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Sporty and Elegant: Mazda CX-5

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The CX-5 supplies a powerful presence among small SUVs.

2018 Mazda CX-5
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 in Grand Touring guise.

Mazda may be a small player in the automotive sphere, but not one model fails to garner the attention it deserves. Credit goes to Mazda designers for delivering a fetching design across its entire model line.

That model line now includes three cars (Mazda3, Mazda6 and MX-5 Miata) and three utility vehicles (CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9). Every model comes with a four-cylinder engine; Mazda offers nothing smaller or larger. No electric cars, no hybrids and no diesels (at least not yet).

2018 Mazda CX-5 Overview

My most recent Mazda model was none other than its compact CX-5 utility vehicle. This one comes in three trims: Sport ($24,150), Touring ($26,215) and Grand Touring ($29,645). Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is available. Add $1,300 for all-wheel drive and another $975 for the destination fee.

Mazda introduced the CX-5 in 2013, replacing the previous Tribute. At that time, the new SUV represented a fresh break for Mazda, which previously shared its compact SUV platform with the Ford Escape (and the earlier Mercury Mariner). In 2017, the second-generation model rolled out, retaining the basic footprint of the original, while delivering a new nose and updated equipment.

For 2018, Mazda drops the Grand Select trim. Its lone engine now features cylinder deactivation technology for a slight boost in fuel economy. The standard features list now includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel along with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

2018 Mazda CX-5

Exterior Highlights

Is it a raised hatchback or an SUV? No, the CX-5 doesn’t confuse with its design aspiration, at least not entirely. Mazda designers essentially applied the beautiful curves, sharp edges and gaping grille of its car models to this SUV. It looks great and offers proof that a crossover can be beautiful.

Standard features include LED lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and a roofline spoiler. Among the list of options you will find automatic leveling headlights, LED fog lights, heated side mirrors, 19-inch alloy wheels, a power-sliding moonroof and a power rear liftgate.

Interior Highlights

Do you want a roomy interior? The 2018 CX-5 does not disappoint. It is most comfortable for four, but you can fit five in a pinch. Its standard cargo space comes in slightly below competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape at 30.9 cubic feet or 59.6 cubic feet with the second-row seat folded.

The CX-5’s front seats are comfortable, supportive and look extra special when wrapped in leather. The cabin is fairly quiet, although at highway speeds some wind noise intrudes. The climate control system on my Grand Touring tester worked quite well. The heated seats and heated steering wheel were also useful and most welcome on chilly mornings. The CX-5 doesn’t match the storage compartments of the top models, although I appreciated the large open storage compartment at the base of the center console.

Standard features include power windows, power door locks, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats. Available features include imitation or real leather seats, power front seats with driver lumbar support, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, heated outboard rear seats and dual-zone climate control.

2018 Mazda CX-5

Safety & Technology Features

Kudos to Mazda for delivering a model that is a 2018 Top Safety Pick award recipient from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS gave the CX-5 top marks in every crashworthiness category and also recognized this Mazda for its front crash prevention technology.

Speaking of safety technology, the 2018 CX-5 comes with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera and brake support. Shoppers may also opt for Mazda’s I-Activsense Package with high beam control, lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, radar cruise control with stop and go, and brake support. The top-trim model also offers something called Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition.

Mazda equips the Sport model with a four-speaker audio system, supplies six speakers with the Touring edition and blesses the top-of-the-line Grand Touring edition with a 10-speaker Centerpoint audio system. Bluetooth, an auxiliary audio input jack and two USB ports come standard. Mazda also includes a 7-inch color display, HD Radio and Aha, Pandora and Stitcher radio integration.

Beginning on the Touring level, you’ll find a pair of rear USB ports. HomeLink and a trial satellite radio subscription accompany the Grand Touring model. All models comes with keyless entry and push-button start. Navigation is extra. Sorry, Mazda doesn’t supply Android Auto or Apple CarPlay integration. At least not yet.

2018 Mazda CX-5

On the Road: 2018 Mazda CX-5

Who knew a small SUV could be so fun? I found myself almost forgetting that I was behind the wheel of a utility vehicle whenever I drove the CX-5. This model comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Mazda pairs this engine with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Step-off acceleration is not super fast, but it is no laggard either. This SUV picks up speed steadily and the transmission complies with its smooth shifting. Under hard acceleration, the transmission doesn’t hunt for gears — that’s the kind of drama you don’t want in any vehicle.

