Mazda Reviews

The current-generation Mazda3 caught many eyes with its sleekly designed hatchback variant, but the sedan offers a practical alternative that's still stylish.

Mazda's CX-5 has long been the mid-size SUV darling, but fresh metal from rival Toyota has put it to the test. Unlike the Toyota RAV4 though, the Mazda CX-5 doesn't have a petrol-electric hybrid gimmick to stand out from the crowd, instead relying on bountiful equipment levels, competent handling and head-turning aesthetics. Is Mazda's CX-5 still the mid-size SUV to buy?

The base Mazda CX-5 is available with two petrol engines, a 115kW/200Nm 2.0-litre or 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre unit.

Mazda’s top-spec CX-5 Akera is available with a choice of three engines, kicking off at $48,330 for the 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre petrol.

Maxx Sport variants of the CX-5 are offered with two petrol engine choices – a 115kW/200Nm 2.0 litre and 140kW/252Nm 2.5 litre – as well as a 2.2-litre twin-turbo-diesel outputting 140kW/450Nm.

Two engines are available in the CX-5 Touring grade, a 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre petrol or a 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel.

The second-to-top CX-5 grade, the GT, starts off from $46,090, before on-road costs, for the 140kW/252Nm 2.5-litre petrol.

The Mazda CX-8 fills the gap between the large CX-9 and the five seater CX-5. To some, it's exactly the right size. Will it work for your household?

Mazda's excellent small car, the 2, has gone a bit upmarket. Now available in three versions instead of four, the GT is the top of the range and pushes well into the kind of price territory that could buy you a bigger car.

This a small SUV comparison with a difference. Why? Because one of these cars is not necessarily like the others. Two of the vehicles here are premium-branded SUVs, and one is a challenger.Mazda Australia is pushing upmarket with the new CX-30 model, which we’ve got here in top spec G25 Astina trim. And up against it? The all-new Audi Q3 35 TFSi - its first appearance in a CarsGuide comparison test - and our reigning pint-size premium SUV champion, the Volvo XC40, which we’ve got in entry-level Momentum spec.All three of these models have a starting list price tag in the $40,000 range, and they are all petrol powered, automatic, and two-wheel drive. Both the Audi and Volvo have a bunch of optional extras fitted that nudge their prices considerably, but the Mazda is almost box-fresh. However, we’re aiming to assess these models not so much on the glittery added bits, but the way they perform in other ways. We’ll assess each of these models against a range of criteria to help you decide which deserves to be on your shopping list. Let’s get to it.