bag hooks, better infotainment system by light years, more tech, more customisation such as ride, engine response, exhaust etc, faster, more efficient, more paint options, more interior options, more ac zones
To be fair though, the cx90 is the only one I said be compared to luxury cars.
Yeah, i checked all possible cars in my budget, and the 6 had definitely best looking interior of all. Maybe a4 was comparable but a little smaller and pricier
To be fair a lot of budget brands like Mazda have been adding luxury features and styling in recent years so I could see where he’s coming from, but yeah traditional luxury brands tend to start even higher if bought new
My parents and my friends think my Mazda 3 is a luxury car, it may not be a “luxury car” but it really is not that far off. Definitely enough luxury for me though…
Mazda post ford is doing what it tried to do in the late 80s early 90s. They've been trying to go upscale since the inception but didn't have the budget of Honda, toyota and Nissan. Nissan is on a downward spiral and mazda is on the come up. If they would pull their head out of the tail and bring in the performance division "spirit r" in full force....they would be able to capture more sales
I got a 2023 cx-30 and my parents got angry asking why would I spend so much on a car. After I told them how much I paid they were like “I had no idea Mazda designed cars like this”
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In many countries, Mazda’s strategy is indeed to position itself as a more premium alternative vs Toyota, Honda, Subaru etc.
All newer vehicles are loaded with lots of unneccesary electronics that are used to justify their grossly exorbitant prices.
Mazda numbers were the "levels"
3 series were the basic smaller, entry level cars
5/6 were the mid range average cars
then the 9s were the high end cars.
then you have different packages of each
but no they didn't have a "Acura or Infiniti or Lexus" line of even higher end cars in the US
My bff got into my 2018 mazda6 touring and was like "wow this would be an expensive/fancy rental" and I'm like, it's the base model and at the same level as the camry at rental places 😂
To be fair.
Its a luxury to be able to buy a top of the range Mazda cx5. That sets you back a good $56k.
In this economy I'd be proud to be able to afford that.
The GT and Akera finishes do feel luxurious and are of great quality.
You never hear of a Mazda breaking down. But I do hear of range rovers breaking down, audis, jaguars and so on.
Depends on what you define as luxury.
Any brand new car in my eyes is a luxury not many can afford.
Small wins :)
Luxury and Mazda are 2 words i’ve never used in the same sentence. Newest Mazda I’ve driven is a base model ‘13 Mazda 3 GX. What they lack in luxury they make up for in overall driving experience.
Never driven a Mazda I didn’t like, even my ‘03 protege ES which is gutless.
My wife just bought a Mazda 3. I really like the inside but the door feels so light compared to her old Jetta. Feels like I would not fare well if it got into an accident
This vehicle literally gets better marks on side crashes than the jetta. Mazda uses lighter weight, higher grade tensile steel. So it's actually stronger.
As someone who has a 3 (new model) and has been unfortunately in lots of accidents not at fault in it. They fare VERY well. We got t boned at 80 and with 18k worth of damage the car kept me my partner and unborn baby very safe and the car was miraculously fixed.
Actually i once drove a CX5 turbo, it was very much comparable to an entry level Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC if you cover the Badge. If you get yourself inside CX90 with beige or white interior, it's almost luxury level.
Remember Toyota / Honda will go basic in entry level trims because they want you to keep Lexus / Acura open if you want a somewhat luxury trim But Mazda doesn’t have an upper luxury name so they put what they can into it while trying to keep their price within their competitors range.
The new Honda Civic is pretty comparable imo so they're definitely moving up on the interior quality but the price has increased a lot too
The new civic is beautiful, It is so hard to choose Mazda 3 vs Civic Hybrid.
For me it was between the Mazda3 and Corolla Hybird base models. 25 and 26K OTD respectively. Main factor in my decision was the engine and transmission. Standard and hella reliable 6spd auto and a 2.5L na instead of a CVT and a tiny, tiny engine with a electric motor backing it up. If you couldn't tell, I like my mazda.
The CVT in the Corolla Hybrid is a ECVT (or planetary gear) and share nothing with a traditional CVT other than the continuously variable aspect. I won’t disagree that the 3 is a nicer car for the money however.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Corolla. However, I just find Mazda much nicer to drive.
I don’t think Toyota could make their sedans and CUVs any more joyless to drive. Bumper cars have better handling.
