Showing posts with label mazda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mazda. Show all posts
Saturday, October 19, 2013
2012 mazda MAZDA5
Theres a reason the minivan is considered the quintessential vehicle for parents. You see, its the perfect vehicle for schlepping around the kids and the stuff that comes along with them. No other vehicle can match the minivans huge interior space, three rows of seating, sliding rear doors and low ride height. Yet as great as a minivan is, it can be overkill for families with just one or two little ones. Thats where the 2012 Mazda 5 comes in.
Completely redesigned for 2012, the latest Mazda 5 is an evolution of the previous model. Highlights include a bit more power, more comfortable seating and swoopier styling. At its core, however, the 5 remains a mini-minivan for those with modest family transportation needs. With two seats in each of its three rows, it only seats six compared to the seven- or eight-passenger seating of a big minivan (now thats an oxymoron). But if occasions to haul multiple passengers are few and far between, the Mazda 5s design has a sizable (size being the operative word here) practical advantage over compact crossover SUVs.
Theres another advantage the Mazda 5 has over its quasi-family mobile competitors -- its fun to drive. Like the Mazda 3, it goes around corners with control and poise. Some automakers may boast that their minivans or SUVs "handle like a car," but the Mazda 5 actually does. In fact, it handles like a really good car. Because of its smaller size, its also much easier to maneuver through tighter spaces, and you wont have to think twice about squeezing into compact parking spots.
That said, the 2012 Mazda 5 certainly isnt for everyone. Some folks really do need commodious space, and theres something to be said for V6 power on hilly terrain or with a full load of people aboard. The Mazda 5 also isnt available with certain features common to regular minivans, like power-operated sliding doors, sunshades or factory-installed navigation and entertainment systems. In contrast, the all-new 2012 Ford C-Max -- also a mini minivan built on a platform shared with the Mazda 5 has all sorts of electronics features. Still, the Mazda 5 has everything you need and enough passenger and cargo space for most young families. Essentially a design hybrid between a minivan and a wagon, the Mazda 5 is a great alternative choice and definitely worth a look in these lean economic times.
We found the Mazda5 with its driver oriented cockpit-style interior to be well suited to the task of hauling around up to five others and their stuff. The interior is a mixture of hard and soft touch materials designed to a high level of quality and appropriate for the price. Gauge lighting is typical Mazda red, which lends itself back to that zoom-zoom mantra that the brand is known for. An eyelevel instrumentation pod gives the driver an update on vehicle functions. Curiously, there is no in-dash monitor for audio and navigation purposes. Nissan has managed to find a supplier who makes a unit for around $400 retail. We are almost certain there is a supplier willing to cut Mazda a deal like that, too.
The feeling of the controls are top shelf, and show a significant improvement in quality control. Numerous storage areas are found around the cabin including cubbyholes and under seat storage in the middle-row captain’s chairs. By the way, with three rows of seats which move and fold, there are up to 16 different seating configurations. Our Grand Touring model featured black leather-trimmed seats with red accent piping. The front seats were not overly bolstered, but did offer good support during our four-hour drive through San Diego.
Other interior improvements include low-effort sliding doors that are more child-friendly and happen to be just the thing for tight parking areas. Armrests on the second row reclining captains chairs, and one touch walk-in feature with ample walk through are just a few of the other features built into this new design.
The Mazda5 uses the automaker’s penultimate Nagare styling, which is the flowing design language from the firm’s Hiroshima-based design studios. The automaker has since moved on to a new design language, which leaves its models less gleeful but perhaps more classic.
According to Mazda Vehicle line manager Tetsu Nakazawa, the 5 doesn’t fit any traditional segments. It combines the best attributes of the C-segment, the Minivan, and van markets and as a result, “offers so much surprise and delight.”
The 2012 Mazda 5 is a three-row, six-passenger compact minivan available in three trim levels: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. The base Sport comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, automatic climate control (with rear vents and fan controls),
The power for all the 2012 Mazda MAZDA5 comes from a 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder engine generating maximum power of 157 bhp and 163 lbs-ft of maximum torque. The standard transmission here is a 6-speed manual transmission, while the Sport trim gets a 5 speed automatic transmission as optional equipment; the same is standard on all other models.
