Mazda Reviews

Mazda 2 Genki and Kia Rio SLi go head-to-head in this comparative review.

The first lesson for first-car buyers is to forget power and performance - go for safety, reliability and low running costs. Today's car choices are far wider and considerably less basic that Peter Brock's first car, a stripped-down 750cc Austin Seven. But the exercise of buying your car demands patience and - if possible - expert consideration. Compared with buying new, you will save money purchasing a used car. But be aware that a used car may require expensive repair costs, may be less fuel efficient and that its safety standards are likely to be lower than a new car. The basic safety gear you want are two airbags and ABS brakes. Every car is different because each has been treated differently during its life. Be cognisant that cheap new cars are bought on a budget and the penny-pinching owners may skimp on regular servicing and repairs. Steer away from hotted-up cars - you want reliable, easy-to-fix transport here, not a temperamental, ground-hugging runt that sounds like it's lost its exhaust pipe. There are a few quality used car models that have lasted the distance. These have retained a solid reputation for quality and reliability, have a strong spare parts back-up, simple service schedule and are renown for just being easy to live with. The only downside is they won't be the newest car on your block and they're unlikely to be the most rewarding ride of your life. But you have to start somewhere. Just like Peter Brock. CHOICES These are some used cars, not in any particular order, that should be reliable first-time cars. But each car is different. Ensure your car is professionally checked before buying and that all the car's service papers are accurate, regular and preferably stamped by a competent service centre. NISSAN TIIDA This model is the evolution of the Pulsar and, I admit, isn't the prettiest car on the road. Fellas, perhaps stay away from this one. But the model is enduring because of its simplicity and low running costs. It has a decent amount of metal around the passenger cell to minimise intrusion in case of a collision, a neat and functional interior with comfortable seats, big boot in the sedan model (and more than adequate in the hatchback version), and four doors so your friends won't have to squeeze past you on the way to access the rear seat. 2006 TIIDA TI SEDAN Cost: $9200 with 79,000km Engine: 93kW/174Nm 1.8-litre auto Fuel economy: 7.8 L/100km Safety features: ABS brakes, 4 airbags, brake assist Crash rating: 4-star MAZDA3 Two of my daughters drive these and love them for their comfort and features. Later models are preferable because of the electronic stability control, but earlier versions had at least four airbags and ABS brakes plus a four-star crash rating. Because everyone loves these, they're going to cost a bit more than some rival cars. But Mazda's quality name should extend to the day you sell it allowing it to retain a high resale value. 2006 MAZDA3 MAXX Cost: $11,500 with 75,000km Engine: 108kW/182Nm 2.0-litre auto Fuel economy: 8.2 L/100km Safety features: ABS brakes, 6 airbags, brake assist Crash rating: 4-star. MITSUBISHI LANCER These have been made for decades yet nearly all carry a name for reliability. One model, bought with 247,000km on the clock, stayed trouble-free in my household for four years before finding yet another owner. That's not uncommon with Lancers. They're very simple cars but early models fall down badly in safety equipment, so look at 2003 and younger if possible. The 2007-plus models have a five-star crash rating. It doesn't really matter which model you buy but you may have better resale in the future with an automatic with four or five doors that will appeal to a wider audience. 2006 LANCER LS SEDAN Cost: $10,000 with 70,000km Engine: 115kW/220Nm 2.4-litre auto Fuel economy: 8.5 L/100km Safety features: ABS brakes, 2 airbags Crash rating: 3-star. TOYOTA COROLLA This is a stablemate of suburban living with the distinction of being a member of practically every Australian household since the 1970s. It's always been a simple and reliable car without any major hiccups, though the Toyota badge means there's a premium - justified or otherwise - on the price. Paying the extra on the Corolla name alone may not be worth it - look closely at each car before purchase. Toyota was one of the last major carmakers to introduce extra features - such as additional airbags and stability control - on base versions. Better models started from 2000 and the more upmarket versions (Levin and Ultima, for example) are preferred. 