Bro I'm on vacation with my mom, drive her rav4 for the 1st time in a while, it's crazy how little feeling is in that wheel, like theres no resistance at all, freaks me out a little, and yeah just super joyless, lit a point a-to-b machine and nothing else
Had a Corolla AWD Hybrid SE as a rental last month. Was a joke. Noisy as hell, slow, boring and got a cheap feel to it. I'd have prefered an Elantra to be brutally honest. Atleast Hyundai tries to make them interesting.
Same when I've had Corolla for a rental car. Basic interior and the engine felt pretty weak. This is from a conservative driver. I think the Civic is a much fairer comparison to a Mazda3.
Until you get to the Turbo PP. Then it competes more with the entry level from BMW, Audi or Mercedes.
Mazda wins easily when it comes to driving pleasure. If you like driving at all, then they're a good choice.
It's amazing how many people see "CVT" and think "run away!". It's important to know the difference between the two - good that you highlighted it. The ECVT is actually really efficient and very reliable.
I'm sure Mazda 3 has superior handing than corolla~ but Corolla hybrid is damnnnnn money pig the more you drive the more you save! Really wish Mazda 3 can get new Toyota hybrid system soon.
Yea it handles really well for what it is. And yea a hybrid would be nice, especially when living in Texas like I do where you have to drive everywhere
The highway mileage is nothing to scoff at on these. I speed and still get 35 mpg on the highway. I also live in texas. City is pretty bad sometimes though, dipping into 25 mpg with how I drive.
I did a big 10,000km road trip. I averaged 6.3-6.5L/100kms (whatever that is in murican) in my 3 The TransCanada has a 90km/hr speed limit in northern Ontario where it curves a lot through the shield. Which seemed to be the sweet spot, and the prairies were completely flat. For a 4 cylinder 2.5L is a reasonably large displacement. That's some great efficiency right there. On the highway the car barely sips gas.
That would be pretty average honestly, most turbo motors that are smaller will achieve more power and better mileage.
True, but there are advantages to a naturally aspirated engine. Especially a larger displacement 2.5L that's making the similar power and efficiency as a smaller turbo charged engine. It's going to last longer without forced induction, and it's simpler when it needs repairs. Turbos will also usually fail before an engine does and they're a boat load of work and cash to replace. Turbos on GDI engines also generally make them more prone to carbon build up as well. Similar power and efficiency out of a 2.5 vs a 1.5-2.0L with a turbo is exactly why it's a bit of an impressive design.
Lifetime avg at 22 brother. Mostly just short city driving with the occasional longer trip. A hybrid is what I should have got if I'm being honest but I wanted a bigger engine.
I’m realizing that as well. I’ve never wanted an electric car, but considering my short driving habits, it might be a good option. That or hybrid at least.
The CVT is not a true CVT in the Toyota Hybrid System. It’s called an eCVT and it has no belts, and is honestly one of the simplest transmissions you could ever make, you are hard pressed to ever think about it breaking also.
The ECVT is actually completely different from a CVT other than being continuously variable. It’s actually a much more reliable design than the standard automatic transmission or a standard CVT. There are no belts or chains in a ECVT, just gears, and less moving parts than an automatic.
Leave it to Toyota to make something more reliable lol, but just completely lifeless. I get it tho, they're like a 100x bigger than Mazda, obv they're doing something right
The prius and the camry hybrid are pretty quick in sport mode, Corolla is entry level
They also own Mazda
They own 5%, wouldn't quite say they own them
If the devil takes 5% of your soul….he owns u same thing here
Just steer clear of the turbos. They’ve been known to have trouble in the 2.5. Those 6-speeds are awesome, though. Like what on earth do you need 10 gears for (cough Ford cough)
I test drove Corolla Hybrid few years ago. The worst driving experience ever! Sluggish is understatement and the growl unbearable. 2020 Camry hybrid on the other hand is amazing! Acceleration, handling (especially SE) 2 leagues above at marginal price difference. I think that I would prefer Camry XSE or even better Hybrid XSE (esp TRD) over Mazda3 . New Mazda 3 series dropped the ball a little in suspension and handling department.
If you are going hybrid go Toyota IMO. They have one of the best hybrid systems out there IMO. They've been doing it for quite some time now. The Prius first released in Japan around 1990 something then hitting U.s. markets around 2000 something. If you want better handling though Mazdas aren't too far behind in mpg for non hybrids.