This SUV’s chassis features sporty car tuning, enabling it to carve corners or at least come close to doing so. Engaged steering and firm brakes are two of its top attributes. We found the ride comfortable, but the engine is noisy under full throttle. I like how the CX-5 handles better than our leased Toyota RAV4. Yes, I said it.

The CX-5’s fuel economy is competitive, coming in at 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. Those numbers drop by 1 mpg each with all-wheel drive. When properly equipped, this SUV has a tow rating of up to 2,000 pounds.

One important footnote to add: a second engine, this one a turbo-diesel, will also join the CX-5 engine family. Expected to arrive last fall, it has yet to appear. Figure that Mazda is working diligently to garner the approval of the EPA and CARB, before its official debut.

2018 Mazda CX-5

Parting Thoughts: Mazda CX-5

The 2018 CX-5 demonstrates Mazda has what it takes, delivering a level of sportiness not common to the segment. Notwithstanding its smaller than average storage compartment, the CX-5 acquits itself by delivering a premium and sporty offering in the top-trim Grand Touring edition.

Perhaps your most significant dilemma is where to start your search. I believe the Touring edition delivers what most people want. Opt for the Preferred Equipment Package ($1,250, Bose 10-speaker audio system, navigation, power moonroof, power liftgate and HomeLink) and you’ll come away with a well-equipped front-wheel drive model for under $29,000.

Of course, all this is before you strike your best deal, as discounts and other special deals await.

2018 Mazda CX-5

2018 Mazda CX-5 Specifications

Mazda 2018 CX-5
Segment Compact SUV
Base Sticker Price $24,150 ( plus $975 destination charge)
Price as tested $34,865
Standard Engine 2.5-liter, inline-four
Horsepower 187 @ 6,000 RPMs
Torque (lb.-ft.) 186 @ 4,000 RPMs
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Seating 5
Curb Weight (pounds) 3,563 to 3,693
Wheelbase (inches) 106.2
Length (inches) 179.1
Width (inches) 72.5
Height (inches) 65.4
Headroom (f,r…inches) 39.7; 39.0
Legroom (f,r…inches) 41.0, 39.6
Shoulder room (f,r…inches) 57.1; 54.8
Hip room (f,r…inches) 55.2, 55.3
Storage (cubic feet) 30.9; 59.6
Gross vehicle weight (pounds) NR
Towing (pounds) 2,000
Payload (pounds) NR
Fuel Regular
Fuel Tank (gallons) 14.8, 15.3
EPA Fuel MPG (city/highway) 25/31 (FWD); 24/30 (AWD)
Manufacturing Plant Hiroshima, Japan

See Also — Care Tips for Your New Vehicle

2018 Mazda CX-5 photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

Forecast: 7 Top Auto Trends for 2016

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We take a look at what may become the top auto trends for 2016.

2016 Chevrolet Camaro.
2016 Chevrolet Camaro. (photo copyright GM Corp.)

This year (2015) will go down as one for the books. Specifically, it will be a sales record breaker once the books have been closed on Jan. 4. That means on Tuesday we’ll know which model was the best selling car (Toyota Camry), the best selling truck (Ford F-150), and the best selling luxury brand (BMW). Sorry for the spoilers.

Since the market bottomed out in 2009, consumers have been snapping up new vehicles, especially crossovers. Manufacturers continue to roll out new models along with the latest technologies and safety features.

If you haven’t purchased a car in at least a decade you’ll find a long list of included or available amenities not offered way back when. To that end, we’ll look at some of the top auto trends for 2016 and the impact of such trends.

1. Car sales continue to rise.

We’re due for an economic downturn, but that drop may still be more than a year away. If so, then look for US auto sales to top 18 million units in 2016, setting yet another record.

Although the Federal Reserve Bank has raised interest rates by 0.25 percent, the effect on consumers should be negligible. What is helping nearly everyone is low gas prices. As long as regular grade gasoline averages $2 per gallon or less, consumers will save hundreds of dollars per year.

2. The presidential election will become a factor.

No matter who the Democrats and Republicans serve up as their candidate, we’ll have two people who will be more alike than different. A number of policy issues will be discussed and debated; creating jobs for Americans will remain a top issue.

Expect both candidates to promise the moon, even if they can barely deliver on those promises. Expect a new administration to carefully review the fuel economy standards, perhaps proposing a rollback of the 54.5 mpg mandate that nearly all manufacturers will find tough to implement by 2025. That rollback, however, won’t occur before the new president takes office in January 2017.

2016 Volvo S60 Inscription

The made-in-China Volvo S60 Inscription.

