By Alex Leanse – MotorTrend
Fourth gear, throttle wide open down the straight. A right-hander closes in ahead. Don’t brake yet … Now! The front end dips. Cut two cogs with the left paddle. Pop off the stoppers and toss the steering clockwise. Ease into the power. Feel the weight shift back. Manage that balance as the tires bite the camber. Target the exit, and unwind the rack while squeezing the throttle to the floor.
By Nick Yekikian – MotorTrend
The 2021 Kia Seltos is the brand’s latest entrant in the SUV octagon, and it enters the arena with a full head of steam. Last year Kia delivered a knockout punch in the form of the three-row Telluride. It was so good, we named it our 2020 SUV of the Year. With the recent release of the handsome new K5 sedan, as well as a redesigned Sorento crossover making its way to our shores, it’s safe to say that Kia is on a roll. The question is, can anyone stop this South Korean juggernaut?
Well, Mazda certainly has a contender in the CX-30. The hatchback-based CUV gives the Seltos a run for its money—but when it comes to dollars and cents, the Mazda is starting on its metaphorical back foot. The 2020 Mazda CX-30 with Premium package we’re using for this comparison is actually more expensive than the Seltos SX it’s up against. The Mazda stickers for $31,425, while the Kia will run you $29,485 all in.
The Mazda MX-30 isn’t Mazda’s first electric vehicle per se – it’s made several prototypes, including the absurd, Kinder-Egg-on-wheels EX-005 concept of 1970 – but it is Mazda’s first production EV.
Careering straight down the plug-in crossover route seems like a safe bet for pulling in buyers, but there are plentiful clues Mazda’s doing things differently. The name, for starters: MX is usually the prefix of coupes and roadsters, most notably the MX-5, so affixing it here (in lieu of more explicit EV badging) draws a real line in the sand that we should think of this as sporty.
By Miguel Cortina – Words – MotorTrend
We compare Mazda’s three small SUVs. As SUVs have grown in popularity, Mazda has continued to expand its lineup to satisfy its customer’s needs. The Mazda CX-3 plays in the subcompact SUV game and is designed for those who want a slightly higher ride than a car and, if necessary, all-wheel drive. The CX-30 offers a bit more space and more power, while the CX-5 is best suited for families, taking an important role in the compact space. Besides positioning themselves in different segments, each model brings something unique to the table—whether it’s styling, practicality, or more space. Let’s take a look at how they compare.
By Erick Ayapana – MotorTrend
Before a recent road trip to Lake Tahoe, my friends and I debated between taking my long-term Mazda3 or my buddy’s new Volvo XC90. Somehow, I won. They were eager to relax in the fancy and spacious Volvo, but I convinced them that the Mazda3 would be nearly as comfortable. And for the most part, they were happy. Here are five things that stood out from our road trip
BY Alisa Priddle – MotorTrend
Newcomer to the Mazda lineup feels like you spent more than you did.
The 2020 Mazda CX-30 might be the newest addition to the Mazda family, but one peek inside makes it abundantly clear this crossover belongs in the same showroom. The Japanese automaker might not have the size, clout, or breadth as larger full-line global automakers, but the CX-30 continues the tradition of excelling in the areas where Mazda does well. One is the fun-to-drive quotient. The other is interiors that are clean, sophisticated, and feel more premium than the segment might warrant.
First, what is a CX-30? Mazda’s newest small crossover is essentially a lifted Mazda3. That means it is bigger than a CX-3 subcompact crossover that shares underpinnings with the Mazda2. The CX-30 uses the larger Mazda3 chassis and is packaged to give rear-seat passengers more legroom than the regular sedan and more cargo room behind the second row than the larger Mazda3 hatchback. Confused? Bottom line is it is a small crossover that sits between the CX-3 and the CX-5. The only reason it is not called the CX-4 is because that name was already taken for a model sold in China.
By Erick Ayapana – Words – Motor Trend
I’ve come to appreciate a few things in our long-term Mazda3 that set it apart from its main rivals, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. For starters, the optional head-up display (Active Driving Display in Mazdaspeak) is well executed, and Mazda gets bonus points for including its brightness and screen height in the programming of the Driving Position Memory buttons (another rare feature in the segment).
The display is fairly sharp and includes a comprehensive list of info, including vehicle speed, active cruise control settings, cross-traffic alerts, and lane keep assist warnings. I’m also a fan of the blind-spot indicators, which flash on the left or right side of the screen. One downside? Head-up displays are notorious for “disappearing” when you’re wearing polarized sunglasses, and unfortunately the Mazda’s screen does appear dimmer through the lenses of my Ray-Bans.