The Mazda 6-speed auto is a godsend in this world of derpy 10-speeds and CVTs. First auto I've had that shifted and felt and sounded natural and didn't make me want to go right back to a manual. I couldn't consider any other affordable car unless I lived in California and NEEDED a hybrid to stomach the gas prices. Only thing I don't like is it feels like a CVT off the line. Rides in first gear with the torque converter unlocked for way too long. Once it locks up and shifts into second it's lovely.
Looks is one thing, reliability and how the company operates is another. Plus the feeling of driving a Honda is just.... Meh. I've never been a Honda guy, owned 2 and couldn't Care less for them.
Agreed. I really like the Civic design, and the new 2025 hybrid model has a big boost in power and still has good MPG.
I have a new CX30 and a new civic. The build quality is not comparable. Every Honda I’ve owned has been a ratting box of shit. I’ve owned 3 brand new ones. They’re reliable, but there’s a ton of rattles. CX30 doesn’t have one rattle yet in 3 years, definitely built tighter.
I was looking at the Mazda 3 or Honda Civic both 2024 and the Civic around the Mazda 3 Preferred price range just couldn’t match up against the Mazda. The Mazda interior was definitely better.
The accord and acura interior have been pretty similar for awhile too. Tl that is. Now they've gone their own way, but a specced accord still has soft everything, decent deadening, and blows cold air on your ass. The avalon has mirrored Lexus pretty well. It's all about models and trims. Old lexuses are the best, on par with a modern base three series or a4. Different mission statements to be fair.
Not mirrored. Lexus mirrored Toyota.... The es350 is built based off the Avalon. They basically have identical engines. Just the Es350 has more sound dampening and "luxury" materials.
Reminds me of the ls400 interior as well, that plush shit on the door. Both engines are stupidly resistant to abuse. But there's certain aspects even on the es where the entire dash differentiates. Probably just start with the Toyota in mind they're basing off of and add a few extras, and the designs are nicer. No reason, modern day to spend the extra money unless you want rwd, v8 or sportier chassis i6 or v6 with awd. Most people would be happy with the avalon lol. I'd get a newer lexus because high revving v8s are few and far between. And not having to do rod bearings would be nice.
The platform is based off the Avalon. Meaning the frame. So of course it has a different dash. Suspension might be different. They do have similar driving dynamics with the Lexus being much softer cause of whatever they did with the suspension. For the price though like I said if you ain't doing long distance the Avalon is good enough. Same engine also both fwd. The Lexus V8 is a beauty. They take the abuse because the engine can truthfully output a lot more power they just underpower it for longevity. Imagine a supercharged or turbo charged is350 or an super charged is500. The N.A. V8 is already pushing close to 500hp if Toyota could pair it with an ZF my god. You have a crazy luxury japanese muscle car
Zf8 is the first auto I've had in a long time. Would be an amazing combo. Mines holding more power than I can use with b58. The is300 is ridiculous with even 15psi. The 350/500 would be overpowered if awd with minimal boost as well. I'd love to see the lfa engine utilized, but it probably won't happen. Yamaha and mercury need more influence lol. They made the lt4 c4 a completely different experience than any other American car at the time in mass production. Yamaha specifically needs a seat with the Germans for one last v10
People slept on that LFA v10. It was old school high revving goodness. A carbon fiber frame like they would have in F1 cars. It was an engineers wet dream. What I'd give to own one. It was basically an F1 car for the streets. Don't get me wrong the B58 after Toyota put it on the chopping block and sliced it open with the katana is beautiful. The way they handle cooling and everything give it another couple of years and if there aren't any major gasket issues. Then it'll be one of the best engines Bmw produced in quite a long time.
Sorta? I would take the top level trim of a Camry or Honda over the overpriced base level Acura or Lexus any day.
IMO honest to god if your driving on turnpikes frequently or any highways long distance that's 65-75mph I'd go for a Acura or Lexus. The cars are a more stable and less effected by crosswinds. My old Camry was nice. On bridge with high winds or having a truck blow by in the opposite direction you can feel the car veer off by the wind. Not so much in a heavier car. Also there is less driver fatigue on high speed curvy roads. I drive long distance frequently. Have drive at least 3,000 miles in multiple different classes and brands. In the end I don't hate on accords or Camrys but if I'm going the distance highway turnpikes and state highways I'm taking something slightly better if possible German or a japanese sport.
This is why I drive a Mazda
Because it's more expensive and more premium than cheaper less premium cars?
Because it's more ~~expensive~~ cheaper and more premium than ~~cheaper~~ more expensive less premium cars?