3. Chinese-built cars will increase in numbers.

It wasn’t too long ago that the thought of Chinese-built cars reaching the North American market had some people up in arms. After all, how could any manufacturer compete against a $6,800 Geely? Then again, what junk would be foisted upon consumers at such a low price point?

Well those fears are unfounded. First, no Chinese manufacturer has entered the market all by itself. Second, the cars that are imported from China are from known manufacturers. For instance, the Volvo S60 Inscription, a stretched wheelbase model, is made in China. The Chinese-made Buick Envision arrives this spring.

Although the floodgates aren’t about to open, you’ll see more products from different places thanks to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP), which is expected to be signed in February. You can also expect strong push-back against TPP from both sides of the political aisle.

See Also — It’s a Wrap: 2018 in Review

4. Automotive lightweighting goes mainstream.

Okay, vehicle lightweighting is nothing new. Its just widely misunderstood.

A case in point — when I inquired at a recent automotive media event regarding lightweight properties for a new pickup truck, my hosts didn’t seem to understand my question. That question was further clouded when a colleague quipped, “They didn’t want to make it lighter because it is a heavy duty truck.” Sigh.

Car manufacturers, however, get lightweighting. They’re also working with elastomer manufacturers around the world to incorporate nitrile butadiene rubber in under-the-hood applications. As long as these and other materials are cost-effective, recyclable and practical, then greater adoption will continue throughout 2016 and well beyond.

2015 Ford F-150

The current-generation Ford F-150 is the poster model for all things lightweighting.

5. The lurch to autonomous driving continues.

The experts tell us that autonomous driving will arrive in 2020. That means within five years we’ll see the first driverless cars take to the road. That also means the beginning of the end for behind-the-wheel driving. Or does it?

No doubt, some type of autonomous driving will be in place, but with more than 250 million registered vehicles in the US, the percentage will be small, quite possibly matching the adoption rate for electric vehicles. Consumers won’t give up their cars en masse for several reasons, including wanting to keep the cars they love as well as not being able to afford the attendant higher cost for autonomous vehicles.

Politically, a backlash against autonomous vehicles may emerge, especially if consumers grow weary of the intrusiveness — perceived or otherwise — that emerging technologies bring, particularly in the form of privacy. Instead of a wholesale adoption of autonomous cars, a number of safety features will be standard. We’ll see adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and lane keep assist in more models in 2016.

6. New alliances and partnerships emerge.

We’re seeing more alliances emerge across the auto industry and that pace should continue in 2016. Such agreements will be forged to give manufacturers an edge wherever needed. Toyota and Mazda hooking up essentially keeps the latter in the ultra-competitive US market for the long haul while giving Toyota much needed product (Scion iA) for a low cost. Mazda will soon benefit from Toyota hybrid technology; both manufacturers will probably share Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies to some degree.

I won’t predict where those alliances will emerge, but figure that any product holes will be filled by such agreements. Mitsubishi, if it is to survive in the US, must find a partner to supply a midsize sedan, share in EV development, and otherwise fill out its weak portfolio. Today’s strange bedfellows may become tomorrow’s partners.

2016 Scion iA

The Scion iA is the result of a partnership between Toyota and Mazda.
(Photo copyright Toyota Motors).

7. Technologies begin to work as touted.

If you have purchased a car within the past two or three years, the telematics system may be one of your least favorite options. Consumer surveys conducted by J.D. Power have amplified that frustration, thus getting it right will give manufacturers a much-needed edge in luring on-the-fence shoppers.

Helping matters are two technology giants — Google and Apple. Both companies are vying for dashboard access with Google Android Auto and Apply CarPlay enabling ease of smartphone integration. Where manufacturers are slow to adopt either, third-party audio systems such as Pioneer and Kenwood are making units compatible with both. Thus, if you have an older car, you can enjoy that access and avoid buying a new car.

Top Auto Trends

Other top auto trends will have little to do with your car, at least directly. Most will have to do with buying a vehicle, with leasing likely to continue to grow in numbers, while long-term auto loans of up to 84 months become more common.

Of course, if any major international crisis erupts, then these predictions should be amended or tossed.

Snazzy SUV: 2016 Mazda CX-5

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2016 Mazda CX-5

Mazda has had much success with its small utility vehicles, selling the Tribute from 2001 to 2011 and the CX-7 from 2007 to 2012. Still, the automaker had lacked a strong competitor to go up against the likes of the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and the Toyota RAV4, and a new model was in order. That model is the Mazda CX-5, now one of three SUVs sold by this niche Japanese brand.

