Mazda Problems

The Mazda 2 certainly meets your requirements of safety and reliability, but so too does the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Hyundai i30, Kia Picanto or Rio.

Try a Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, or a Ford Focus. All would seem to fit the bill.

I agree the head unit would be a logical thing to check. Mazda has a responsibility to fix the problem, so put the onus on them to come up with a solution, and keep the pressure on them until they do.

There is one and it’s an important one. It affects the Takata airbags in the car. To get more info call Mazda on 1800 931 024.

It depends somewhat on the condition of the sand. If it’s well packed and solid all-wheel drive would suffice, but I wouldn’t rely on it on loose, deep sand. For that I would want a proper four-wheel drive.

There are lots of cars that would be reliable and within your budget, but none would have a turbo. Turbos are not the thing you want for reliability, and any you might find within your budget are more than likely to be old and to have been thrashed. I would suggest a four-cylinder model from a respected brand such as a Toyota Corolla, Hyundai i30, Mazda3 etc.

Certainly try and get your money back, or get a replacement vehicle, but you’re unlikely to succeed. At the very least Mazda should supply you with a loan car while they fix yours, and they should tell you when you could expect to have your car back.

The Acadia doesn’t boast a diesel engine, so economy could be an issue for your daughter; also it’s only a little longer than the Kia Sorento, so space could be another problem. A better choice would be the Mazda CX-9.

The best approach is to buy a car from a well-respected brand, and stick with an Asian brand such as Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai or Kia rather than an European one. Models to consider would be a Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai i30 or Kia Cerato.

A better option for someone with a tribe to transport would be a peoplemover, such as the Kia Carnival, Hyundai iMax, or VW Transporter. They’re made for that purpose and much more practical than an SUV.