Maybe one trim of the cx90? Otherwise not accurate at all right? I guess it solely depends on where you live. Here Mazda has been a top seller for over a decade, top 5 mostly. They are selling less as they are so expensive now, you can get Korean built Hyundai and Kia here, for cheaper, and offer more tech. Also there is Skoda that offers more features and more premium features for the same money. Mazda is a hard sell for features or premium these days in many markets.
We don’t get Skoda in North America, but as for Hyundai/Kia I completely agree that they offer more features and tech for cheaper. Here’s where the issue lies… Hyundai Motor Co. has pretty much mastered the ability to feed into the idea that people shop/buy with their eyes. Most people would agree that Hyundai manufactures some of the most appealing, modern, and even futuristic looking cars. So you have to question why they’re so inexpensive. Our family has often given Hyundai the benefit of the doubt, but before ever purchasing one, we’ve thankfully had a number of mechanics and automotive technicians remind us that when it comes to the basics of what makes a car truly reliable (engine/transmission, wiring/electrical systems) these are the things Hyundai often neglects in favor of the fancy features and tech. Mazda isn’t perfect by any means, but they’ve worked hard to become one of the most well-balanced manufacturers that prioritize safety and reliability along with incredible driving dynamics and upscale comfort.
Yea okay! I guess because Hyundai/Kia are such a huge company, of which automotive is really just a side gig to how much money they make from their core industries, that is why they are able to save to much money - you will see how smart they are with manufacturing, in that they reuse their screens/software/hardware through many of their range, savings LOADS of money!! US got screwed with US assembled Hyundai's unfortunately. Everywhere else in the world has seen Hyundai/Kia see top reliability over the last decade. Yes, Mazda has been a top selling manufacturer here in Australia for a few decades now. Have been well known to be reliable and early on they included many safety features on base trims that others didn't. Again it's a different story today though, with Hyundai/Kia undercutting them while offering crazy fun cars like the N range which obviously offers a driving experience you can't get from Mazda's as they don't even make sporty cars outside the Miata anymore. Having owned a Hyundai for 4 years now, I can unequivocally say that it's so far as reliable as any Mazda I've ever owned, while offering more tech, safety, and fun than any Mazda 3 I've owned. Meanwhile we are getting Mazda failures, like transmission failures on CX90/CX50, oil leaks on Mazda 3 turbo/CX30, ND1 mx5 transmission failure, etc etc. Mazda have also had significant recalls recently with poorly assembled or failing parts. Given all manufacturers have lemon cars, you can only take it with a grain of salt when you get the hearsay biased opinions from mechanics. Most mechanics are just repeating what other mechanics told them honestly. Either way, I'm belting my Hyundai every day, and taken it to the track with it's track warranty multiple times and thrashed it. It's still feeling like brand new and have had zero issues. I also went to an N car meetup, and honestly all the owners seemed to have a great ownership experience except one or two with known issues.
It’s cheaper and more premium than other cars. I love my Mazda and wouldn’t trade it for anything
Which is how you end up either the boring faux luxury that's the only thing the offer now.
no this doesn’t make any sense. way more people are comparing toyota to competitors at a similar price than to a lexus. if they held too much back to try an upsell that minority of customers, they would be handing the majority over to competitors on a silver platter. they’re not incompetent.
Lexus LS is not somewhat luxurious. It's more luxurious than Mercedes s class lol.
They had Eunos as their luxury arm, wasn’t as big as Lexus or the other ones.
I mean wouldn’t it go ford, Mazda, Lincoln in terms of cheap to luxury? lol
this is the dumbest comment I have seen
Mazda can do that because almost all their cars are severely underpowered
I think “premium” is how Mazda describes it which is between luxury and normal cars
As a Mazda employee who recently completed Mazda brand training, you are absolutely correct… Premium brand quality was repeated more times than I can remember. As someone else mentioned, the 70/90 are much more aimed at luxury brands. It’s still a Mazda though, which is why they stick with the term premium. It’s even in the trim names.
Come to Canada, where it's GX/GS/GT, which has no logic!!
You want even less logic in Canada? Back in 2017, there was a "grand touring" upgrade package (the I've with the HUD), that you DIDN'T get when you ordered a GT, you had to pay extra for it (could be added to the GS and GT). Apparently, Mazda Canada has no idea that GT ALREADY MEANS "grand touring".