The Mazda CX-5 advances the brand’s flowing KODO or soul of motion design on an SUV frame, not an easy task considering that such body styles typically aren’t especially handsome. But this manufacturer found a way to apply the same design energy to the vehicle’s frame and has successfully delivered one of the more admirable products in its segment.

My weekly sample of Mazda CX-5 driving came in the form of a Grand Touring AWD edition, the top-of-the-line model in this SUV line. Routinely, manufacturers send out the best of the best for media inspection, what tends to skew journalist objectivity. I’ll try to do my best here to present a more balanced and comprehensive look at the middle product in Mazda’s three crossover utility vehicle range.

Introduced in 2013, the Mazda CX-5 replaced the slightly larger CX-7, filling the gap created by the Tribute’s cancellation two years earlier. The CX-5 is sized between the two retired models, but offers a better layout and more interior room than the larger CX-7. Calling it the CX-5 allows Mazda to someday slip a new model between the CX-5 and CX-9, but that may not be necessary.

Mazda offers the CX-5 in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring editions. The base Sport front-wheel-drive model is the budget leader, coming in at $21,545. It is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission and is also the only one powered by the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 155 horsepower and 150 foot-pounds of torque. All other models, including the Sport with a 6-speed automatic transmission (also priced from $21,545) are powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine making 184 horsepower and 185 foot-pounds of torque.

Choose the Mazda CX-5 Sport and you’ll pay from $24,965. Select the Grand Touring edition and your price comes in at $27,970. As delivered, the sticker price on the test model reached $32,340 as such options as all-wheel drive ($1,500) and a Grand Touring Tech Package ($1,505) with navigation; adaptive front lighting; LED headlamps, fog lights, daytime running lights; LED rear combination lamps; and automatic brake support are found.

The base model is also an EPA leader in the segment, delivering 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The larger engine found in front-wheel drive models is EPA-rated at 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Choose all-wheel drive and you’re still seeing 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Credit Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology with delivering efficiencies gained through its family of high compression ratio engines, efficient transmissions, and vehicle lightweighting.

The flowing silhouette of the CX-5 is marked by a pronounced upper grille, wraparound headlights, a sporty lower grille opening, and flared embrasures housing the optional fog lamps. Deep sculpting along the hood gives way to the same along its profile. Distinct character lines around the wheel wells and across the SUV’s profile are also evident.

The CX-5 features a canted windshield, a sloping roofline and a gradually rising belt line. At the rear is an integrated liftgate spoiler, wraparound combination lights, body sculpting reflectors, and as many as two exhaust tips. Notably, aluminum-alloy wheels are standard across the product line, measuring 17 inches in the base model and 19 inches in the Grand Touring edition. These wheels are set within all-season tires.

Inside, the CX-5 offers generous room for five with manual or power-operated bucket seats in the front and a 60-40 or 40-20-40 split folding seat in the rear. Heated front seats are standard on the Grand Touring; this same edition is also the one offering the three-place split-folding rear bench seat.

Cloth seats are standard; premium cloth seats are found in the Touring edition and leather-trimmed seats are standard on the Grand Touring edition.

Standard equipment includes push-button start, a tilt and telescopic steering column, air conditioning (dual-zone climate control in the Grand Touring edition), power accessories, Bluetooth connectivity, two 12-volt outlets, and a USB audio port, and an audio system. Keyless entry is standard in the Touring and Grand Touring models. MazdaConnect telematics is a package option in the Sport automatic model and is included elsewhere.

Behind the three-spoke steering wheel (with driver controls on the face) is a three-dial instrument panel with each dial housed within its own cowl. On the left is the tachometer, the center features the speedometer, and the right dial features digitized oil pressure and fuel economy readouts. At the base of the speedometer is a second digital display featuring trip miles and the odometer readout.

The center stack is cleanly laid out with a 7-inch color display at the top, followed by vents, then switches and knobs to manage climate control. At the base of the stack is a large open area for housing your smartphone with an SD card slot, two USB ports and an auxiliary input port present. The transmission shifter with a drive mode switch for enabling sport mode is also present.

A big dial managing the available MazdaConnect telematics system is where you’ll also find the audio system volume control — this is the first model I’ve driven where the audio system controls weren’t further up in the center console. Between the seats is a compartment, sized to hold your smartphone and two cup holders. A deep storage area between the seats includes a tray. This is where you will also find a 12-volt outlet.

All four doors come with pockets and are large enough to hold beverage containers. Seat back storage pockets and a deep glove box is also present.