The estimated fuel economy for the MAZDA5 with either of the transmission is 21mpg and 28 mpg respectively. In our performance testing a 5 Grand Touring sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in as close as 9.5 seconds.
Every Mazda 5 comes with standard stability and traction control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In Edmunds brake testing, the 5 came to a stop from 60 mph in 130 feet -- a few feet longer than average.
Driving Impressions
If you want some added utility but dont want to give up the agility and urban maneuverability of car, the 2012 Mazda 5 is an excellent choice. Acceleration is slightly pokey (especially on hilly terrain), but the 5s handling is excellent. On winding roads, the 5 rewards the driver with precise steering and controlled body motions. Passengers riding with an enthusiastic driver will also appreciate a retuned suspension that helps keep them from sliding and swaying in their seats. On the Edmunds test track, the 5 nearly matched the handling numbers of the much smaller Mazda 2. Quite simply, the 5 is fun to drive, something we cant say about any other regular minivan.
reference:www.leftlanenews.com,www.edmunds.com,www.automotivecraze.com
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
The new Mazda 3 shows us its first images
We were craving see him and already here. The new Mazda 3 luce as flashy and spectacular as is appreciated inre images filtered before time, since its official presentation not take place until tonight. Following the line of Mazda 6, the new compact nippon shall enjoy a frontal with a large grill in the form of uve and chrome that extend to the cover of the headlights. Also whee larches bulky and muscular, what Mazda comes denominating commercially as KODO Design.
Undoubtedly Mazda has done well their duties to homogenize the brand image across its range of models and adapt it especially for your product more focused to European market, the Mazda 3 of five doors. De moment we can not confirm any engine, although we intuit that in a prominent place will be the new 2.0 SKYACTIV of 145 CV and 2.0 SKYACTIV-D of 150 CV, well as manual transmissions and automatic by torque converter and the system of stopping and automatic start the motor.
Undoubtedly Mazda has done well their duties to homogenize the brand image across its range of models and adapt it especially for your product more focused to European market, the Mazda 3 of five doors. De moment we can not confirm any engine, although we intuit that in a prominent place will be the new 2.0 SKYACTIV of 145 CV and 2.0 SKYACTIV-D of 150 CV, well as manual transmissions and automatic by torque converter and the system of stopping and automatic start the motor.
Obviously, to compete in Europe will require access engines, diesel and gasoline, so we must be attentive to the possibility of a small displacement engine SKYACTIV.
With respect to the compartment the Mazda 3 has resorted to a very sober modernity in which the computer screen provides a navigation and entertainment on the dashboard. The control panel is much more focused on the conductor in the Mazda 6 and highlights the presence of a center speedometer and tachometer.
With respect to the compartment the Mazda 3 has resorted to a very sober modernity in which the computer screen provides a navigation and entertainment on the dashboard. The control panel is much more focused on the conductor in the Mazda 6 and highlights the presence of a center speedometer and tachometer.
Stay tuned in here since the official launch of Mazda 3 will arrive this evening, at which time Ill talk about all the news of this new compact and issues almost as important as the aesthetic turn has given this new generation of Mazda 3.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
2012 Mazda 2 GX
Today Im just going to be adding just one car. Work has ensured I dont get enough time to update this review blog on a frequent enough basis. Anyways onto another subcompact car.
Introduction: The Mazda 2 is the smallest car in Mazdas global lineup lineup, its known as the Demio in Japan. Originally made in 1996, the Mazda 2(known as the 121) started out as a small wagon-like vehicle in the segment. To Mazdas surprise it sold very well in Japan. By the 2nd generation in 2002 the 121 name was dropped for the simpler 2 and had mostly gained more modern styling. The car came with much available optional equipment ie. ABS, EBD, etc. now of which is mostly standard. By 2007 Mazda introduced the 3rd generation once again making modest improvements. This would be the first time this car would be available in North America in 2010. The current car is based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, the similarities however end from then on.