Grand X?, Grand Sport, Grand Touring
Which is the perfect description especially for their lower end items. They’re absolutely premium within their actual segment and demographic but do lack a lot of true luxury features. And importantly the touch points and items that a very average car buyer cares about they’ve clearly spent a lot of time working on
Psst, do the smart card stuff for mba points ;). It adds up quick! Also, mann I hate we are aiming to be "premium" I miss fun mazda 😔. Atleast we still have miatas and I keep hearing talks that Mazda is cookin up something.
As a Mazda employee that did 40% of said training today, I concur. They also say most of those videos are 15 minutes long too...
Yes budget luxury. They leave out many features from to trim cars and enter luxury, but they have nice leather
Basically same tier as Acura and Infiniti, neither of which is luxury.
Does he think luxury cars cost $30K? What year is he living in? Lol
Haha, to be fair, this was our first new car. My previous car was $13k.
Bro come to the uk, most folk are driving sub £10k cars.
What else would they do with all those cheap cars? Resell to a country where driving them is illegal?
You can still get some cars without keyless entry/push button start for $30k... The 2024 WRX base starts at $33,855(after delivery), and doesn't come with keyless entry or push button start.
My “luxury” 2020 BMW X3 doesn’t have keyless entry, even though my 2017 VW GTI did 🤷♂️
Most Mazdas are a step above Toyota’s but below Lexus when it comes to luxury. The CX-90 and CX-70 might be considered closer to luxury, but I’ve only read reviews - I haven’t driven one yet.
Incorrect, when I compared NX to CX5 GT, GT felt more refined and less plastic
dude, between a cx-5 (even top trim) and a lexus, the lexus wins all day.
Hell no. Lexus has hard plastics everywhere and glossy plastics
Bingo. Kids have no experience here.
your name is weed boy and you complain about the price of burgers at walmart. broke boys have no experience here
I had a 2021 Cadillac before my Mazda, and cross shopped with Lexus. My fully loaded cx5 has more luxury features, and trim is less plastic. Speaking from experience here.
Not when I made my purchase decision. NX felt cheaper in a dozen ways. Especially in that I’m a font nerd, and the Lexus/Toyota graphical design was a chaotic mess.
Nope
Not really
Might depend on the trim level. My wife’s CX-30 premium plus is pretty sweet. She had a 2016 signature edition CX-9 before this which had legitimate wood trim in the interior - it really threaded the needed between premium and commodity.
Tell your husband to research the Sienna. He will be shocked that it can be optioned to $50k.
50k? Lol. I have siennas on the way to my dealership that are approaching 60k and they are pre sold 45 days away. Siennas are definitely not cheap
If a car feels luxury to you then it's luxury
Lol I wouldn't call my 6 speed automatic Cx5 GT a luxury car. My TPMS won't even tell me which tire I need more air. I like it a lot, though.
My luxury car doesn't either. And I don't mind at all.
That’s interesting. My CX30, which is cheaper than the CX5 shows me which tire is low and the individual PSI of all the tires on the dashboard.
Yes. Cx30 is newer maybe that's why.
You can use the my Mazda app to see that actually
you cannot with cx-5, it dorsnt have the new sensors.
In new CX-5s it does have the exact same pressure sensors, at least in North America, unlike Europe where they still use the (IMO superior) approach of using the TCS sensors instead. Like many things the issue is 99.9999999% software/firmware. I still far preferred the 2024 CX-5 to the CX-50 with its dependent rear suspension (oh hello porpoising after any bump like I'm still in my '99 Jeep XJ) and "car-like" seating which makes it harder for someone who finds car seating problematic.
A work colleague asked me if my CX-60 (Homura) was a Lexus when he jumped into my car a couple of weeks ago…
My friend thought my mazda6 signature was a Lexus when I first bought it.
Then their “premium” branding strategy is working. Mazda is trying to go upmarket with their offerings. You get a lot for the money. Luxurious they are not, but you’re still getting good value on something largely considered high-quality and “nice” to the average consumer.
Idk... my Mazda CX90 Premium Plus feels pretty luxury compared to every other SUV I've driven...
If you go into the new Hondas and Toyotas it is lol the interior for all new Mazdas are the best out of all the other car brands. They’re very modern and very useful. I came from a Pontiac and I love the whole everything in the center console/shifter area. I wish the window buttons were there but oh well. But that can be someone’s dislike but they still have the better interior than the others imo.