What you don’t get with the CX-5 is a power liftgate. As long as the doors are unlocked, you can lift the door, but it won’t open for you automatically. The generously proportioned rear storage unit should be a family favorite with more than 34 cubic feet of storage space. Side storage pockets and a 12-volt outlet are also present. A temporary spare tire sits beneath the floor.

In the Grand Touring edition, latches automatically drop each section of the 40-20-40 rear seat. But the outboard seats will only fall forward if the front seats are moved up approximately half way. At nearly 6-feet tall, I don’t want to sacrifice leg room to drop the rear seat on my side.

On the road, the Mazda performed as expected. My wife has a Toyota RAV4, so I’m intimately familiar with the segment, having also driven Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tucson models. A Honda CR-V will also be tested in the near future.

I like that Mazda still offers a 6-speed manual transmission, although it comes paired with the base engine only. Its a given that demand for manual gearboxes is too low for manufacturers to support these vigorously. Besides, the smaller engine may not have quite the level of power some owners want.

As for the larger engine, it seems suited to this SUV. What I did notice about the powertrain system is that it is loud under the hood. Furthermore, the transmission holds revs higher and longer than I would have expected — you have to remind yourself that a traditional automatic is sending power to the wheels, not a CVT.

Although the CX-5 has the look of sporty Mazdas, you shouldn’t mistake it for a Mazda 3 or any other sporty car. Its higher profile, average wheelbase size and overall dimensions mean you’ll have to take corners with ease. It isn’t a slouch on twisty roads, especially with all-wheel drive, and otherwise it handles as expected. Ride comfort seems better than average for this segment and the brakes are certainly firm.

Safety is a big issue these days as consumers consider what’s available to them. For its credit, Mazda achieved the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, as the CX-5 was awarded the highest scores in all crashworthiness categories. This model also has an available smart brake system with collision warning, what ultimately gives the Mazda the institute’s highest score.

I understand that Mazda is emphasizing styling and fuel economy with this model. I’m also glad that they didn’t think they needed to include a pair of jump seats for a temporary third row along the lines of the Nissan Rogue. A more performance-oriented version would be fun, but with utility vehicles getting snapped up in record numbers, Mazda is positioned to meet most customer’s needs, including with its snazzy CX-5.

See Also — Driven: 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab LT 4×4

2016 Mazda CX-5

Grand Touring AWD

  • Sticker price from $29,470
  • Price as tested: $32,340
  • Seats 5
  • 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine
  • 184 horsepower @ 5,700 RPM
  • 185 foot-pounds of torque @ 3,250 RPM
  • 3.50 inches bore by 3.94 inches stroke
  • Engine compression ratio: 13.0-to-1
  • Six-speed automatic transmission
  • Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
  • Length: 179.3 inches
  • Width: 72.4 inches
  • Height: 65.7 inches
  • Passenger volume: 102.3/103.8 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 34.1/65.4 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: 2,000 pounds
  • EPA: 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway
  • Regular grade gasoline
  • Fuel tank: 15.3 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 3,589 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: Top safety pick+
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 5 years/unlimited miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Hiroshima, Japan

See Also — Sporty and Elegant: Mazda CX-5

Toyota and Mazda Collaboration Will Lift Both Automakers

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And so it begins. Giant Toyota and wee Mazda announced a collaborative agreement this week that will benefit both companies. The agreement allows each automaker to leverage products and technologies from the other, a partnership that does not include Toyota taking a financial stake in its much smaller competitor.

What the agreement effectively does is to expand an earlier arrangement whereby Mazda is supplying Toyota with a small car based on its Mazda 2 subcompact platform. That vehicle, the 2016 Scion iA, debuts this fall. In exchange, Mazda can now tap Toyota’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology.

Symbiotic Task Force

The two companies will establish a joint committee to determine how each automaker can make use of the other’s chief assets. The collaboration will be broad and involve a number of disciplines, including various environmental initiatives and advanced safety technologies.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Mazda, President and CEO Masamichi Kogai, held a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday to announce the accord.

Toyoda pointed to two strong Mazda initiatives that have helped this small car manufacturer succeed in an ultra-competitive global market: its SKYACTIV Technologies and KODO―Soul of Motion design. Both present an enticing edge that Toyota does not have and can most certainly benefit from moving forward.

Said Toyoda, “Mazda has proven that it always thinks of what is coming next for vehicles and technology, while still managing to stay true to its basic carmaking roots. In this way, Mazda very much practices what Toyota holds dear: making ever-better cars.”

