2016 Mazda Mazda5 Reviews

Mazda is teasing us again with a sportier version of its 6e electric sedan.The Mazda 6e is on sale in China and is due to launch in Europe soon, including fellow right-and drive market the UK, but the brand’s local arm has remained eerily quiet.An Australian launch for the 6e is proving more likely after the brand’s local CEO Vinesh Bhindi indicated an electric successor to the Mazda 6, which was discontinued in January, is on the way."As we bid a fond farewell to the Mazda 6, its legacy will continue to live on as we move into the next phase of our future strategy,” said Bhindi at the time.But before it's even been officially confirmed for Australia, the company has debuted a flashier version in China.Dubbed the EZ-6 (as it’s known in China) Sports Edition, the special version brings tweaked styling that adds more road presence in a similar vein to BMW’s M Sport styling.This includes gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers and plenty of black exterior highlights on the outside.Inside there is Alcantara upholstery with contrast red stitching, red backlighting for interior surfaces and in the centre console.Generally the Mazda 6e has the Japanese brand’s easy-on-the-eye styling with an illuminated bottom grille outline and a premium-looking cabin with some tech highlights such as a big 14-inch multimedia screen and digital driver display.It is bigger than other mid-size electric sedans such as the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3, measuring 4921mm long, 1890mm wide and 1491mm tall.Mazda Europe said it comes with two battery options, an 80kWh unit and a 68.8kWh pack that deliver driving ranges of 552km and 479km, respectively.The Mazda6e is built by Mazda’s joint venture with Chinese brand Changan and shares its underpinnings with the Deepal SL03.Changan also owns the electric car brand Deepal, which has just launched in Australia with its S07 mid-size SUV.In China it is also available as a range-extender hybrid with its 1.5-litre petrol engine used purely as a power source to charge a battery, which in turn powers electric motors that drive the wheels.An SUV version is a chance for Australia, too. Dubbed the EZ-60 in China, but likely to be called the CX-6e in other markets, it shares the same underpinnings as the 6e.

As the trade war between the US and China intensifies, new reports from auto industry suppliers cast a dark cloud over important component supply for new cars.Beijing has placed some key minerals on an ‘export control list’ as part of a response to the Trump administration’s increased tariffs on goods imported from China. This has disrupted global supply chains and could potentially lead to the same six-month-plus wait times for new vehicles, which was experienced during COVID-related factory shut-downs and supply disruptions.Seven of the minerals on the list for export restrictions are rare earths — a group of materials used for the production of alloys and magnets — which are key components in many automotive parts from mirrors to fluid pumps, but particularly permanent magnets used in EV and hybrid motors and alternators for combustion cars.China is responsible for up to 90 per cent of production of these key components, and Reuters cited executives from suppliers who said the “industry was in full panic” over restrictions on supply.The publication also cited analysts who said the knock-on effects of the restrictions could force automakers to make cars without certain parts and park them until they become available - in echoes of similar practices that took place during the COVID-era supply disruptions. During the COVID-era and subsequent microprocessor shortage, some cars were delivered without various difficult-to-acquire features like blind spot monitoring, either through the introduction of limited variants or tweaks to standard specifications.How bad could it get? During the peak of the COVID-19 era shortages, models in high demand such as the Toyota RAV4 were attracting wait times of more than 24 months.Fresh supply shortages could start as soon as July as the world’s automakers analyse the impact on their supply chains.It seems automakers from Europe, America, and Japan will be most exposed to these issues, handing Chinese automakers yet another advantage over their rivals.Reuters also reported Hyundai Group and its suppliers have stockpiled between six to twelve months of rare earths.Another round of supply shortages or price increases to traditionally popular brands could continue to transform the landscape of new cars in Australia. During the microprocessor shortage, less exposed brands such as MG and GWM started to leap up the sales charts at the expense of others, a trend that hasn’t been reversed since.The same Reuters report said some companies seeking to shake China’s hold on the supply of magnets and key materials, either through recycling existing materials or building new parts which are rare-earth-free, have seen a boost in interest since restrictions began in April, but it could take years for these suppliers to have the scale be able to meet demand or be cost competitive with Chinese exporters.As usual, Australia will be particularly exposed to any supply-related changes, as our relatively low-volume market tends to be far down on the priority list for the largest groups out of Japan and Europe.During the previous new-car shortages, even prices of used cars skyrocketed as buyers couldn't wait to source individual transport away from a risk of being exposed to COVID in a double-whammy effect. The effect on used car prices in some segments has never recovered to pre-covid levels.

The CX-60 Azami is the flagship model in Mazda’s medium-to-large-sized five-seater SUV.

The CX-60 GT is the overtly sporty version of the Hiroshima brand’s big mid-sized SUV.

A bold successor for the Mazda CX-3 is in the wings at last. Believed to be badged the CX-20, the company’s smallest SUV and second best-selling model after the evergreen CX-5 mid-sizer is set to surface sometime before the end of next year, as a 2027 model.

The CX-60 Touring is another new version of the largish, medium-sized SUV from Japan.

It’s EOFY time again!

The CX-60 Evolve is the mid-spec version of the longitudinal-engined, rear-drive-biased Mazda all-wheel-drive SUV, which is a bit larger than other most mainstream mid-sized SUVs.

Mazda Australia's decision to introduce a new entry-level version of its CX-60 premium SUV should prove a boon for shoppers of the more mainstream CX-5, with the new model essentially creating a price ceiling under which the brand's Toyota RAV4 Hybrid rival will have to sit.

The CX-60 Pure is the entry-level version of the larger-than-normal mid-sized Mazda SUV. It is a new addition to a range that has been upgraded to be more comfortable and smoother to drive thanks to extensive suspension and transmission calibration work.