Mazdas interiors are the best in the class they compete with, or close
Toyota interiors have always been bad and have somehow gotten worse. Our last gen fleet Priuses were pretty rough, lots of hard plastic, every bad cloth seats, thin door cards etc. The 2023's we got in were somehow even worse. The door cards are paper thin, featureless plastic slabs with a pad for your elbow and not much more. The seats are garbage, worse than our one remaining 07. visibility is nonexistent, they rattle with less than 40k miles on them and they drive like trash The $60k retail GR Corolla still has the featureless plastic interior of the base Corolla. I'm not impressed by the civic either. There just isn't a trim available with even leatherette seats, and the interior is just shod in plastic. The cloth seats aren't terrible though, just not good.
Mazda has come a long way in the aesthetic category, and they run good. On the other side our Toyota wasnt cheap and the interior esp for the driver is the most unwieldy plain looking thing on earth. Quality and warranty and blah blah blah but id swap the body out with a Chevy or Ford SUV if I thought I had the mechanical prowess, it's really that bad.
That’s because Mazda is trying to be known as a luxury brand. And for how much they sell their cars at it’s insane how cheap they are for the quality
I test drove an Acura and I was not impressed compared to my CX-9 Signature. Sorry it may not be Luxury but it’s better than the top trims on regular cars.
What year did your husband time travel from?
I drive Audi myself but I must admit that Mazdas from 2017 or newer have very nice interiors
Slowly but surely more people are recognizing Mazda as becoming similar to Acura/Volvo levels of Luxury. Not quite Lexus or Mercedes yet, but the CC-90 is damn close, we'll get there soon!!
I actually don't want them to because they are already pricing me out.
All cars are pricing me out haha. $25k for a base Mazda 3, Civic Sedan, Corolla Hatch.
^ This. I love the brand, but I just won't pay these prices I'm seeing/quoted for an IC based car.
Mazda and Volvo are not comparable.
Yes we like Mazda but you have to be objective
As someone who recently drove both a CX-90 and a XC90, Mazda isn't there. Love em. But they aren't there.
This. Nowhere close to Volvo
Volvo is Chinese made crap. I would choose mazda everytime
Exactly
Yeah, because Mazda left Volvo in the dust years ago.
Volvo’s overall interior design ethic is lovely, just lovely. But its user interface is hard to live with. Distracting. Mazda’s benchmark has been BMW and, as en ex-Beemer driver, IMHO they are close to the mark these days.
I love Mazda and I see it as more value for the money compared to Volvo. However, as far as luxury is concerned, anyone who claims Mazda is anywhere to close to Volvo has never driven any of the newer Volvos or is a Mazda fanboy
Semi true and swayed my family. My wife has had BMW X5s for years and years. We have had 4 of them. 2018 we decided on an CX9 and never looked back so far. It’s cheaper. It came with all the options and features that cost thousands and thousands on the X5. There are small things that are not as “luxury” but overall very happy with the decision.
My friends who aren’t car people at all said my Mazda3 is like a Tesla. Idk if I’d go that far, but it’s definitely nice.
I’d take that as an insult lol, lol
😆
I would get a copy Consumer Reports review, they explain the pros and cons of various SUV’s and list their recommendations. Subaru was in the top of their list but the styling lacks for me.
Yawn. Husband is a moron lol
Your husband has never sat in a luxury car then
Your husband has no idea how modern luxury cars actually feel and look on the inside. Mazda’s do have slightly nicer interiors than your basic Honda but they’re not even close to an actual luxury car like a BMW for example.
Car prices have gone a lot higher in recent years due to a number of factors, many that are due neither to costs of production nor inflation. In response I think Mazda has pushed their brand up-market with appoinments and features, most likely to offer a sense of value for the prices they have to charge to maintain a decent enough margin to make it profitable. I bought a '21 Mazda 3 2.5l S, the lowest trim of what used to be their econo-box zoom-zoom car and it's way over-equipped for what I really need or even want. But it's a much quieter car for it too, something I do like.
Just the other day I ran the math on this. Did you know a 2024 Honda Accord hybrid is almost exactly the same price, adjusted for inflation, as a 2010 Accord was when brand new? I have not done the math for Mazdas but "cars are so much more expensive now" isn't really true. It's dollars that are more expensive.