As with most economy cars, there isnt much interesting history about them. However this particular car I was surprised with how long it took for it to arrive. As Im writing this post, the design is pretty much the same as what it was back in 2007 so its now a 6 year old design with no real notice of a new one on the horizon. Still as with any new Mazda Im always eager to see how it drives.
Performance: The North American Mazda 2 only comes with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. It produces 100 hp and 98 lb.ft of torque available with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. With the automatic its acceleration from 0-100 km/h is a bit more than 10 seconds, manuals are near 9 seconds. Despite being the weakest car in the segment it doesnt feel that slow although its not going to win a drag race anytime soon. Noise levels as the car is accelerating is acceptable. Fuel economy is really this engines primary weakness in the segment, due to its aging design and being one of the lightest its still not all that great.
My Score: 6/10 - The engine is acceptable despite its low power, hurt primarily by fuel economy.
Handling: As with any Mazda, how it handles is one of the key items which has put Mazda on top. Well...I got to say Mazda did an excellent job at engineering this cars chassis. When put to some tough corners this Mazda 2 is rather stable and very competent. Due to its slightly tall hatchback body you will notice some body roll but not enough to outright scare you. Even during fast cornering I didnt notice much understeer. The steering feel among the segment is without a doubt the best, the rest all feel artificial and overboosted in feel, this car retains power assist which is a much more superior feel. I really enjoyed driving the Mazda 2 and even with rather capable and fun handling the ride comfort doesnt suffer. This is an agile subcompact that none of the others come close to for making the driver enjoy the task that is driving.
My Score: 10/10 - Handles well, rides well and is actually fun despite being in the economy section.
Interior: This segment of cars is known for being rather no frills until lately with the Fiesta and Sonic adding a lot of gimmicks. The Mazda 2 being an older design has stuck to the older ways and very much looks no frills. It actually comes with power locks and power windows but its lacking in modern feel and modern features like bluetooth connectivity. The digital gauges are indeed rather outdated in look. Much of the dash is made of hard plastic, you will find very little that seems luxurious. However the layout is very simple and is mostly intuitive, theres not much to get lost with. The seats are surprisingly comfortable. The visibility on this particular car is pretty good apart from its short hood where seeing the front is rather difficult. The build quality is rather good, all Mazda 2s for North America are built in Hofu, Japan.
My Score: 6/10 - No frills basically, while lacking in features its not missing critical features either, and its well made, apart from its outdated look nothing else seems wrong.
Styling: The Mazda 2s styling was done before Mazda introduced their standard Nagare smile that is currently seen on the 3 and 5. As a result its a cross between the two retaining a conventional looking grille but since its introduction the Nagare smile was added although its a lot smaller in this car meaning a front plate covers it up mostly. The rest of the car is rather simple and fits with the whole cars bubbly and friendly looks. This is the most conservatively styled of the Mazda cars but considering how some love or hate the 3s looks, the 2 is more likely to not cause such divisions.
My Score: 7/10 - Its mostly conservatively styled, it looks good for the segment while not divisive its also not ground breaking either.
Value for money: This is where things are a bit interesting. Yes the interior is outdated and rather cheap looking, but when the car starts under $15K yet comes with many features people expect as standard it doesnt seem so bad. My advice though is if youre thinking of a GX buy the convenience package, its just a slight bit more but includes A/C and a few interior features that the base GX lacks. Given the GX + Convenience package, its still an excellent value. The car simply put drives really well, and its rather likable. If one was going for the GS trim, thats not good value, but this particular level Id say its the best priced. No stupid gimmicks in this car means nothing extra to go wrong.
My Score: 10/10 - A lot of the car looks cheap inside, but based on how it drives and what you get...it is cheap and then some.