Mazda 2 Scion iA collaboration

One of the earlier collaborations between the two automakers
has turned the Mazda 2 into a 2016 Scion iA.

Toyota Saves the Day

Not mentioned by Toyota’s president is that the provision essentially seals Mazda’s fate. Certainly, ever since the Ford Motor Company severed its three-decade relationship with one of Japan’s smaller automakers, the company has lacked the financial resources, especially the economies of scale, it once had.

For example, the earliest Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute models shared the same bones. Although the Tribute’s replacement, the CX-5, is a superior model, the cash outlay for the compact crossover utility vehicle has been enormous.

Quite frankly, Mazda working alone does not have the resources to keep pace with the big guys. But Mazda and Toyota working cooperatively essentially provides the former with a savior. You can now scratch Mazda off your list of vulnerable automakers.

Speaking on behalf of Mazda, Kogoi said, “Toyota is a company that has shown steadfast resolve in acting responsibly on global environmental issues and the future of manufacturing as a whole. I also have tremendous respect for Toyota’s dedication in its pursuit of ever-better cars through ongoing innovation.”

Toyota Mazda collaboration

Toyota will supply Mazda with hybrid technology.
Perhaps a Mazda diesel is in the offing for this Camry.

Hydrogen and Hybrid Technologies

No doubt, Toyota and its 10.2 million per year car building efforts will energize Mazda and its 1.2 million annual output. The two companies are competitors, but the move will enable each one to plug specific product holes.

For Mazda, the company will gain access to Toyota’s hydrogen vehicle technologies and expand its PHEV offerings. It isn’t quite clear how this arrangement will work, but look for a PHEV Mazda CX-5 or Mazda 6 in the future. Most likely both. Rebadging the hydrogen Toyota Mirai as a Mazda doesn’t seem likely, although that chassis might someday power a future Mazda product.

Toyota gains access to Mazda’s SKYACTIV technologies, represented by fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel engines, advanced transmissions and lightweight bodies. Of special interest could be Mazda’s diesel engines, one of the weakest areas for Toyota.

Toyota does have diesel technology, but readying those engines for the American market would be a costly undertaking. Mazda has a twin-turbo 2.2-liter diesel engine in the wings, one that meets both European and US emissions standards. The engine is suitable for the midsize Mazda 6 sedan and might also be made available with the Toyota Camry.

As for the Camry, not everyone wants a hybrid and the Mazda diesel would give Toyota something that does not involve vehicle electrification. And if certain KODO design elements transfer to the Camry and other Toyota models, the world’s largest automaker may suddenly gain a much-need styling edge.

Collaboration Gauntlet Thrown Down

FCA collaboration or suitor

Sergio Marchionne is actively campaigning
to win a suitor for FCA.

The Toyota-Mazda arrangement may prove to be the most comprehensive one amongst automotive manufacturers yet. Beyond outright mergers, acquisitions and stake holding, most relationships today are based on special projects involving complex technologies.

For example, Honda and General Motors are collaborating on hydrogen technology. Mitsubishi and Nissan are working on supplying the former with a midsize sedan for the US market. Daimler, Ford and Renault-Nissan are working on fuel-cell technologies with the first models expected to arrive in 2017. Every manufacturer is working with someone else to share technologies and to mitigate costs.

And beating the drum for ever broadening industry cooperation has been none other than Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) CEO, Sergio Marchionne. Just this week Marchionne met with Tesla and Apple CEOs, raising speculation that a Silicon Valley partnership may be in the offing. Marchionne has made it known that FCA is looking for a suitor. He has also stated that the global market can only support six major players.

In any case, the Toyota-Mazda joint effort will likely encourage other automakers to boost their efforts. Importantly, the timing for Mazda couldn’t be better as the next economic turn down is approaching, what most certainly will shake out some of the weaker players.

See Also — Auto Industry Buzzword: Collaboration

Juked: 2016 Mazda CX-3

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Finally, the Nissan Juke has some competition.

2016 Mazda CX-3

Nissan Juke alternative: 2016 Mazda CX-3

The compact utility vehicle segment will soon be populated by a new model — the 2016 Mazda CX-3 — what is making its global debut today at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. Where the ugly, but fun Juke polarized the masses, the CX-3 presents a more desirable persona, one that also advances Mazda’s attractive KODO-Soul of Motion design language.

The all-new Mazda CX-3 should serve as a signal to all that Mazda intends to stay in the US market and that its product line is one of the more stylish ones in the business.

