#Mazda

This one hardly comes as a surprise, given Mazda is in the throes of completely revamping its lineup – complete with straight-six engines and extra zeroes in its model names.

Despite being on the market for a few years, the Mazda 3 remains high on our list of recommendations whenever someone asks for advice on affordable compact cars. For the 2024 model year, Mazda has gifted it a handful of updates.

Alert members of the B&B know that applying skiffs of paint and wallpaper to create a new trim can be a great way for an OEM to grab attention on a model that’s between development cycles. Mazda has dabbled with a Carbon Edition in the past but is now applying a similar treatment to other vehicles in its range.

Several schools of thought exist about buying a set of wheels for a teenager or new driver. Some say the youngsters should be forced to drive a knackered hand-me-down, one which builds character and won’t cost a mint when it is inevitably crashed into a tree. 

Others are of the mind that the expected tree-crashing is exactly why parents should stuff their newly licensed children into something new packing all the latest safety features. Then, in the middle ground, we find some families reaching for gently used vehicles with decent crash ratings but ones that won’t break the bank.

As I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge for the third time, thanks to Google Maps failing at its one primary job (more on that later), I realized I’d be quite late for lunch. No matter, I thought, since I’d get more time with the 2024 Mazda CX-90.

Time for yet more shameless self-promotion! The latest episode of our podcast is now live. On it, we discuss the Mazda CX-90, EV pricing, and Honda's fuel-cell strategy.

The new Mazda CX-90 is coming in spring with three new powertrains, a shockingly nice interior, and the right features to make “Ze German” luxury SUVs quake in their opulent, leather-clad interiors. Mazda recently announced pricing for the vehicle, which starts in mainstream territory and extends dangerously close to the premium-brand MSRPs of the vehicles it’s chasing. 

Matt reported earlier today that Mazda is intent on keeping the Miata around basically forever. But it's unclear what it has in mind for the car in the future.

With the current-generation Mazda MX-5 nearing the end of its lifecycle, there are a lot of questions about what exactly its successor will be like. The ND Miata has effectively built on the foundation of its predecessors without changing the recipe. But increasingly strict regulatory environments and changes in consumer tastes have left questions about whether or not the MX-5 will become electrified. There have also been rumors that Mazda may simply abandon the vehicle, as there don’t appear to be any firm development plans for it just yet.

Mazda’s European CEO, Martijn ten Brink, has attempted to assuage any concerns by stating that the MX-5 will probably be around “forever.” Though he did admit that the manufacturer hadn’t committed itself to the technical makeup of the next-gen Miata.

Mazda currently sells four crossovers, not including the California-only MX-30 EV. But it doesn’t have a premium-priced three-row. Yes, the three-row CX-9 is nice for the price, but it’s not quite the flagship the brand needs.

Enter the CX-90.

I am currently somewhere over Colorado on the way to Los Angeles. I'm heading to Cali to see the new Mazda CX-90, which will be unveiled to the media over the next few days.

I'm curious -- what do you want to know about the vehicle?

The Mazda CX-90 teasers continue. We talked specs yesterday, but a new teaser video from Mazda itself gives us a glimpse of the vehicle.

Much of the automotive world is shifting to developing EVs and new alternative fuels. Meanwhile, Mazda is busy developing rotary range extenders and new internal combustion engines to power its vehicles. 

Fans of the mythical rotary engine, a powerplant spoken of in hushed tones by Mazda fans ever since the company killed it off about a decade ago, will have something to celebrate after the Brussels Motor Show later this week.

Adding to its portfolio of electrification options, Mazda will be offering a fresh powertrain choice in its little MX-30 crossover, one which features an electric generator powered by a newly developed rotary engine.

Incomprehensible naming schemes aside (CX-50 versus CX-5 will be spoken of in marketing case studies for years to come), Mazda has made a habit of cranking out attractive-looking vehicles with an eye towards driving enjoyment. Helping the latter immensely is the smart decision to have serious gearheads at the helm of most Mazda projects.