2006 COROLLA CONQUEST SEDAN Cost: $10,500 with 75,000km Engine: 93kW/161Nm 1.8-litre auto Fuel economy: 7.4 L/100km Safety features: ABS brakes, 2 airbags Crash rating: 4-star. MITSUBISHI MAGNA This is something a bit bigger and yet is generally priced about the same as the smaller cars. Mitsubishi made these in Australia and progressive years honed the product to excellent reliability while ho-hum styling and performance slashed resale. That makes this big family car good buying today. Magnas ended their run in 2005 and today these are the pick of the bunch, even though the powerplant was a 3.5-litre V6 with a four-speed auto. These cars were common in government and rental fleets but don't be put off - that means they've been regularly se rviced and repaired. 2005 MAGNA ES SEDAN Cost: $5000 with 120,000km Engine: 155kW/316Nm 3.5-litre V6 auto Fuel economy: 11.5 L/100km Safety features: ABS brakes, 4 airbags, traction control Crash rating: 3-star. SUBARU LIBERTY Another biggish car that offered high safety standards for its era. The later Libertys are also attractive, well equipped - in their day they weren't a cheap car - and roomy. The downside may be lacklustre performance, so-so fuel economy and some high-priced spare parts but we're primarily chasing a reliable and safe car choice here. The Libertys are all-wheel drive sedans and wagons which aids safety on wet roads rather than giving them any off-road ability (for that, look at the Subaru Outback). 2006 LIBERTY 2.5i SEDAN Cost: $11,500 with 75,000km Engine: 121kW/226Nm 2.5-litre auto Fuel economy: 9.5 L/100km Safety features: ABS brakes, 6 airbags, traction control Crash rating: 5-star.

Mitsubishi Lancer VRX Sportback v VW Golf 118TSI Comfortline v Mazda3 SP20 Skyactiv v Ford Focus Titanium hatch v Holden Cruze SRi-V. CAPITALISM is all about choice and no vehicle type offers more choice for buyers than small cars. Australian motorists are blessed with 31 small car models, the largest category on the showroom floor. Little wonder, since the small car appeals to so many buyers on so many levels: It's a great first car, an urban run-around, the modern young family car, a sensible second car and a downsizing option for empty nesters and retirees. In fact, the recently upgraded Mazda3 is actually challenging long-time market leader Commodore for the outright honours in the showroom battle for sales. The classy field of challengers comes from Australia and around the world, including Japan, the US, France, Italy, Germany, South Korea, China, Malaysia, UK, Thailand and the Czech Republic. TEST DRIVERS We chose five of the seven top-selling small cars for our comparison test and asked a young family and a couple of empty nesters to join us for a suburban drive to find out what they offer. Chris and Trinity Bond, and their children Coen, 6, and Oscar 2.5 live in suburbia where they conduct an insulation business. They are used to bigger cars but acknowledge the economic advantages of a small car and were surprised at the roominess of these vehicles. Bill Griffin, 50, and John Kremastos, 62, are semi-retired builders whose children are now independent. They also see the advantages of a small city run-around and were equally surprised at how many features small cars have these days. From left: Trinity and Chris Bond, John Kremastos and Bill Griffin. VALUE Our field includes high-spec automatics that vary in price by just $2600 from $29,990 for the Holden Cruze SRi-V to $32,590 for the Ford Focus Titanium. Despite being slightly cheaper, the Cruze sedan certainly doesn't suffer from a lack of features with fog lights, rear parking sensors, colour satnav, USB/iPod/MP3 plug and play, 30GB music hard drive, DVD, leather seats, heated front seats, lit vanity mirrors, aux 12V front and back. However, our test car didn't have Bluetooth (it is now standard on the latest models) or rain-sensing wipers which all of the others have. Ford Focus is the only one here with an automatic self-parking system. It also features electric driver's seat, rear parking sensors, Sony sound, dual-zone aircon, partial leather trim, Bluetooth with audio streaming and fog lights. The oldest model in the field is the Mitsubishi Lancer VRX Sportback ($32,490) which is shortly due for a mid-life model  update. Even so, it doesn't suffer from a comparative lack of features with USB connectivity, pollen filter, Bluetooth with audio streaming, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, alloy pedals, gear paddle shifters and a rocking Rockford-Fosgate sound system. However, it has a tilt-only adjustable steering wheel while the others also adjust for reach. The