2016 Mazda CX-3

2016 Mazda CX-3

That Mazda’s newest model is a utility vehicle should surprise no one. The crossover utility vehicle market continues to grow and the bottom end of the market is woefully under-represented. Nissan has largely had the market to itself since it introduced the Juke in 2011, now shoppers have a choice in what most likely will become a red-hot segment as manufacturers ready competing models.

Of the 2016 Mazda CX-3, Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations said, “CX-3 complements the Mazda lineup, as it perfectly hits the target in a rapidly growing segment in the industry. Customers are shopping for vehicles that are fun to drive, great to look at, fit their busy lifestyles and are an outstanding value, both at purchase and when it comes time to trade it in, making every Mazda a smart choice.” Yes, take that Nissan: Mazda thinks your Juke is, well, too freaking ugly.

2016 Mazda CX-3

Gas Engine Only, No Manual Transmission

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 has been designed for global release. In the US, it will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Sorry, unlike the Nissan Juke, there is no manual transmission for the states.

Other markets will see a 1.5-liter diesel engine — imagine such a model available in the US. Well, keep on dreaming as Mazda has no plans to bring diesel clatter stateside, at least not for the CX-3.

The Mazda CX-3 will offer standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive with active torque control for improved handling. Seating five, the CX-3 measures 101.2 inches between the wheels and is 168.3 inches long, 69.5 inches wide and 61 inches tall.

2016 Mazda CX-3

KODO Design Language

From the outside, the Mazda CX-3 advances the brand’s now-familiar face. The headlamp design has the turn signals located outside of the main headlamp unit for a narrow, sharp design. Those lights connect seamlessly with the grille and are integrated with the LED daytime running lights. The front fascia is sporty and displays an aggressive look.

This model has strong shoulders, a powerful stance and its body lines suggest a vehicle in motion, hence the KODO look. Dramatically arched wheels, strong profile characteristics, rocker panel trim and a sports car like roofline enhance its muscular persona. To the rear the Mazda CX-3 is outfitted with a spoiler, wraparound tail lamps and twin chrome exhaust pipes.

Inside, the design flair includes a driver-oriented cockpit, generous use of soft-touch materials and special accents across the door, on the seats and across the dashboard. Cloth seating is standard, parchment leather and suede are available.

Mazda’s SKYACTIV thinking extends to the body that offers a more rigid design for better handling, improved safety and weight reduction. In the CX-3, Mazda makes greater use of high-tensile steel and ultra-high tensile steel throughout the body.

2016 Mazda CX-3

Japan First, Then the World

You’ll have to wait a while for the Mazda CX-3 to show up at US Mazda dealers. Mazda says that it will go on sale first in Japan next spring, then roll out to other markets as the year advances. Pricing, trim levels and other details will be shared closer to its release date.

2016 Mazda CX-3

Photos courtesy of Mazda North American Operations.

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2014 Mazda3 Packs In The Zoom-Zoom

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Mazda took advantage of a slow early summer news cycle to unveil the next generation of its popular Mazda3 compact. Through a concerted series of reveals in five cities including New York, this Japanese automaker has followed through on its promise to raise the bar in a tightly competitive segment.

2014 Mazda3.
Mazda brings the zoom-zoom to a new generation Mazda3.

New Model: 2014 Mazda3

The new Mazda3 represents the third generation of a vehicle that has topped 3.5 million sales to more than 120 countries in 10 years. It advances the KODO design language found in the CX-5 and Mazda6, bringing forth numerous SKYACTIV technologies including new engines and transmissions. SKYACTIV is Mazda-speak for efficient engines and transmissions as well as lighter, but more rigid platforms.

Expected to arrive in Mazda dealers this fall, the 2014 Mazda3 will offer two gasoline engines displacing at 2.0 and 2.5 liters. Both engines will be mated to a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic transmissions.

The standard engine is rated at 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 150 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. The larger engine makes 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 foot-pounds of torque at 3,250 rpm. Mazda says that performance is up by more than 10 percent over the previous MZR engine.

2014 Mazda3 Dimensions

The new model comes in lower and leaner than its predecessor and sits on a 106.3-inch wheelbase. The 2014 Mazda3 is 175.6 inches long, 70.7 inches tall and 57.3 inches wide. Interior changes free up slightly more hip and shoulder room; previous leg- and headroom capacities are preserved. Mazda tacked on two inches to the wheelbase while shaving two inches from the compacts overall length.

Mazda says that the new model will be outfitted with 16-inch steel wheels. Also available are 16- and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Other exterior features include an active grille shutter, daytime running lamps, slanted headlamps, and sporty tail lights.