It can be complicated running that sort of analysis since the price of cars is a significant component of the inflation numbers. If the rising price of cars makes inflationary numbers higher it only makes sense they should track closely. [Here's an interesting article](https://www.npr.org/2023/03/18/1163278082/car-prices-used-cars-electric-vehicles-pandemic) on why price of cars has gone so much higher since 2020. The article is a bit over a year old, but I believe it's still relevant. One of the major non-inflationary contributions to car prices is the semi-conductor shortages since "when automakers can't make as many vehicles as they would like, they prioritize their most profitable cars..." Mazda appears to have made their low-end cars more profitable by "up-marketing" them. The shortages may have abated but we're still dealing with the after-effects in the used markets which can spill over to the new market when frustrated buyers buy new instead of paying high used prices. Another non-inflationary contributor is the rise of EV's and PHEV's, a segment in which Mazda has been under-represented. Being forced to sell gas powered cars they must be paying CAFE fines which we pay in the form of a higher price, for cars especially. Mazda appears to have slanted production towards SUV's that are less affected by CAFE regulations and more profitable.
Don't follow the argument. Inflation is inflation. It affects all prices. The value of a dollar is what it is. "Car prices track inflation" was my point. The average price of a new car has not risen dramatically relative to other goods and services that make up the total inflation rate. Car prices have risen in tandem with other consumer durable goods. Since incomes haven't risen as fast as prices, a car might well cost a higher percentage of the median income now, but that's a different argument. In terms of what an actual dollar was worth in 2010 vs 2024 -- that is, the overall rate of inflation -- the dollar cost of a new car has not risen by more than that rate of inflation , which describes a wide range of prices and costs. I think the bigger issue is income stagnation and, now, interest rates being high, both of which are very real problems. And the fact that supply constraints keep demand high. So there are fewer deals. And the fact that used cars have risen faster than inflation due both to supply constraints and cars lasting longer than they used to. But the same dollar that bought you a loaf of bread in 2010 now buys you 2/3 of a loaf of bread. And the same $29,000 that bought you a top spec Accord in 2010 now buys you 2/3 of a top spec Accord, roughly. Doesn't mean cars are cheap, but they weren't cheap 15 years ago either.
>"Car prices track inflation" was my point. And of course you are correct because car prices are one of the major components making up inflation. I'm just saying it's important to isolate the major factors affecting car prices that are independent of the broader inflationary factors that are driving them up to understand both properly. And I do agree with you about the affects of inflation and the lagging rise in income. But that will (or should) balance out with time, if the inflationary spiral can be brought in check. And for those not on fixed incomes.
Another way to view it is that SOME prices have risen faster than the overall inflation rate -- housing and health care especially. But new car prices (outside of the immediate pandemic years) have not. Used car prices may have. (Some things have not risen as fast as the overall inflation rate too, such as consumer electronics.)
Your husband must not be watching news or notice about inflation.
Mazda has been aiming to break into the luxury market while still maintaining the every-man budget. They do this extremely well.
Except current line of cars when optioned to every luxury are very expensive. Cx90 is more expensive than every man can afford.
And compared to a moderately specced x7?
Even then, from reviews, the bmw has more storage hobs, more convenience hooks like shopping bag hooks, better infotainment system by light years, more tech, more customisation such as ride, engine response, exhaust etc, faster, more efficient, more paint options, more interior options, more ac zones To be fair though, the cx90 is the only one I said be compared to luxury cars.
Yeah, i checked all possible cars in my budget, and the 6 had definitely best looking interior of all. Maybe a4 was comparable but a little smaller and pricier
They are definitely succeeding, slowly but surely
Yeah. A base model Mazda 3 sedan starts at $24k.
Mazda is a "premium" car, not a luxury.
Take a look at the Kia Carnival Minivan. Good value for the features it has.
To be fair a lot of budget brands like Mazda have been adding luxury features and styling in recent years so I could see where he’s coming from, but yeah traditional luxury brands tend to start even higher if bought new
They've been marketing themselves in that direction ever since the zoom zoom thing didn't work out
My parents and my friends think my Mazda 3 is a luxury car, it may not be a “luxury car” but it really is not that far off. Definitely enough luxury for me though…
Yeah, my dad thought I got another performance car when he saw my new 2024 Mazda 3 Sport...
Mazda post ford is doing what it tried to do in the late 80s early 90s. They've been trying to go upscale since the inception but didn't have the budget of Honda, toyota and Nissan. Nissan is on a downward spiral and mazda is on the come up. If they would pull their head out of the tail and bring in the performance division "spirit r" in full force....they would be able to capture more sales
I got a 2023 cx-30 and my parents got angry asking why would I spend so much on a car. After I told them how much I paid they were like “I had no idea Mazda designed cars like this”
Mazda wants to be known as a luxury option. This has been their strategy for awhile now. Seems Ike it's working. Lol
Blue collar cars just like store brand food have gotten exceptionally better in the last decade.