newest model is the Mazda3 which is actually the cheapest at $27,990, but ours came with a $3000 optional Luxury Pack featuring Bi-Xenon headlamps, sliding centre armrest console, leather seats, Bose 242-watt amplifier and 10 speakers including subwoofer cleverly tucked inside the space-saver spare wheel in the boot. In standard trim it's still got a lot of kit including fog lights, dual-zone climate aircon with pollen filter and Bluetooth with audio streaming. The Golf is the only model with front and rear fog lights and daytime running lights. It also has dual-zone aircon with a dust and pollen filter, Bluetooth with audio streaming, USB and a chillable glovebox. However, it has no parking sensors, but you can get an optional rear camera and rear sensors. Other options include a parallel parking assistance system, iPod connection and sat nav. The Golf and Mazda have standard keys, while the Lancer has keyless start and the Cruze and Focus have proximity keys that also automatically unlock the car door. All models now come with cruise control, steering wheel controls and auto headlights. In the value stakes, the Focus wins with its high level of spec and the party trick of automatic parallel parking. TECHNOLOGY All models are petrol-powered, with the Cruze and Golf having turbo engines. Despite these turbocharged models, it's the naturally aspirated Lancer and Focus that win the power stakes on paper, sharing 125kW thanks to their bigger displacement engines. The Golf has 118kW, hence its model name 118, and the Cruze has the lowest power at 103kW. But power figures don't really mean much in real-world situations and the turbo models are certainly the liveliest of the crop, albeit with a little turbo lag off idle. The idea of turbocharging in small cars is not just about power, anyway. It's also about economy with these models having lower capacity engines that sip fuel in a miserly fashion. In the Golf that's 6.2 litres per 100km and 6.9L/100km in the Cruze. The just-released Mazda3 comes with the new fuel-efficient Skyactiv engine and transmission that equal the economy of the Golf. It is also the only model with stop-start technology that switches off the engine while stationary and starts again when you take your foot off the brake. The Lancer is the loser here with 8.9L/100km and no hint of any changes that promise improvements in the November model update. If music, connectivity and Bluetooth are important techno features, most models have a choice of systems. The easiest to use is Bluetooth with audio streaming. However, the Cruze offered the most entertainment options with DVD and a hard drive that the others don't have. Transmissions are six-speed autos with the Golf adding a seventh ratio and the Lancer using a continuously variable transmission. On the low-tech side of things, wheels on our test cars are a mix of 16-inch alloys (Mazda and VW), 17-inch (Cruze) and 18-inch (Lancer and Focus). All feature space-saver spare wheels restricted to 80km/h. DESIGN New usually means better, but the Lancer's modern design has stood the test of time against the more modern models. Meanwhile, our testers thought the Golf looked "bland" and "plain" in this field. Winner here is the masculine-looking Focus with its menacing grille grimace with Bond declaring "I'm a Holden man but I like the look of the Focus", while his wife prefers the female curves and cute smiley "face" of the Mazda3. The Australian-made Cruze is the only sedan in the crew and comes with a lot of "Holdenised" bits of chrome and detailing. Griffin praises it for looking like a small-scale Commodore. It also has the neatest rear end with a discreet tailpipe. Inside, the Golf loses out again for appearing austere by comparison with the three newcomers, while the Focus is the other extreme, attracting comments that it looked too fussy and like "being trapped inside a 1980s ghetto blaster". The Mazda3 cabin draws some praise, but the wrap-around cockpit styling is criticised as "claustrophobic" and the forward display with colour satnav shines in the windscreen at night and is a distraction. Mitsubishi will have to address the expanse of hard plastic on the dashboard when it updates the Lancer, although the styling is simple, modern and functional. The Cruze is the winner inside with a combination of modern styling enhanced by tasteful touches of chrome, but traditional controls that are easy to understand and use. All have 60/40 rear split seats and fair legroom for small cars. In the back, all cargo areas are well carpeted with flat floors. The Focus boot seems the smallest, while the Cruze cargo area is