SHORT STORIES
A round-up of the latest Mazda news and car reviews
MX-5 wins Best Sports/Performance Car in Canada
The MX-5 has been named the Best Sports/Performance Car in Canada for 2022 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The announcement marks the second time that the current generation MX-5 has received this accolade, winning the same title in 2019. The car scored highly for its vehicle dynamics, including its steering, handling and braking effectiveness, all of which have helped make it the best-selling roadster in the world. “The MX-5 is the soul of Mazda and is the enduring symbol of everything our company stands for,” said David Klan, President and CEO, Mazda Canada.
Read more here.
Pricing and packaging revealed for the 2023 CX-50
Mazda has announced further details about the first-ever 2023 CX-50, the crossover SUV perfectly suited for any outdoor adventure thanks to its on and off-road capabilities. Set to arrive in dealerships across the country in May, prices start at $37,900 for GS-L models while GT Turbo models begin at $45,350. Each of the four models will also be available in five premium colours, including the all-new Zircon Sand Metallic as well as Wind Chill Pearl and the classic Soul Red Crystal Metallic. The CX-50 comes equipped with i-Activ AWD® technology as standard on all trim levels, as well as Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) and the latest safety technologies.
Discover more about the 2023 CX-50 here.
Mazda wins in AutoTrader Expert’s Choice awards
Both the Mazda MX-5 and CX-30 have each been awarded top prizes at the venerated AutoTrader 2022 awards.
Celebrating the best of the Canadian automotive industry, the CX-30 won Best Subcompact SUV, with judges praising the car for standing out in the extremely crowded SUV market. Build quality and safety standards were considered class-leading, while the vehicle’s “impressive lineup of available powertrains” include engines “with enough performance to match pricier luxury CUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class.”
Meanwhile, the Mazda MX-5 brought home the Best Performance Car Under $50K gong, the third consecutive year the sportscar has won the award. The judges heralded the MX-5 for its commitment to “driver satisfaction and engineering excellence” and for “providing a uniquely joyful experience behind the wheel”. The award is even more special given the category’s stiff competition, with the MX-5 triumphing over the Volkswagen Golf GTI/Golf R, Hyundai Veloster N hot hatchbacks, the Ford Mustang, as well as the new Toyota GR 86 and Subaru BRZ twins.
Discover the Mazda lineup here.
Mazda announces the first-ever Mazda CX‑50
Mazda has unveiled the latest addition to its vehicle line-up—the first-ever Mazda CX‑50. The crossover SUV features i‑Activ AWD as standard across all trim levels and Skyactiv‑G 2.5T turbo engine or Skyactiv‑G 2.5 powertrain options. Hybrid and other electrified powertrains are also due to be introduced at a later date. The CX‑50 also debuts new colour options—Zircon Sand metallic exterior paint and a terracotta interior colour.
Built to take on various terrains with greater off-road capability, the Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi‑Drive) technology includes drive modes that enhance off-road and sport driving.
The user-friendly trunk space includes an elongated cargo floor and liftgate opening for easily stowing all your outdoor gear. Each model also features a panoramic moonroof, a first for Mazda, allowing passengers to feel connected to nature on their adventures in the CX‑50.
The CX‑50 will be the first vehicle to come out of the new US Mazda Toyota factory in Alabama and will be in dealerships in spring 2022.
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Mazda Connected Services and MyMazda app launched
Mazda’s Connected Services have been launched and are exclusively available for the 2021.5 Mazda CX‑5, 2021.5 Mazda CX‑9 and the 2022 MX‑30 EV.
Drivers can access remote features, housed within the MyMazda app, such as their vehicle’s door locks, lights and remote engine start.
Other services include monitoring fuel and oil levels, EV vehicle charge status and vehicle health report. Mazda’s Connected Services can even help owners locate their parked vehicle with Vehicle Finder, which pinpoints the car’s location on a map and also flashes the hazard lights for easy identification in even the most crowded parking lots.
Find out more about Mazda’s Connected Services here.
2021 Mazda CX‑5 comes out top in new IIHS safety test
The 2021 Mazda CX‑5 was the only vehicle out of 20 small SUVs to receive the highest achievable good rating in a new side-impact test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Already a 2021 TOP SAFETY PICK+ winner, the CX‑5 performed extremely well in a stringent test that addresses higher severity crashes by using a heavier barrier travelling at higher speed to simulate the striking vehicle.
“We developed this new test because we suspected there was room for more progress, and these results confirm that,” IIHS President David Harkey says. “The good rating for the CX‑5 shows that robust protection in a more severe side crash is achievable.”
Read more about the 2021 Mazda CX‑5’s safety results here.
Drive—The Sunshine Coast Highway, British Columbia
“One of the things I really like about the Sunshine Coast is the feeling that no one else is around. It’s just you and nature.” Callum Snape, Travel and Adventure photographer
Discover Mazda Stories’ Drive section, featuring some of the best road trips across the country, and submit your very own #MazdaDrives recommendations.
