Mazda E2000 Reviews

New Chinese carmakers such as Xiaomi, Xpeng and Nio are leaving established manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Mazda behind when it comes to technology a new report has found, leaving doubts about whether the traditional players can ever catch up.

Mazda needs to spice up its line-up.

Yes, the Mazda CX-3 is still around after more than a decade since its reveal, and it remains almost at the tippy-top of Mazda’s local sales charts. We’ve grabbed a CX-3 Evolve, the second-up of four available variants, to see if the popular light SUV still stacks up.

Mazda revealed its new CX-5 family SUV recently, bringing fresh styling and upgraded tech, but not everyone was happy.Australian Mazda CX-5 owners forums have erupted, with Mazda's engine choice — or lack thereof — in the firing line.Mazda’s much talked about in-house hybrid technology won’t be available when the car launches next year. 2027 might even be stretched, with the vital new tech earmarked for a US launch towards the end of that year, there is no certainty Australia will get it before 2028.The brand has also ditched the more potent turbocharged petrol engine from the future line-up. This is likely a response to the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which punishes carmakers for every gram of CO2 they emit per kilometre over a certain threshold.Instead Mazda will launch with a detuned version of the current 2.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine that will make 132kW and 242Nm, or 8kW and 10Nm less than the outgoing version. Current owners are not happy.“New CX-5 is being launched half baked (how can you launch your best selling car with 1 single engine option???),” said one Mazda CX-5 Club Australia member.“So disappointed Mazda have missed the boat on hybrid opportunity,” said another.“It’s boring, will not buy it. Pathetically Slow Zoom Zoom,” stated another.Others quipped: “Mazda still thinks its competition is the RAV4? Wrong!”“Not only have they failed to deliver a ‘knock out punch’, Mazda haven’t even made it into the ring.”Even Mazda Australia’s own Facebook post was peppered with negative comments.“I’m stunned they dropped the turbo,” said one commenter.Others were less fussed.“I think the car itself looks great, as most Mazdas ,” said one fan.“I’m personally not fussed about not having a turbo engine, I’m not after the ‘fun factor’ and don’t drive aggressively.”"Stunning," said another. "Absolutely love it," replied another fan.Mazda’s new in-house developed hybrid will be worth the wait.Mazda North America VP of Strategic Planning, Stefan Meisterfeld, told US publication CarBuzz: “The hybrid system will have performance that is comparable to or exceeding the turbo powertrain.”That means it'll likely top the 170kW and 420Nm of the outgoing turbo CX-5. That kind of performance will leave conventional hybrids in its dust.Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told CarsGuide the new CX-5 Hybrid will deliver on the brand’s Zoom Zoom promise."My understanding is that it will be totally Mazda, it will be designed in a way that delivers what Mazda wants it to deliver – the Jinba Ittai (Japanese for horse and rider as one), the Zoom Zoom element,” he said.The new CX-5 is more than just an engine, though.The company has evolved its handsome looks and heavily refreshed the interior to give it a more premium feel.It'll have wider opening doors, a panoramic sunroof option, ambient lighting and a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen.Mazda is also ditching its rotary dial multimedia display controls and instead going for more conventional touchscreen and physical button controls.It is bigger on the outside, so expect a roomier cabin.

It’s been over five years now since COVID lockdowns started and in some way it feels like a lifetime ago. For a lot of people buying new cars during this period, however, there were long wait times. COVID lockdowns were a key reason for this, but another major reason for delays was the global shortage of semiconductors.

Will Mazda's hybrid CX-5 be too little, too late?

Mazda opted to develop its new hybrid powertrain for the CX-5, rather than utilise Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid system as the brand does with the CX-50 in the USA, because it wanted to ensure its most popular vehicle was more dynamic to drive than its Japanese rival.

Mazda has globally revealed its new third-generation CX-5 mid-size SUV ahead of it arriving in Australia in 2026.

The new Mazda CX-5 has made its global debut, with the third generation of Mazda’s popular mid-size SUV featuring an updated design and interior.

Chinese carmaker Jaecoo has confirmed its J5 small SUV will go on sale in the United Kingdom paving the way for the small SUV’s entrance to Australia.The J5 looks very much like the J7 mid-sized SUV only smaller, measuring 4.3m in length, and rivalling the Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi ASX and Mazda CX-30.The J5 will debut in the UK with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.In the UK the five-seater SUV will go on sale in two trim levels: the Pure and the Luxury.Coming standard on the Pure will be a six-speaker stereo, power adjustable front seats and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stepping up to the Luxury will add a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats and wireless phone charging.Jaecoo is the luxury-focussed sub-brand of Chery and currently has two SUVs on sale in Australia - the mid-sized J7 and the J8 large SUV.The J5 will definitely be making its way to Australia as well, but as to when this will happen is unknown. Recently Jaecoo Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Roy Munoz, confirmed the J5 is headed to Australia to CarsGuide, but didn't reveal timing.Pricing for the J5 hasn't been announced in the UK nor Australia, but buyers can be certain it will be less than the J7 and the J8.As a guide the J7 starts at $34,990 drive-away and the entry grade J8 is $49,990.Jaecoo doesn't have any electric vehicles on sale currently in Australia with both the J7 and J8 using petrol engines, but the J7 is also available with plug-in hybrid power.Jaecoo is a very new brand to Australia having only arrived in May this year and follows its parent company Chery, which launched its vehicles here in 2023.Currently Chery has several models on sale in Australia including the petrol powered C5 small SUV and its E5 electric twin, while there’s three hybrid SUVs also available: the small Tiggo 4, the mid-sized Tiggo 7 and the large Tiggo 8.