very deep and despite not being a hatchback, it fits a ladder with ease. SAFETY Every car in our comparison test - like many of the vehicles in this category - comes with a full five-star ANCAP safety rating making them a truly family car. They have six airbags while the Golf and Lancer add a knee airbag for the driver. They also feature stability control which works best in the Golf and was found to be a little over-reactive in the Lancer during a brief, but heavy downpour. DRIVING Small cars are built for the city streets and occasional highway run, so that's how we tested these vehicles. The benchmark in driving dynamics has long been the Golf which is a former Carsguide's Car of the Year. It has road-handling poise, a fast-acting transmission, a lively engine, sharp brakes ("severe" says Kremastos) and a natural steering feel. Our testers unanimously criticise the turbo lag from idle. Kremastos and Chris Bond claim it would "drive them nuts", however Griffin says you can drive around the problem. Once under way, the Golf is a spirited and rewarding drive. The Focus launched recently to rave reviews that hinted it might knock off the Golf for dynamics. However, our testers are not as impressed. They criticise the rough and indecisive transmission while Mrs Bond doesn't like the zigzag patterned gate of the selector. Her husband says handling is good, but "power is average and it's not super responsive," comments reflected by the others. "Size is good for me," Bond says. "It's quite comfortable, but I wouldn't like to be sitting behind me." Griffin says that by comparison the Mazda3 is "more refined, quieter and smoother than the Focus". "The gearbox and motor feel better matched with no over-revving like you are flogging it." He also likes the ergonomics. Bond thinks there are "too many confusing buttons on the steering wheel" and says the car is "not as responsive as I'd like." His wife agrees and says the brakes are also "unresponsive". Kremastos says that except for the slight turbo lag, he is more than a little surprised at how nippy the car is around town, even though it has a 1.4-litre engine which is 400cc less than his Honda Goldwing motorcycle. The Cruze also attracts praise as "sprightly", although the bonnet rises and falls on acceleration and braking. It's steering also cops criticism as light and vague, while several drivers commented on the rough gear changes. Mrs Bond says the seats are quite comfortable and her husband likes the cabin. "Looks can be deceiving. I'm a big fella and it was quite comfortable," he says. Griffin doesn't like the lack of a left-foot rest. The Lancer attracted neither good nor bad comments on its driving dynamics. It seems a handy utilitarian machine that delivers the goods in a no-fuss, unspectacular manner. The only criticism came from Griffin who said it got "a bit unsteady in the wet". Bond is unimpressed with the rally styling of the pedals and flappy paddle shifters on the steering wheel which he says is "a novelty I don't think I'd use". VERDICT It's horses for courses here and we found a mix of preferences from our testers. If it's a driver's car you want, the Golf wins, but it loses points for tired design, lack of features and an austere interior. Lancer is praised as a no-nonsense car, but again feeling the signs of age in its features and interior design. The new model may be make amends. Focus draws extreme comments. It is praised for its exterior design, but criticised for its interior, while the driving dynamics fall slightly behind the Mazda and Golf. Griffin sums up the Mazda as the "best all-rounder". It performs all functions well without being a standout in any particular area. But the winner by three votes to one in our test team is the handsome Aussie-built Cruze. Mitsubishi Lancer VRX Sportback Price: $32,490 Options: pearlescent paint $450 Engine: 2.4L, 4-cylinder, 125kW/226Nm Transmission: CVT Economy: 8.9L/100km CO2: 213g/km, 6/10 greenhouse rating Safety: 7 airbags, 5-star ANCAP Warranty: 10 years/160,000km (powertrain), 5 years/100,000km (car and roadside assist) Service: 15,000km/12 mths VW Golf Comfortline 118TSI Price: $31,990 Options: metallic paint $500 Engine: 1.4L, 4-cylinder twin turbo, 118kW/240Nm Transmission: 7 speed DSG Economy: 6.2L/100km CO2: 144g/km, 7.5/10 greenhouse rating Safety: 7 airbags, 5-star ANCAP Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km, VW Assist. Service: 15,000km/12 mths Mazda3 SP20 Skyactiv Price: $27,990 Options fitted: Luxury Pack (Bi-Xenon headlamps, sliding centre armrest console, leather seat trim, premium Bose 242 watt amplifier and 10 speakers including