Mazda Problems

There’s no reason to think the Hybrid will not last as long as a regular petrol vehicle.

Toyota has been making hybrids for many, many years and they have never shown any sign of being less durable or reliable then the company’s petrol models. The batteries are said to last the lifetime of the vehicle, so there’s reason to be concerned about that either. The thing with the hybrid is the higher purchase price. That’s offset by the lower fuel consumption, so the longer you keep the vehicles the greater the chance to recoup the extra initial cost.

The other thing to consider is that hybrids work at their best in stop-start city traffic, they are not so good out on country roads where the petrol engine comes into play more of the time.

So many things affect road noise, which makes it difficult to fix. There’s the road surface itself, the tyres, and the noise insulation in the vehicle. The Honda CR-V might well be quieter, but could still be noisy on the roads you drive on. If the road noise is the thing that is making you switch vehicles, then it might be worth talking to a tyre dealer about a tyre that might be quieter than the ones on your Kluger. If you want to go down that road, you could try a Mazda CX-5 or CX-7, a Kia Sorento or Sportage, Toyota RAV4.

Check the identification plate in the engine bay. It should tell what model you have. If it doesn’t tell you directly you should be able to identify it from the VIN number.

Without seeing the car it’s hard to assess its condition, but as a rough guide I would put its vale at $4000 to $6500.

The Mazda3 and Holden Astra are both good alternative choices, but you could also consider a Toyota Corolla or Kia Rio or Cerato.

I don’t believe it did.

The engine is most likely overheating, even though the gauge is at zero. Check the coolant level, and for leaks from the radiator or hoses. It could also be a blown head gasket. The bottom line is it needs investigation by a mechanic.

The fact that everything comes on when you stop and restart, albeit briefly, suggests that it could be a problem with the car's computer.

It doesn’t need a special battery; a good quality one will do the job.