I'd consider Mazda's quite luxury. Like it's not a BMW/Mercedes, but it isn't a cheap brand either. Somewhere middle I guess
Have him bring it to a Mazda dealer for service and he'll realize it isn't a luxury car.
Actually, the dealership I take it to is super nice. Compared to the place we take our Honda, you'd really think it was a luxury brand.
To be fair, it does look and feel luxurious compared to similar vehicles from Honda/Toyota despite the comparable price tag.
Well my exclusive line mazda cx 50 feels luxurius to me:) Tbh I like it better than my husband’s bmw i4
It is basically, what's the problem here?
Mazda - to my knowledge - doesn’t have a luxury line, like Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti.
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I would say Mazda definitely leans more to the luxury side.
In many countries, Mazda’s strategy is indeed to position itself as a more premium alternative vs Toyota, Honda, Subaru etc. All newer vehicles are loaded with lots of unneccesary electronics that are used to justify their grossly exorbitant prices.
Mazda numbers were the "levels" 3 series were the basic smaller, entry level cars 5/6 were the mid range average cars then the 9s were the high end cars. then you have different packages of each but no they didn't have a "Acura or Infiniti or Lexus" line of even higher end cars in the US
It is.
My bff got into my 2018 mazda6 touring and was like "wow this would be an expensive/fancy rental" and I'm like, it's the base model and at the same level as the camry at rental places 😂
A coworker got into my CX-5 carbon and asked if it was a 50K car. Nah, only 32. LOL
Mazda IS an “intermediary luxury brand” so he’s not entirely wrong.
I’d rather have the new Camry for $30k , 50mpg
It's fancy and high class and sporty, go away. 😜
To be fair. Its a luxury to be able to buy a top of the range Mazda cx5. That sets you back a good $56k. In this economy I'd be proud to be able to afford that. The GT and Akera finishes do feel luxurious and are of great quality. You never hear of a Mazda breaking down. But I do hear of range rovers breaking down, audis, jaguars and so on. Depends on what you define as luxury. Any brand new car in my eyes is a luxury not many can afford. Small wins :)
Luxury and Mazda are 2 words i’ve never used in the same sentence. Newest Mazda I’ve driven is a base model ‘13 Mazda 3 GX. What they lack in luxury they make up for in overall driving experience. Never driven a Mazda I didn’t like, even my ‘03 protege ES which is gutless.
Great color!
My wife just bought a Mazda 3. I really like the inside but the door feels so light compared to her old Jetta. Feels like I would not fare well if it got into an accident
This vehicle literally gets better marks on side crashes than the jetta. Mazda uses lighter weight, higher grade tensile steel. So it's actually stronger.
Check IIHS ratings. You would be fine in an accident
Not against anything bigger unfortunately
IIHS tests every vehicle the same. The test is not adjusted for mass.
Exactly. If I car that is bigger than it crashes into it, it’s obviously not tested, and will fare far worse
Don’t go by feeling, look up its crash test ratings.
As someone who has a 3 (new model) and has been unfortunately in lots of accidents not at fault in it. They fare VERY well. We got t boned at 80 and with 18k worth of damage the car kept me my partner and unborn baby very safe and the car was miraculously fixed.
Bruh…watch the crash test rating on the Mazda 3 and you will see how safe it is.
The GT trim is their answer to Lexus and Audi
Yep of someone wants a luxury car but wants to save money and lose out on features and tech, Mazda is a good option.
Your husband is a veteran of the korean war?
Actually i once drove a CX5 turbo, it was very much comparable to an entry level Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC if you cover the Badge. If you get yourself inside CX90 with beige or white interior, it's almost luxury level.
Nope. Just get a Lexus
Noone wants boring as cars to drive
Have you not seen the amount of people that buy SUVs?
I have an es f sport and it’s not boring at all. I drive a new Mazda recently and it felt like I was in a tin can
And we owe it all to the Dems…with their fake presidents, scamdemics and their proxy wars….Let’s keep printing Moneeeeeee….!!!
he must be poor, get rid
wow! what a great story!!!! did you find $20 on the ground and the whole neighborhood clapped after?