subwoofer - $3000) Engine: 2L, 4-cylinder, 113kW/194Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto Economy: 6.1/6.2L/100km CO2: 145g/km Safety: 6 airbags, 5-star ANCAP Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km Service: 10,000km/6 mths Ford Focus Titanium hatch Price: $32,590 Engine: 2L, 4-cylinder, 125kW/202Nm Transmission: 6-speed Powershift DSG, Economy: 6.6L/100km CO2: 154g/km, 7.5/10 greenhouse rating Safety: 6 airbags, 5-star ANCAP Warranty: 3 years/100,000km Service: 15,000km/12 mths Holden Cruze SRi-V Price: $29,990 Options: prestige paint $500 Engine: 1.4L, 4-cylinder, turbo, 103kW/200Nm Transmission: 6-speed auto, Active Select Economy: 6.9L/100km CO2: 164g/km, 7/10 greenhouse rating Safety: 6 airbags, 5-star ANCAP Warranty: 3 years/100,000km Service: 15,000km/12 mths

MAZDA zooms toward the top of the ute class with the all-new, bigger and bolder BT50. While there will be discussion about the move toward a more SUV-like style - inside and out - there will be few questions about the on and off-road ability of the new machines as lifestyle dual cabs. The BT50, as with its Ford Ranger counterpart, moves into this growing segment with confidence. The business is still dominated by Toyota's Hilux and the Nissan Navara; now there is fresh competition at this top end of the ute market from Mazda, Ford, Volkswagen's Amarok and the forthcoming Holden Colorado.  People-carrying utes are a very healthy, steadily-growing segment of the local market and Mazda is prepared to forget some of the cheap-and-cheerful tradies workhorses to move in for a bigger slice of the top end.  There are three BT50 cab styles, two and four-wheel drives, two engines, two transmissions and three spec grades. First up are the dual cabs driven at launch and available from November 1, followed by the Freestyle cabs later that month with single cabs due in early 2012. Final pricing for the 2011 class of BT50s is still under discussion but Mazda Australia promises 'competitive' deals to line up with rivals; prices are expected to rise between $1500 and $5000 across the range. Expect then the volume-selling XT four-wheel drive dual cab around $45,000, running through to close on $60,000 for the top-spec GT version. Few miss out on a pile of gear from air conditioning and Bluetooth to traction control, stability control and roll control. The BT50 sits on the chassis developed with Ford but Mazda, with 50 engineers in Australia for four years, have gone their own way with exterior and interior style (along with damper settings). The result is a ute infused with Mazda's current DNA - the front end carries the CX-7 wagon's big grin, the rear has its own special treatment with horizontal taillights that not only scream around onto the ute's side but also carry on to the tail gate. Mazda reckons this gives the BT50 a 'dynamic, futuristic' look; some are uncertain whether Australia's ute buyers are ready for the future. Mazda has stacked these utes, in particular these upmarket four-wheel drive versions, with a host of electronic driver aids. While there remains a full (and well-tuned) chassis below, an array of gear from stability and roll control to hill assist and hill descent control bring car-like driving and safety dynamics to the BT-50. The 3.2 litre diesel is Mazda's first five-cylinder engine. The aforementioned secondary safety aids - including Load Adaptive Control to plot the electronics' reactions dependent on load and Trailer Sway Control - are complemented by driver and passenger front and side airbags plus curtain airbags. Mazda engineers are confident of a five-star ANCAP rating. This new BT50 is a fair way removed from its predecessor. It is bigger inside and out, quieter and better-mannered on tar and dirt. Engineers have given it taut, passenger car-like dynamics with excellent turn-in to corners (with rack and pinion steering) and top grip on good and bad roads; it is particularly competent on fast dirt roads.  The 3.2 litre engine is stacked with torque, handy on and off the road although the six-speed manual shift could be slicker; here the six-speed auto shines. But with either transmission the BT-50 is a quiet, always willing, machine at cruise or crawling speeds. This is yet another of these new generation utes that drive more like a capable SUV than load carrier. Some may find Mazda have zoomed a tad too far toward SUV with the style inside and out (the centre console and its buttons for instance feel a bit dinky) but there is no doubting the new BT50's ability to cruise the highway in a fair degree of comfort or climb a rutted scrub track with confidence.

