Best Mazda Cars

Car offers firm ride, nice steering around the corners and reliability , the one thing which irritates me is its noisy engine....it looks like a diesel especially in low speeds. Show details

After owning a BMW E39 525i for many years I was concerned about driving experience of moving to a front drive 2025 20th Anniversary Edition Mazda 6… Read more

2.5l turbo. First drive dispelled my concerns completely. The 6 is a real match with the E39 for ride, comfort and handling the steering and driving dynamics and the boot is huge. The 2.5 turbo engine is a revelation with bags of torque and more than adequate power with reasonable cruising fuel economy of better than 7l/100kms. The automatic transmission is one of the best I have ever experienced with almost imperceptible shifts and smooth power delivery and much better than most of the CVVT's out there. My purchase was based on the Japanese build quality of the Mazda (second to none), reliability, availability of parts and servicing. The interior of the 6 is spacious and a beautiful place to inhabit for long distance driving. Minor issues such as lack of traction control (careful with the throttle from a standstill on wet roads) and the age of the MZD infotainment system are minor irritations that one can live with. To borrow an old Jaguar marketing slogan "Grace, pace and space"

This is my third review on my April 2023 Mazda 2, white pure with a six speed manual with tinted windows and a few other inclusions such as LED… Read more

headlights (marvellous), lane keep assist, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert (fantastic). Ok so the plastics are scratchy and the infotainment system is small at around 8 inches but it is very clear. And cupholders in the back and centre armrest storage bin would have been nice (I fitted all of these items at much cheapter prices). However, the drive of this car is excellent, a beautiful six speed manual box that shifts precisely and a clutch that is so well matched that city driving is a breeze. Combine that with fuel economy that is consistent at around 6.5L/100kms as well as sharp handling and direct sterring and this car given its design age is truly fantastic for what it costs. However, the greatest improvement I have made to the car is the fitment of 195 instead of 185s still on the standard 15" alloy rims and what a difference. Ride is much smoother, road noise is reduced and handling in tight corners is much sharper. I throughly receomend upsizing. Overall a great car for the money, this si where the real value is, everything you need but note this car needs to be driven, you can't just lope along but as both a city and highway car it is truly fit for purpose.

I bought a Mazda CX-5B 10 months ago. For the most part I really love it. But there's one feature that's a deal killer. Knowing what I know now, I… Read more

wouldn't buy it again. The remote key is a piece of junk. I've had to press the buttons up to 15 times to get it to work. Lock and unlock. And if you don't lock it, someone can hop in, start it, and drive it away. I've tried new batteries. I've tried both keys it came with. It's downright dangerous. I also own a Mazda 6. Never had a problem. Until Mazda fixes this, stay away.

The perfect modern day roadster – This is Mazda’s golden child. For the past 20 years, the MX-5 has set the bar for what a sports car should be. And unlike other sports cars, it's… Read more

barely changed over that period in all the best ways. It hasn't gained weight, its wheelbase has hardly grown and it's still one of the best value sports cars you can buy today.

The MX-5 has always been more on the practical side of build quality. Everything is put together with great accuracy and a lot of plastic.

That means there aren’t any luxurious trims to be wary of when it starts to rain with the roof down, and it can weather those harsh Aussie UV rays in summer.

For $42,184 drive away, the MX-5 represents the best value for a convertible in Australia. This is the base model MX-5, and to be honest, it’s a fair price against competitors like the Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ.

The MX-5 is covered by a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and has capped pricing for its first 5 services.

Service intervals are every 10,000km or 12 months (whichever comes first), and totals $1817 over this period.

MX-5s are notoriously reliable thanks to their simple engine design and lack of complicated parts, especially if you opt for a soft-top variant.

I’ll be honest: the MX-5’s sound system is lackluster. It does the bare minimum, but it’s not going to make you want to exclusively purchase the MX-5 for this reason.

What I was deeply impressed by was the integration of speakers behind the passenger seats. It allows you to listen to music with the roof down, and even make clear phone calls (with no complaints about wind noise from those on the other line).

Road noise is pretty obvious, but despite having a fabric roof, it’s still pretty quiet compared to the Subaru BRZ. However, passing external sounds can penetrate the interior more than a traditional coupe.