Conclusion: With all thats said and done, I actually really liked this car. Its one of those cars that doesnt feel like a total downgrade as far as the driving experience goes. Its cheap, fun and rather practical. Im not put off by its rather simple nature, yes I do wish it came with some new modern features. However, one of the hardest things to engineer into a car is charm and this car funny enough has it. It doesnt give a great first impression when you just sit inside of it, after a proper drive though its very very easy to like it. I enjoyed the 1st gen Honda Fit when it was available because it was so nice to drive I was upset that the current 2nd gen was much more boring. However after trying this car out this car, this is even better to drive than the first Fit. Truthfully all I want in a next Mazda 2 is the Shinari styling(seen in the new 2014 6), modern interior connectivity, preferably nicer materials, but keep everything else. This is one of those cars where I come off thinking a theoretical Mazdaspeed 2 would actually be amazing. The Fiesta sold better than the Mazda 2, but truthfully this is the better car.
Overall: 39/50 - Overall a rather nice subcompact vehicle, an updated interior is actually all it needs.
Read more »
Introduction: The Mazda 2 is the smallest car in Mazdas global lineup lineup, its known as the Demio in Japan. Originally made in 1996, the Mazda 2(known as the 121) started out as a small wagon-like vehicle in the segment. To Mazdas surprise it sold very well in Japan. By the 2nd generation in 2002 the 121 name was dropped for the simpler 2 and had mostly gained more modern styling. The car came with much available optional equipment ie. ABS, EBD, etc. now of which is mostly standard. By 2007 Mazda introduced the 3rd generation once again making modest improvements. This would be the first time this car would be available in North America in 2010. The current car is based on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, the similarities however end from then on.
As with most economy cars, there isnt much interesting history about them. However this particular car I was surprised with how long it took for it to arrive. As Im writing this post, the design is pretty much the same as what it was back in 2007 so its now a 6 year old design with no real notice of a new one on the horizon. Still as with any new Mazda Im always eager to see how it drives.
Performance: The North American Mazda 2 only comes with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. It produces 100 hp and 98 lb.ft of torque available with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. With the automatic its acceleration from 0-100 km/h is a bit more than 10 seconds, manuals are near 9 seconds. Despite being the weakest car in the segment it doesnt feel that slow although its not going to win a drag race anytime soon. Noise levels as the car is accelerating is acceptable. Fuel economy is really this engines primary weakness in the segment, due to its aging design and being one of the lightest its still not all that great.
My Score: 6/10 - The engine is acceptable despite its low power, hurt primarily by fuel economy.
Handling: As with any Mazda, how it handles is one of the key items which has put Mazda on top. Well...I got to say Mazda did an excellent job at engineering this cars chassis. When put to some tough corners this Mazda 2 is rather stable and very competent. Due to its slightly tall hatchback body you will notice some body roll but not enough to outright scare you. Even during fast cornering I didnt notice much understeer. The steering feel among the segment is without a doubt the best, the rest all feel artificial and overboosted in feel, this car retains power assist which is a much more superior feel. I really enjoyed driving the Mazda 2 and even with rather capable and fun handling the ride comfort doesnt suffer. This is an agile subcompact that none of the others come close to for making the driver enjoy the task that is driving.
My Score: 10/10 - Handles well, rides well and is actually fun despite being in the economy section.
Interior: This segment of cars is known for being rather no frills until lately with the Fiesta and Sonic adding a lot of gimmicks. The Mazda 2 being an older design has stuck to the older ways and very much looks no frills. It actually comes with power locks and power windows but its lacking in modern feel and modern features like bluetooth connectivity. The digital gauges are indeed rather outdated in look. Much of the dash is made of hard plastic, you will find very little that seems luxurious. However the layout is very simple and is mostly intuitive, theres not much to get lost with. The seats are surprisingly comfortable. The visibility on this particular car is pretty good apart from its short hood where seeing the front is rather difficult. The build quality is rather good, all Mazda 2s for North America are built in Hofu, Japan.
My Score: 6/10 - No frills basically, while lacking in features its not missing critical features either, and its well made, apart from its outdated look nothing else seems wrong.
