Mazda E2000 Reviews

You've got about $30K and you'd like to buy a sporty hatch. Don't. Not until you've read our invaluable sporty-hatch comparison, as we crown a winner based on performance, practicality and price.

A lockable canopy over the top of your ute’s tray/tub reduces the impact of the elements on anything carried in the back and also cuts down on the possibility of that stuff being damaged or stolen.

The forthcoming SkyActiv-X engine in the new generation Mazda3 is to command a significant premium over regular models if just-released Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) pricing is to follow through to Australia. Arriving in Japanese dealerships in the third quarter of 2019 - a few months before the car is expected to land in Australia - the SkyActiv-X engine will be positioned right at the top of the Japanese Mazda3 range for now. While the current top-spec Mazda3 L-package with the 2.0-litre petrol engine (the most powerful Mazda3 offered to Japan) is priced at ¥2.65 million (AUD$35,000), the equivalent SkyActiv-X engined model is priced at ¥3.30 million (AUD$43,500) or 25 per cent more.Despite confirming an on-sale date and placing orders for the car, Mazda is still yet to announce power, torque and fuel economy figures for the engine that’s being described as ‘the holy grail' thanks to its strong performance, yet diesel-like fuel economy.Said to be 2.0 litres in capacity with a supercharger, European-spec models will reportedly produce 133kW of power and 222Nm of torque - both less than the current 2.5-litre engine that’s used in G25 models.But considering Europeans don’t get that engine, the Australian X engine could be offered with more power and torque. However, thanks to new technology called 'Spark Controlled Compression Ignition' by Mazda, the SkyActiv-X engine will reportedly consume more than 30 per cent less than other petrol Mazda3s. This means the SkyActiv-X engine will consume around 4.5L/100km on a combined cycle, and the company claims the savings are greater in the real world.Reports from Japan also indicate the SkyActiv-X engine has been engineered to work with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which could result in even more efficient driving. Mazda Australia is yet to release local details including timing for the engine's local arrival.

Mazda Australia has launched an updated version of its Mazda6 sedan and wagon with new equipment, a simplified model range and price hikes of up to $2400.The company has cut the existing diesel engine option from the lineup, and there are now eight variants are available (). The available models remain the same with the Sport at the bottom, Touring in the middle and GT and Atenza sitting above. Pricing now kicks off at $34,490 plus on-road costs (+$1000), and added equipment is now standard across the range including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, as well as tyre pressure monitoring across the range. The Atenza has picked up a heated steering wheel too.Mazda has also revised the audio system by adding another antenna for superior radio quality. This is reportedly due to the second antenna’s ability to cancel out noise generated by secondary wave interference.An upgraded version of the company’s G-Vectoring electronic chassis control program is now standard after debuting in the updated CX-5. The latest version of the system is said to offer superior high speed stability thanks to new yaw control functionality.The previously available 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel engine - which was available on Touring, GT and Atenza variants - has been axed. It's not yet known why the diesel option was canned, though low sales volumes are likely to be the reason.That leaves two remaining engine options - a 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in Sport and Touring models, and a 170kW/420Nm turbocharged version of the same engine in the GT and Atenza. The non-turbo engine uses 7.0L/100km on a combined cycle, with the turbo version using 7.6L/100km. A six-speed automatic is the only transmission option.

The new-generation Mazda3 sedan has arrived in showrooms hot on the heels of the April launch of the hatch, with the range kicking off at less than $25,000, before on-road costs.

Change is good for you, they say, and possibly even as good as a holiday, but no one can know for sure if your car feels that strongly about it.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says electric vehicles can’t tow and will “end the weekend”, while opposition leader Bill Shorten wants half of all new cars sold by 2030 to be EVs.

Mazda has added fuel to their upmarket push, according to leaked plans to develop a new large platform and straight-six engines under the SkyActiv-X banner. Appearing in an investor presentation uncovered by US media, the Japanese manufacturer detailed its future plans which include both a small and large platform, straight-six engines using both petrol and diesel fuels and the development of 48V mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. The presentation was reportedly published on the brand’s global site before being removed, and seemingly confirms Mazda’s apparent plans to escalate into premium territory. No timeline was given for the new platforms and drivetrains to be launched, but it’s speculated that the next-generation Mazda6 will be the first car to adopt the new architecture when it debuts within a few years. The straight-six engine has recently enjoyed something of a comeback in with Jaguar Land Rover, as well as Mercedes-Benz replacing V6s with newly-developed straight-sixes.The presentation included both petrol and diesel fuel types for the straight-six, suggesting that Mazda’s diesel engine development is very much still underway. It’s also the first mention during Mazda's SkyActiv era of engines with more than four cylinders. Even more interesting is that the presentation lists a longitudinal engine layout for the large architecture, which could suggest that Mazda is developing its new platform to be rear-wheel drive. The platform is also set to be available in all-wheel drive for European and North American markets, and will incorporate 48V mild-hybrid system for greater efficiency and performance. The straight-six engines will form a part of Mazda’s latest-generation SkyActiv-X technology suite with the availability of petrol compression ignition technology. Set to arrive first in the Mazda3 later this year or in 2020, the new tech is combined with a supercharger for performance rivaling the 2.5-litre petrol in the 3, yet supposedly with efficiency of a four-cylinder diesel engine. Looking further into the Mazda future product crystal ball, possible products to use the rear-drive element include a production version of the RX-Vision concept, a larger and more powerful sports car than the current MX-5, a larger-than-CX-9 SUV or a Mazda6-based coupe. Mazda Australia made no comment on the new drivetrains, only informing CarsGuide that it had "nothing to announce." 

How cheap is too cheap? The Mazda 2 Neo dares to find out.

Mazda has announced available wireless phone charging in both the UK and US for the new-generation Mazda3. Available as an accessory kit through Mazda dealerships, the wireless charger sits in the centre box of the new Mazda3 and allows passengers to charge multiple devices at once. Priced from US$275 (AUD $391) in the US and £122 (AUD $230) in the UK, the wireless phone charging system matches the Qi standard of other automotive wireless chargers. Despite being made available in both the UK and US, Mazda Australia has no current plans to add it to the its range - even as an accessory. Local spokesperson Amy O’Brien told CarsGuide that the company “won’t be offering a wireless phone charger for now.”The Mazda3's main competitors - Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Kia Cerato and Hyundai i30 - all offer wireless charging on higher grades.