The naturally aspirated 2.0L engine doesn’t produce an addicting exhaust sound like you’d find on the likes of a Hyundai N car. Rather, it’s understated, with a deep bass and subtle overrun burbles. You could make it louder aftermarket, but I prefer the subtlety and raspiness of this engine - it reminds me of an old school Austin Healy roadster.

This car weighs just over 1,000kg, so it’s not going to take a lot to stop this thing. The brakes are quick to bite, but are easy to modulate for smooth day-to-day operation.

The MX-5 is now only available with a more powerful naturally aspirated 2.0L four-cylinder motor, producing 135kW and 205Nm!

For a car that weighs so little, this power goes a lot further than you might think.

This engine loves to rev through to redline, and it's rewarding to do so. You truly can have a lot of fun driving this car within the confines of the Sydney metropolitan area.

Even though Subaru worked hard on improving their naturally aspirated four-cylinder, this engine is just so much better. The lack of a turbo generates a more engaging drive and really suits the chassis of this car.

Not to mention, power is exclusively sent to the rear wheels, making harsh acceleration a breeze.

Outside of the Toyota GR Yaris, this is the best 6-speed manual I’ve driven this year.

The slick transition between gears was intoxicating, and clutch control came so naturally. Compared to other manuals I’ve driven, the 6-speed in here made the MX-5. I can’t imagine how the automatic would even be considered with a transmission so great.

Even in traffic and during low-speed manoeuvres, this lightweight transmission requires little effort to operate - not to mention that this is one of the lightest 6-speed manual transmissions ever built.

Mazda has a philosophy of the rider and horse as one. That’s exactly what I experienced in the MX-5. Firstly, you’re sat towards the rear wheels, with the engine and large bonnet leading the charge.

The roadster has a softly tuned suspension setup, making driving over harsh roads in such a low riding car far more bearable than a Subaru BRZ.

Once you’re hitting corners, the MX-5 comes alive. It’s reactive, predictable and playful. Steering feel is some of the best I’ve experienced ever, and allows you to read the road and tires through your fingertips.

Combining a lightweight construction, a rev-happy engine and a six-speed manual, you have the best driving experience for less than $100,000.

The lack of a turbo and the fact that it requires you to rev out this larger displacement four-cylinder means you’ll find the MX-5 to be a little thirsty on fuel.

I averaged just under 10L per 100km when driving around in the MX-5. It’s right on the money for a four-cylinder performance car. What I found obvious is that you could easily reduce that consumption figure, as long as you don’t lay into that throttle often.

This is a tiny car by modern standards. The interior is great for those who are 6’2” and smaller.

You have one of the best driving positions at your disposal, made easier to adjust to your body thanks to the inclusion of a telescopically adjustable steering wheel.

There’s a large rev counter and supplementary info in front of the driver, a basic touch screen slapped in the centre and a few buttons splashed around to control the air conditioning.

There’s nothing outstanding regarding the design, allowing you to have all the basics and simply focus on driving.

What really transforms the driving experience is the ability to quickly unlock the roof and throw it behind you at any given moment. You open up the light and remove the feeling of claustrophobia that the closed roof can bring. I certainly made the most of every clear sky that came my way.

Surprisingly, the MX-5 has been built to maximise every nook and cranny for storage and practicality. There’s a rear boot that’ll house 130L of space, a centre glove box between the drive and a tiny compartment under the driver’s elbow.

You could take a trip away in the MX-5, but you’ll need to ditch the hard shell suitcases for duffle bags and debate which pair of shoes to bring (no, you can’t bring both). But at least the MX-5’s roof doesn’t impact the boot storage at all, and when you raise it up, it provides an additional storage shelf.

Buy this thing if you love driving. That’s my reasoning to myself.

If you value the driving experience above all else, there’s a reason why the MX-5 is still regarded as the holy grail of pure sports car experience.

I love my Abarth 500, but the ND Mazda MX-5 is my next car for now. When I need to move on from my car, there’s nothing really as engaging, unique and encouraging to drive than the MX-5.

I can see clearly why it’s so revered, and it’s deserving of all of its praise. It’s so special that Mazda is carefully working on the NE generation to continue what makes the ND so great into the next generation. Sure, if you need more space, seats and features, there are other options out there. But nothing - aside from the Subaru BRZ - comes this close to a pure driving experience like this.

*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.