Mazda CX-9 and Kia Grand Carnival go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Who needs hybrid power or a small turbo motor to boost fuel economy? Not Mazda, which last week unveiled a new model in its super-successful 3 range with a normal 2.0-litre four-cylinder, but enhanced with Skyactiv technology. The result is a whopping 26 per cent improvement in economy, allowing the Mazda 3 SP20 Skyactiv to return an average 6.1litres/100km (that's a sensational 46mpg in the old coin). At the same time, price cuts for the entire 3 range were announced. VALUE Remains much as before, with prices now sharper by between $1800 and $2900 on Neo, Maxx Sport, diesel, SP25 and MPS. The Maxx has been dropped and the SP20 Skyactiv, at $27,990 and $30,990 for the Luxury version, takes over from the earlier sporty SP20. PRACTICALITY The entire range has been given a light facelift, improved aerodynamics and retuned chassis settings, including a new brace, for better handling and a flatter, more comfortable ride. The body frame is of thicker steel and there's more soundproofing for a very quiet cabin. TECHNOLOGY The 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G engine is a lightweight powerplant with redesigned pistons, inlet and exhaust systems and a hair-raising 12:1 compression ratio. In Japan, where 95 octane fuel is standard, the compression is even higher at 14:1. The Australian models are tuned to run on the regular 91 octane brew. Aiding the motor, which puts out 113kW/194Nm, up 4.6 and 6.6per cent respectively, is a Skyactive Drive six-speed automatic transmission. It locks up nearly 90 per cent of the time, rather than the more common 55 per cent, to give a more direct-drive feel, and can be flicked over to sequential manual shift. The engine generates 30 per cent less friction, has power-saving water and oil pump features to optimise economy. And then there's i-Stop, a system that switches off the engine when you stop. Another advance is a power control system that recovers a lot of energy when the car is decelerating and stores it in the big battery. Wind resistance plays a big part in how much fuel a car uses and the SP20 Skyactiv has a lot of underbody cover to make it as smooth as possible. DESIGN The Mazda3 SkyActiv is an auto-only car, in sedan and hatch, and it's a pretty high-spec model with most of the gear expected of a car of this calibre.The Luxury gets more kit - bi-xenon headlights, sliding centre armrest console, leather seat trim, a 10-speaker Bose 242 watt audio system. DRIVING Smooth and quiet, with a nice taut, confident feel around corners and first-class steering and brakes. Most owners are bound to switch the info display to "fuel economy" and watch in awe as the numbers drop once the Skyactiv gets to cruising pace. We got 5.6 litres/100km for about 100km of our 300km round trip from Melbourne to Pt Arlington and back and the worst we saw was 6.2 during a spirited squirt through the twisty bits. We averaged 5.9litres/100km (48mpg) in a car capable of very good performance and packed with luxury and safety features. Lovely gearbox too. So what's not to love? Mazda 3 is the flavour of the times with buyers, and the arrival of the Skyactiv can only make its success sweeter. Pricing starts at $20,330 for the Mazda3 Neo. NEED TO KNOW Skyactive technology will feature on the CX5 when it arrives next year. The SP20 Skyactiv is the nation's most fuel-efficient petrol-powered car Price revision will give Neo about 65per cent of Mazda3 sales, SP20 Skyactive about 15per cent. "Skyactiv is very difficult to explain. "I have an iPad that I love. I don't know how it works, but it works. "Skyactiv's like that." Mazda marketing manager Alistair Doak MAZDA3 SP20 SKYACTIV Price: $27,490 (Skyactiv Luxury $30,490) Warranty: Three years, unlimited km Service intervals: six months/10,000km Thirst: 6.1 litres/100km, 143g/km CO2 (sedan) Safety equipment: Six airbags, ABS, BA EBD, TC, DSC Crash rating: Five star ANCAP rated Engine: 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder, 113kW/194Nm Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive Brakes: 300mm ventilated front discs, solid 265mm rear discs Suspension: MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear Dimensions: Sedan 4580mm, hatch 4460mm (L); 1755mm (W); 1470mm (H), 2640mm (WB)

The Mazda 3 has been the quiet achiever of the Australian private car fleet. It’s driven in the Holden Commodore’s wheel ruts as Australia’s favourite car for the past seven years.