Active Driving Display

Inside, Mazda describes changes that symmetrically realign the pedals to provide improved driver comfort and safety. Its cockpit layout includes an intuitive display of buttons and knobs, to allow the driver to be more engaged with the actual art of driving. Apparently, Mazda is seeking both to raise driver comfort as well as to showcase its in-house effort to combat distracted driving.

The 2014 Mazda3 also gains a new Mazda feature: Active Driving Display. ADD represents a clear pop-up panel that displays vehicle speed, navigation directions as well as other significant driving information. Mazda says that ADD places necessary information comfortably in the driver’s line-of-sight and where a driver’s eyes are naturally focused. Notably, the display automatically folds and hides when the Mazda3 has been turned off.

New Safety Features

The 2014 Mazda3 also introduces i-ACTIVSENSE, a suite of advanced safety technologies that incorporate established and new features. i-ACTIVSENSE makes use of cameras and milliwave radars to help the driver spot road hazards, avoid wrecks and reduce damage should an accident occur. Mazda notes that i-ACTIVSENSE won’t eliminate accidents, but it can help drivers respond faster in a bid to minimize them.

The suite includes high beam control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, forward obstruction warning, smart city brake support and Mazda radar cruise control. Smart City kicks in when the Mazda3 is traveling at speeds below 19 mph, an automatic braking system that will bring the 2014 Mazda3 to a stop if the driver fails to respond in time.

Fuel Mileage Estimates

Official fuel mileage estimates have yet to be announced, but estimates of 42 to 44 mpg on the highway have been suggested. If that threshold is reached, it would put the all-new Mazda3 at the top of the pack.

Don’t look for a diesel Mazda3, at least not initially. Although the 2014 Mazda6 will offer that option, it isn’t a feature slated for a model that competes with the Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, Dodge Dart, Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta, Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Forte for customer attention.

Photo courtesy of Mazda North American Operations.

Small Mazda is Big on its Future

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Among car manufacturers with a presence in the United States, Mazda is small and easily outsold by more than half the market players. In recent years the company has sought to separate itself from the Ford Motor Company while some of its closest rivals including Subaru, Isuzu and Daihatsu, are now partially owned by the Japanese mothership, Toyota.

Japanese Exit

Mazda CX-5Isuzu and Daihatsu no longer sell cars in the US and Suzuki is the next player that is wrapping up its American dealer network. Mitsubishi continues to struggle and may make its exit next, leaving just Subaru and Mazda standing in addition to Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

That Mazda remains viable is a credit to its management team especially as it has seen Fords stake whittle from 33.4 percent in 2008 to just 3.5 percent today. The two companies previously collaborated on several models including cars and SUVs. That collaboration has ended with both companies now building separate platforms for previously related products.

US Sales

Mazda’s December US sales rose by 21.6 percent and finished up by 10.6 percent for 2012. Although the year-over-year gain is below the 13.4 percent market increase for the year, it is a good sign that Mazda is still being taken seriously by consumers. Mazdas gains were below Toyota, Honda and Subaru, but came in at a faster clip than Nissan, Ford and GM. In comparison, Mitsubishi’s sales tumbled by 26.9 percent.

2014 Mazda6Mazda has long counted on the Mazda3 to provide about half of its sales. This compact car is quite easily one of the best in its segment, prized for its sporty looks, good handling and very good gas mileage. The Mazdaspeed3 is its halo, performance model, a five-door hatchback that features an all-aluminum 2.3-liter in-line four cylinder engine and a track-tuned suspension. For 2012, the Mazda3 made up 44 percent of its US sales.

SKYACTIV Technologies

Relying on one model especially a compact vehicle is not a plan for success. New technologies, including its SKYACTIV family of lightweight and efficient engines and transmissions, are beginning to roll out across the Mazda lineup, beginning with the CX-5 and soon extending to the 2014 Mazda6 midsize sedan. That sedan will be priced from $20,880 and is EPA-rated at 38 mpg on the highway, tying the segment-leading Nissan Altima. This vehicle is rated 26 mpg around town.

How long Mazda will maintain its mostly independent path is not known. However, with a bevy of exciting and fuel efficient models on tap including European models equipped with diesel engines, its short-term future should be good. Down the road as the industry continues to consolidate Mazda may find hooking up with a suitor or forming an alliance will be to its liking. In the meantime, concern that this Japanese brand might beat Mitsubishi to the exit door seem unfounded, an unlikely prospect at that.

See Also — Snazzy SUV: 2016 Mazda CX-5