Mazda News

The small-car segment is stagnant at the moment and consumers are starting to wonder where the replacements for the ageing Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 are, amongst others. Well, some are coming, others may not, and Kia may just have the answer you seek.

Mazda has detailed pricing for a limited edition variant of its cult-favourite MX-5 model.

The Toyota RAV4 hybrid topped sales charts again in November, but it isn’t likely to take the number one spot from the Ford Ranger this year.

Mazda revealed a facelift BT-50 at the Thailand Motor Expo, but there’s a twist.

Mazda is offering thousands of dollars worth of savings on its popular CX-5 range with a national plate clearance offer.

Mazda will replace its best-selling CX-5 mid-size SUV, but it won’t happen overnight.

The next-generation, hybrid-powered Mazda CX-5 won't be joining the Mazda Premium push.Mazda has vowed its most popular SUV will remain accessible to the masses and not follow the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 upmarket.That's the word from Australia CEO Vinesh Bhindi, who says the CX-5 would have to slot below the new CX-60 Pure, which would likely mean a price in the $40-$50k bracket.Having already confirmed the CX-5 will feature a game-changing in-house hybrid powertrain that will push the model closer to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid than ever before, the brand has also confirmed that its most popular SUV will remain within reach of mainstream buyers.Asked whether the brand is committed to the new CX-5 remaining an accessible product that will sit below the CX-5, Mr Bhindi replied: "Absolutely".As to where it will be priced, we look to the incoming CX-60 Pure for guidance. A reminder that the CX-80 (near-enough a three-row version of the 60) starts at $54,950, before on-road costs.Mazda says the CX-60 Pure, a five-seat offering, will be below that."You've got to look at the 80 offering, and 60 will be in line with that, given it's a smaller product with two rows. So 60 will fit in under the 80 pricing and you can only speculate what that may be in terms of pricing," Mr Bhindi says.So if we posit that the CX-60 Pure would need to start close to $50k, then that would suggest the CX-5 will at least drop into the $40k range.The downside? Don't expect it to be the same price as the current-gen vehicle. Not only has the CX-5 been in market for some time, but the addition of a high-tech hybrid powertrain, combined with what the brand calls a "step up" in materials and tech, will surely lift the sticker prices range-wide."The next CX5, whatever it may be called, it'll be a step up," Mr Bhindi says.Current drive-away offers on the current CX-5 see the model span $37,990 for the entry-level Maxx to $52,265 for the range-topping Akera.The new follows confirmation of Mazda's hybrid plan for its CX-5, with the company not borrowing from Toyota and instead developing its own solution in house."That segment is massive for Australians, and you can see the demand in that segment. We have a next generation CX-5 already underway," Mr Bhindi says.In fact, Mazda's global CEO Mazda Masahiro Moro promises the CX-5's hybrid will focus on driving dynamics to give it a point of difference to the current hybrid rivals, such as the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail and Haval H6.“We have been using Toyota’s hybrid system, and that’s an excellent system,” Moro said in an earnings call. “So to have a unique difference is the basic concept that we have. In our case, in the engine and the electric motor balance, we will mainly focus on a high-efficiency engine.”“Customers can can enjoy excellent driving dynamic performance and also at the same time good environmental performance. This hybrid system pursues the joy of driving.”

Fears Mazda's push upmarket with its CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 would leave popular mainstream models like the CX-5 in the lurch are officially unfounded, with the brand detailing a new in-house hybrid powertrain that will push the next-gen CX-5 closer to the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid than ever before.

Mazda has recalled a total of 7870 examples of its Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 vehicles in petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid guises, built between 2023 and 2024, due to malfunctioning software that may impact the cars' critical driving functions.According to a recall notice published by the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, 5331 petrol and diesel mild-hybrid variants of the CX-60 and CX-90 have been affected.The notice read: “Due to a software issue, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) may impact the hybrid battery assist function. As a result, the engine may not automatically restart after entering idle stop (i-stop).“In addition, due to a software issue with the Dash Electronic Supply Unit (Dash-ESU), when the hybrid system is powered on, multiple warning messages may display in the instrument cluster.“The engine warning light may illuminate; the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual and audible seat belt warnings; and the 360° view camera functions may not operate as intended to assist the driver to detect nearby obstacles or driver errors,” the notice read.Unique to the diesel variant, the notice said: “The clutch connecting motor and engine may not engage with appropriate timing when restarting the engine during EV-driving and/or; the engine may restart immediately after the transition from engine-driving to EV driving.“In this condition, the engine RPM may not increase, and the engine may fail to restart. The engine can be restarted by pressing the ‘push start button’.”In the worst case scenario, the notice said: “A loss of EV drive mode and a loss of safety systems such as camera functions and seat belt warnings could increase the risk of an accident, causing serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”The software issue impacting 2539 examples of the plug-in hybrid CX-60 is slightly different and only pertains to the vehicle’s Dash-ESU, which may also cause several warning messages to illuminate or systems to malfunction due to improper programming.The notice said: “the engine warning light may illuminate; the PHEV high-voltage battery cooling system may not operate as intended.“As a result, EV drive mode may not be available; the instrument cluster may fail to illuminate the visual and audible seat belt warnings; and the 360° view camera functions may not operate as intended to assist the driver to detect nearby obstacles or driver errors.”As with the petrol and diesel variants, in the worst case scenario, there are concerns a loss of EV drive mode and safety camera system functions and seatbelt warning malfunctioning could lead to serious injury or death.Owners of the petrol Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 built between 2023 and 2024 can check if their vehicle is affected here, while owners of diesel variants can check here.Plug-in hybrid owners can check here.All owners will be contacted by Mazda Australia imminently to arrange a time to have either vehicle’s PCM or Dash-ESU systems, or both, recalibrated free of charge.

The Mazda CX-60 will welcome a new and cheaper entry-level variant and introduce range-wide ride and handling changes in the first half of next year as the brand's first "Mazda Premium" product continues to find its feet in Australia.