It's hard to believe but the current Mazda 2 has been around since 2007 with a minor upgrade in between. PRICE The kick-off point is the Neo manual hatch at $15,790, plus $1650 for the four-speed auto. We got hold of the little auto for a spin and can understand why it's a leading light in the tiddler class. This is despite being off the pace with a four-speed auto, no Bluetooth phone or audio streaming, drum rear brakes, no wheel controls, no lumbar support adjustment, no steering wheel reach adjustment and a temporary spare. It's a fair old missing list especially when compared with its competition. DRIVING But the little Mazda more than makes up for it in the way it drives, feels and looks, plus the salient point that it's a Japanese manufactured vehicle having reverted to this from earlier Thailand production. In short, it's a great little car to drive, perky, nippy, economical, with plenty of zip even with the four speed auto, it's all you need. The handling is sporty, helped recently by the adoption of 15-inch wheels and minor suspension and brake tweaks. ENGINE There's an economical 1.5-litre twin cam petrol engine driving the front wheels that's good for a hearty 76kW/136Nm output while consuming around 6.5-litres/100km of 91 RON petrol. It scores an EU4 emissions rating. SAFETY In higher spec' models, Mazda2 gets a five star rating but Neo buyers will have to pay an extra $450 for front side and curtain airbags to get five star crash protection. Even so, it scores stability control and other safety related kit to help avoid a crash or protect you in one. PRACTICALITIES As a city car the Mazda2 shines because it's easy to park and has a tight turning circle along with easy to see peripherals. The small boot is a useable shape expandable with split folding rear seats. Though nothing flash, the audio system is acceptable and has an AUX input to hook up your music system. The single CD player is laughable in this day and age. And of course we took it on the freeway where, once again, the essentials are right up to speed (no cringe value at all) with adequate kick to the speed limit and plenty in reserve for overtaking as long as you don't mind letting the engine rev its head off. VERDICT Cheeky looks, affordable, unquestioned Mazda reliability, economical and practical...Mazda2 Neo makes a convincing  argument. MAZDA2 NEO Price: from $15,790 Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder, 76kW/136Nm Transmission: four-speed auto Economy: 6.5-litres/100km

WE turn the spotlight on automotive's newest and brightest stars, as we ask the questions to which you want the answers. Ultimately, however, there is only one question that really needs answering -- would you buy one? Mazda's big seven-seater people mover/cum sports utility vehicle. The big difference with this particular one is that it is two-wheel drive instead of all wheel drive. This cuts cost and reduces the weight which bodes well for a vehicle of this size. Our test vehicle, the top of the line Luxury with Satellite Navigation FWD, is $59,233 - but you can pick up the front wheel drive entry level model from $44,425. The fronty is $4908 less than the all-wheel drive model. Anything with seven seats really, people mover or SUV. You can  get a top of the line diesel powered Kia Carnival for less than this, so that's worth considering. All CX-9s continue to be powered by a 3.7 litre V6 engine mated to a 6-speed Activematic transmission. FWD models offer fuel economy of 11 litres per 100km while the fuel efficiency of AWD models has improved to 11.2 litres per 100km. Power and torque figures remain unchanged at 204kW and 367Nm respectively. Like a jet. Make sure you don't plonk it the wet though because the front wheels will start scrambling before it gets going. No. In no stretch of the imagination could you call 11.0 litres/100km economical. That's on a good day _ with a full load and plenty of hills you can expect to see a lot worse. Needs a diesel option like its little brother the soon to be discontinued CX-7. The front-wheel drive model has not been rated by the Government's Green Guide, but the all-wheel drive gets three out of five stars (with fractionally better fuel economy it might pick up half a star) Not rated by ANCAP, but comes with a full complement of safety gear including six airbags (offering protection for all three rows), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Roll Stability Control (RSC) and a reversing camera. Yep. Plenty of room inside. Comfortable seats. Plenty of vision from the high driving position. Deceptively small. Park it in the driveway and you will soon discover just how big it is, especially across the girth. Luxury model adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a power-sliding and tilt glass sunroof, heated power mirrors with 3-position memory and reverse tilt-down function, power adjustable leather seats with 3-position memory function and a premium Bose audio system with 10 speakers. Satellite Navigation option adds a large 7-inch touch-screen satellite navigation system and Bluetooth with audio streaming. Yep. Fit and finish are first rate. Don't miss all-wheel drive. Has got plenty of get up and go, but you the cost of running it could be a worry?