Styling: The Mazda 2s styling was done before Mazda introduced their standard Nagare smile that is currently seen on the 3 and 5. As a result its a cross between the two retaining a conventional looking grille but since its introduction the Nagare smile was added although its a lot smaller in this car meaning a front plate covers it up mostly. The rest of the car is rather simple and fits with the whole cars bubbly and friendly looks. This is the most conservatively styled of the Mazda cars but considering how some love or hate the 3s looks, the 2 is more likely to not cause such divisions.
My Score: 7/10 - Its mostly conservatively styled, it looks good for the segment while not divisive its also not ground breaking either.
Value for money: This is where things are a bit interesting. Yes the interior is outdated and rather cheap looking, but when the car starts under $15K yet comes with many features people expect as standard it doesnt seem so bad. My advice though is if youre thinking of a GX buy the convenience package, its just a slight bit more but includes A/C and a few interior features that the base GX lacks. Given the GX + Convenience package, its still an excellent value. The car simply put drives really well, and its rather likable. If one was going for the GS trim, thats not good value, but this particular level Id say its the best priced. No stupid gimmicks in this car means nothing extra to go wrong.
My Score: 10/10 - A lot of the car looks cheap inside, but based on how it drives and what you get...it is cheap and then some.
Conclusion: With all thats said and done, I actually really liked this car. Its one of those cars that doesnt feel like a total downgrade as far as the driving experience goes. Its cheap, fun and rather practical. Im not put off by its rather simple nature, yes I do wish it came with some new modern features. However, one of the hardest things to engineer into a car is charm and this car funny enough has it. It doesnt give a great first impression when you just sit inside of it, after a proper drive though its very very easy to like it. I enjoyed the 1st gen Honda Fit when it was available because it was so nice to drive I was upset that the current 2nd gen was much more boring. However after trying this car out this car, this is even better to drive than the first Fit. Truthfully all I want in a next Mazda 2 is the Shinari styling(seen in the new 2014 6), modern interior connectivity, preferably nicer materials, but keep everything else. This is one of those cars where I come off thinking a theoretical Mazdaspeed 2 would actually be amazing. The Fiesta sold better than the Mazda 2, but truthfully this is the better car.
Overall: 39/50 - Overall a rather nice subcompact vehicle, an updated interior is actually all it needs.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
2013 Mazda MX 5 Senshu
Mazda puts on a new sporty special edition of its flagship roadster: Limited to 200 units of MX-5 "Senshu" is exclusively as a convertible coupe with electrically retractable folding roof at the end of June
The special model with 118 kW / 160 hp 2.0-liter petrol engine is based on the sport-line equipment, which already has a six-speed manual transmission, Bilstein sports suspension with specially designed components, sport aluminum pedals, xenon headlights, automatic climate control, cruise control and Bluetooth handsfree with voice and and a Bose sound system with six-disc CD changer and seven speakers available.
The Mazda mx-5 Senshu also offers dark alloy wheels with 205/45 R 17 tires, a "racing stripe" Seitenfolierung, a black rear diffuser, sport exhaust tailpipes and a black bezel of the front grille. Inside, a light gray leather interior with embossed five-stage seat heating for driver and front passenger ambience. Mazda offers as an accessory option package consisting of the fun out of an iPod and USB adapter and an Eibach lowering kit, with which the vehicle is lowered by 30 millimeters. The special model is available in three exterior colors Brilliant Black Metallic and Tornadoraot metallic white.
The name means in Japanese Senshu something like "player" and was placed in a cooperation with the TV channel "DMAX" on Facebook to vote. 49 percent of the 9600 participants voted for this designation. For additional election were the names of "Arashi" and "Migoto". Among all participants, giving away three wildcards for the Mazda "Zoom-Zoom Xperience 2012" end of June at the Hockenheimring. There you can enjoy the winner of the Mazda MX-5 and other models from the Japanese manufacturer with professional instruction racing atmosphere.
Read more »
 |
| 2013 mazda mx-5 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)