Review: 2021.5 Mazda CX‑9
“If you’re someone who needs a lot of space but doesn’t like the way a big car/CUV feels, then the CX‑9 should be high on your list to consider.”
Clayton Seams, driving.ca
Review: 2022 Mazda MX‑30 EV
“I say ‘fantastic little car’ with confidence, as after driving the MX‑30 EV for a few hours all over Metro Vancouver, I was more than impressed by Mazda’s inaugural foray into the electric vehicle world.”
Andrew McCredie, driving.ca
Review: 2022 Mazda MX‑30 EV
“The MX‑30 EV does perform, especially in the handling sense where steering response is spot-on, and passenger comfort is kept nicely in-check thanks to an advanced version of Mazda’s G‑Vectoring Control.”
Dan Heyman, wheels.ca
Mazda Canada donates vehicles to help train automotive technician students
Earlier this year Mazda Canada donated two 2019 Mazda CX‑5s to the Algonquin College’s School of Advanced Technology in Ontario. The vehicles are currently being used to help train students in electrical and computer diagnostics, and suspension, brakes and engine operation/diagnosis classes.
Algonquin College President and CEO Claude Brulé said: “These donations are critical to providing our learners with examples of current automotive technology that they will encounter in the workplace. We are grateful to our community partners at Mazda Canada Inc. and appreciate their commitment to helping train the next generation of automotive technicians.”
Mazda CX‑5 and CX‑9 receive mid-year upgrades
Mazda Canada’s best-selling CX‑5 compact crossover and seven-passenger CX‑9 crossover have both received mid-year upgrades, with new 2021.5 models launching across the country.
The upgraded models boast technologies such as a larger infotainment screen, along with Mazda Connected Services, which will be enabled from this fall. Mazda Connected Services allow drivers to control elements of their vehicle remotely. In addition, the CX‑5 2021.5 model will also be fitted with a full suite of i‑Activsense safety features as standard equipment.
All-electric 2022 Mazda MX‑30 in dealerships this fall
Mazda’s first fully electric vehicle will soon be arriving on Canadian shores, beginning with dealerships in Quebec and British Columbia. The MX‑30 is engineered with e‑Skyactiv technology and an electric powertrain, resulting in the same effortless driving that Mazda is known for but with zero driving emissions. Adding to the MX‑30’s environmental credentials, the car’s cabin is designed with natural and sustainable materials such as cork and breathable fabrics that have been created from fibres of recycled plastic bottles. The MX‑30 will also soon be joined by a plug-in hybrid version of the model. Tap here to register your interest.
Mazda announces future sustainable technology plans
Mazda has announced its latest technology and product plans, supporting the company’s long-term environmental vision known as Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030. One of the earliest technologies that will be available is Mazda’s Co-Pilot Concept”, an autonomous driving system that constantly monitors the driver’s physical condition and takes control of their car in the event of an emergency. To read more about Mazda’s Co-Pilot Concept, click here.
In addition, Mazda is working towards a worldwide goal of electrifying its entire fleet by 2030* with plans also in place to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Read more about Mazda’s electrification plans, here.
To find out more about Mazda’s multi-solution approach for reducing its impact on the environment, tap here.
*By 2030 all vehicles will be equipped with some form of electrification, and many vehicles will continue to operate with an internal combustion engine.
Exploring Japanese culture in Vancouver in the Mazda CX‑9
“Overall, the Mazda CX‑9 was a comfortable, easy drive and, despite travelling all over the city, the fuel tank indicator hardly moved. I could have gone a lot farther. They’re lucky I returned it.”
Read more about our writer taking a trip back to her Japanese roots in Vancouver.
Review: A Guide To Roadsters For 2021—Mazda MX‑5
“The Mazda MX‑5 is to roadsters what Nirvana was to rock music— a simple, back-to-basics approach that emphasized emotion over gimmicks or glamour, and essentially saved the whole genre in the process.”
Chris D’Alessandro, wheels.ca
Review: 2021 Mazda MX‑5 RF GT
“If the MX‑5 RF’s snug interior can be described as fitting like a proverbial glove, its audio system can be equated to a great pair of headphones.”
Matthew Guy, driving.ca
2021 Mazda3 100th Anniversary Edition
“You get way more for the money in terms of tech than you would in those luxury car brands, and way more performance than you would with the non-luxury compact sedans.”
Brian Smith, reader, driving.ca
Mazda3 wins Canadian Car of the Year
The Mazda3 has been named the 2021 Canadian Car of the Year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). The verdict made award history as the Mazda3 became the first vehicle to win this accolade for two consecutive years, and the only vehicle to have won the award three times.
The Mazda3 became eligible for Canadian Car of the Year following a category victory as the AJAC’s Best Mid-Size Car in Canada for 2021 earlier this year. “This is a historic win for Mazda and we are honoured to be the first to reach these milestones with AJAC,” said David Klan, President & CEO of Mazda Canada.