If you're contemplating a compact SUV purchase, it could be well worthwhile to keep your powder dry and wait for the Mazda CX-5 with Skyactiv. Skyactiv is essentially an optimisation program adopted by Mazda to make its vehicles use less fuel, feel better to drive, offer the highest levels of safety and perform well. Rather than go all out with radical new technology, Mazda paid careful attention to the simple stuff for Skyactiv. It's their answer to Bluemotion from VW, Efficient Dynamics from BMW, BlueEfficiency from Benz and other similar programs from most leading carmakers. Mazda's work on its powertrains sees direct fuel injection, variable valve timing and a high (for a petrol engine) 14:1 compression ratio on the petrol 2.0-litre four and twin turbo charging, variable valve lift and a low 14:1 compression ration on the 2.2-litre turbodiesel. Internal engine friction has been reduced and the diesel's exhaust particle filter is the only "after treatment" required for it to achieve an imprerssive Euro 6 emissions rating. The six-speed transmissions have been reduced in size and weight, altered for efficiency with a wider lock-up range on the auto and quicker shifts. The manual gains an MX5-like shift change and gearing accurately calibrated for each engine. Other efficiency changes have been made to the steering and chassis components. Skyactiv will be progressively introduced in Mazda vehicles and ushers in a few firsts for the company including the six-speed automatic transmission and a twin-turbo diesel engine. It will be applied to four cylinder engines only in capacities from 1.3-2.5 litres. Mazda sees its motoring future using conventional reciprocating petrol and diesel engines in a quest to cut fuel consumption (and emissions) across the entire Mazda range rests with Skyactiv. This will be achieved with little or no impact on affordability. A new Kodo design language comes with the CX-5's Skyactiv technology making the vehicle one of the most important from Mazda for a decade. While donning its "green" cap with Skyactiv, Mazda hasn't turned its back on a core strength of the brand – driving pleasure. The CX-5 has been engineered to compete with Europe's best compact SUVs and was benchmarked against the likes of Volkswagen Tiguan and X3 BMW. Engine stop/start called i-Stop makes an appearance on CX-5 in both automatic and manual, petrol and diesel models. It's partly responsible for the significant 15-20 per cent fuel economy reduction in CX-5 when compared with CX7. Weight reductions of up to 200kg have been made through better design and a reduction in physical size of powertrain components. The CX-5 itself is externally slightly smaller than the CX7. All wheel or front wheel drive is available with the diesel and petrol engines as is automatic and manual transmission. A number of specification levels will be offered as yet undetermined. Pricing should be close to the CX7. The CX-5 is an excellent drive in all variants but particularly the diesel in manual or auto. It is unusual in that the engine delivers strong performance right up to 5200rpm where other turbodiesel sign off at around 4000. It's super smooth and quiet and is infact nearly impossible to differentiate from the petrol engine in this area. The European spec' cars we drove (similar to what we'll get) had excellent handling and ride qualities coupled with sporty steering and braking feel. If it was our decision, we'd get exactly this spec in Australia. Though "disguised" for our drive, the CX-5 exhibits striking form with a family Mazda look to its face and sharp crease lines running along the side. The headlights have a predatory bird look and front screen is steeply raked. It has real presence on the road. Inside is along a similar modern and functional vein – with plenty of current Mazda equipment. The dash itself is a pleasing shape and there's plenty of room inside for five with a decent load space down the back. Though possibly not on the books for Aussie consumption, CX-5 ushers in availability of blind spot warning, lane departure warning and a version of emergency braking to prevent rear end collisions. The vehicle will get a five star crash rating.