I recently purchased the Mazda CX-3 GT SP G20 and couldn’t be happier with my choice. It strikes an excellent balance between fun, comfort, and… Read more

practicality. The power delivery is zippy and responsive, giving it a lively character around town, yet it remains impressively fuel efficient – I average around 5–5.5L per 100km on the highway, which is fantastic for a petrol SUV of this size.

Day-to-day driving is a breeze as the CX-3 is super easy to drive, park, and manoeuvre. The seats are comfortable even on longer trips, and I really like the sporty styling touches that make it look sharp on the road. Highway driving is especially enjoyable thanks to the radar cruise control, which takes the stress out of longer journeys.

One of the things I appreciate most is that Mazda continues to use a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission rather than a CVT. It makes the car feel more engaging and connected to drive, with smooth shifts and better response when overtaking.

Overall, the CX-3 GT SP G20 is a great package – zippy, efficient, stylish, and comfortable, with just the right amount of technology to make driving easy and enjoyable

I got this car last month to replace my recently bought Corolla (long story) and really like driving it. I had found the hybrid Corolla surprisingly… Read more

low on the road, and to get into, even though it was a dream to drive. Decided to go "local" for my next car and obvs wanted a higher ground clearance one...I got the Pure from Medlow Bath Mazda as it had everything I really wanted. No separate climate control, but I could live without that! It works perfectly, is very smooth and quiet on the road, the technology works well (although the voice control is not as good as Toyota's and needs a few extra commands) and is reasonable on petrol use. I had initially wanted a hybrid because they're whisper-quiet and they do double the distance before tank refill, but I since discovered that the batteries have a finite lifespan and are very costly to replace - so I was quite happy to go back to petrol! This is a perfect sized car for me, not too small and not too big. The only drawback is the low-set passenger seat, but it doesn't really affect me.

I find this Ute to have a lot of safety tec, the cruise control distance control is great, the lane keeping isn’t ideal on narrow roads bouncing… Read more

between the lines very unsafe. I fight it and it abruptly gets you off the white lines. So turning that feature off on narrow roads is a must and for avoiding pot holes. The high beam automatic sensing is always off can’t be trusted! My dual cab has fully enclosed aluminium tool box, with factory suspension would recommend an upgrade to have 300kg suspension upgrade and an extra leaf added for towing trailers. As is now very floaty and wears Tyers out quickly. Automatic gear box shutters some times when charging down in gears Ute has only done 58400kms / I get 10.5 per 100kms Ute is a diesel 4x2 dual cab. It’s used for work long trips, a lot of stop starts around town, get service done at recommend intervals, Ac is ok works best on full ball, no medium setting basically non existent. Heater is great! Easy to drive park, seats are very comfortable. controls on steering wheel useful and easy to navigate. Touch screen is hard to read and lint gets attracted to it a lot, A dial knob for the radio volume would be much better, mute bottom is quicker then pressing the volume button a million times. Overall it’s behaving its self for now hopefully nothing is wrong with the transmission as it shutters changing down gears sometimes.

Owned for 5 months, and 10,000 kms. So far the Service was amazing from Cranbourne Mazda and the Car is amazing to drive. I drive mainly open road \… Read more

highway and the CX-60 is easy to drive . Just as easy around Melbourne city. I'm getting mid 7Ltrs per 100Kms (7.6) and getting better as the car wears in. Has an amazing interior, and the sound system has depth and quality. This really does deserve the Zoom Zoom

Lovely looking car with lovely interiors. Nice and punchy inline 6 engine. Thats about it. If someone who is like me and is sensitive to noise,… Read more

please stay away from this car. There is a dashboard rattle for which I have made multiple trips to the dealership and it still rattles. Also the transmission is very noisy and makes weird noises during idle. Never driven a car in my entire life that makes these noises. Mazda says this transmission noise is "normal".

Steering feels very heavy at times which is good during high speeds. But during three point turns your arms get a good workout.

Suspension is not the most comfortable.

Glad this car is on novated lease. I'm sure I wont pay the residual amount to own such a poor quality car unless they fix these issues. Looks like quality control is non existent in mazda as all the loan cars that I got from dealership had rattles with less that 500km on the odo. For a 90k car we expect the best. And this is the worst!

Tried contacting Mazda Australia several times and all they do is respond with a pre made email that advise me to contact dealer. Is the dealer who designed the transmission or is it Mazda? I'm confused!!