New Kuro Edition range revealed
Mazda Canada has unveiled the all-new Kuro Edition range for the 2021 CX‑5, CX‑9, and Mazda6. The exclusive lineup includes a choice between the stunning Jet Black Mica or Polymetal Grey metallic exteriors, and boasts sleek Garnet Red leather seats and a powerful Skyactiv‑G 2.5 litre engine.
To celebrate the launch, Mazda Canada partnered with three creatives and influencers from across the country—tattoo artist David Peyote, jewelry designer Ashley Alexis McFarlane and artist Maxwell N. Burnstein. Commenting on the new design, McFarlane said: “The combination of the calm tranquillity of black and bold intensity of red is very visceral.”
Every 2021 Mazda Model Tested Earns Top Safety Award
For the fifth year running Mazda has won TOP SAFETY PICK awards for vehicles tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent safety-testing organisation.
The IIHS awarded the highest safety designation available, TOP SAFETY PICK+, to the CX‑9 with standard equipment. And the top honours also went to the 2021 Mazda3, Mazda3 Sport, Mazda6, CX‑5 and CX‑30 (built after September 2020) when equipped with optional front crash prevention technology.
The Mazda CX‑3 subcompact crossover earned a TOP SAFETY PICK award when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights.
Mazda fans raise funds for local charities
These challenging times have brought out the very best in human spirit, and Mazda fans have shown a united front by giving back to their community. Eight clubs across the country including the Miataphiles, the Canadian Rockies Miata Club and the Maritime Miata Club, have been donating funds to local food banks, hospitals and charities. And to show support to clubs who could no longer gather because of COVID, Mazda Canada partnered with them to raise a collective total of over $30,000 so far.
The Niagara Peninsula Miata Club raised $2,000 and donated to local food banks, including the Salvation Army Hamilton food bank and Hamilton Food Share. The Trillium Miata Club also raised $2,000, which was distributed among the North Harvest Food Bank, Women’s Shelters Canada and Covenant House Toronto. Some members of the club, which is based in Southern Ontario, also took part in a food drop-off last spring, loading their MX‑5 trunks with much-needed supplies.
Former club president Gary Svoboda said: “We’re a very active club and passionate about our cars. When lockdown began we had to channel that passion elsewhere, so we came up with the idea of dropping off donations at the food bank as a way to get back into our cars and do something useful.
“After that, we decided to focus on giving back to those who are in greater need than us in the community. We reached out to our membership to raise some money and then Mazda Canada offered to match our donations. The company has been very supportive of our fundraising.”
Mazda in The Car Guide’s Best Buys list
Mazda has scored highly in The Car Guide’s Best Buys list for 2021, featuring in five out of 26 categories. The Quebec publication crowned the Mazda3 winner of the Compact Car category and also recommended the Mazda MX‑5, CX-3, CX‑5 and CX‑30 in the Convertible, Urban Crossover, Compact SUV and Subcompact SUV categories.
Review: 2021 Mazda CX‑5 Signature
“The Mazda’s polished road manners and upscale cabin set it apart, making it the compact crossover we want to drive day after day.”
Joey Capparella, Car and Driver comparison test
Review: 2021 Mazda3 Turbo
“The best cars to drive are the ones that give the driver confidence, and the Mazda3 will make you feel like Lewis Hamilton.”
Kunal Dsouza, wheels.ca
Review: 2021 Mazda CX‑5 100th Anniversary edition
“This is a true five-passenger vehicle, and I’d describe it like a hatchback on steroids. The front-end styling is absolutely Mazda, and to me, it’s stylishly different.”
Jeff Griffiths, reader, driving.ca
Material republished with the express permission of driving.ca, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Review: 2021 Mazda6 Kuro Edition
“The car’s sleek lines, handsome proportions and sharp aerodynamic aesthetic is as prominent now as it was when it went on sale in 2013.”
Lee Bailie, wheels.ca
Review: 2020 Mazda CX‑30 GT
“What every modern Mazda seems to ace is its interior design. This is Japanese artwork at its finest, and I would buy a Mazda just for the cabin atmosphere alone.”
Calvin Chan, Canadian Auto Review
Mazda Canada partners with Driving Unlimited Academy
Mazda Canada has joined forces with Driving Unlimited Academy, providing the school with a fleet of Mazda3 Sport GT AWD models for its student training vehicles.
“It’s the perfect vehicle as it has all the latest active and passive safety features,” says the academy’s President and CEO Danny Kok. “It also has great ergonomics and sightlines that are beneficial to learner drivers, as well as great styling.”
Driving Unlimited Academy operates throughout the Greater Vancouver Area, the City of Kelowna and the City of West Kelowna.
The great escape
“Throughout our 600km trip, we felt in safe hands with the Mazda CX‑30’s superb suite of i‑Activsense Advanced driver-assistance technologies always at work. But the most game-changing feature for me as a driver is Mazda Radar Cruise Control. The CX‑30’s millimetre wave radar judges the relative speed of the car in front and automatically regulates its own. I found it particularly impressive when a car in front of me unexpectedly slowed down.”
Read more about our Mazda CX‑30 road trip in New Zealand
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