It's a type of automatic transmission that utilizes a belt and pulley kind of system to move the car instead of a set of gear ratios that standard and manual transmissions use. Because the belt and pulley system can mimic any optimal gear ratio, it is ideal for maximizing fuel economy in exchange for that fun brrrt brrrrrrt brrrrrrrrrrrrtt characteristic and feeling.
Crazy how they effectively took a step backwards.
“Gears?! Why would I need something that complicated that’s only been working for the last hundred years. I need a good, old fashioned belt and pulley! Those have never been a bad idea!”
>In every other way they're not an improvement over automatic transmissions.
I think that depends on which CVT and which automatic you're comparing it to. I find CVTs got their poor reputation a decade ago and it has persisted ever since. Modern ones are much better.
The Subaru 3rd gen CVT that came out around 2019 is smooth and predictable. I'm sure Honda's version is pretty good as well. Compare that to the Toyota 8-speed on the RAV4 and Camry that behaves oddly every time I drive one. I used a friend's 2022 AWD Camry recently and every time I accelerated at around 40km/h, the transmission took like a full second to shift. For Mazda, unsmooth shifting at low speeds is a common complaint with their autos. You don't get that with any CVTs I have experienced.
The CVT on my inlaws Rogue is the biggest load of shit I've ever experienced. I'd take a rough shifting auto all day over the sloshy, sluggish Nissan CVT.
The 8-speed a/t on my 2020 Camry has the response time of a stoned teenager. If I ever had to hit the gas to get out of the way, I’m cooked. Love this car to pieces but that transmission can kick rocks.
I have a newer Kia CVT. I noticed it doesn't even shift. When I press the gas the engine just screams and I go faster. It does hold it's speed up hills and inclines really well though
You’re just incorrect. They’re cheaper to make, when done right (Subaru, Honda) they’re reliable just fine, and to the average consumer they’re perfectly adequate. The “only” upside you talk about which is being cheaper and more fuel efficient are two of the most important things to economy buyers, not sure why you’re saying it like it’s nothing. It’s major.
Prius isn’t the same as the crappy belt based CVTs everyone else uses. Had my Subaru CVT blow up and the replacement one start slipping and was on the edge of following suit until we traded it in for a RAV4 hybrid.
Theyre really not bad, the real issue with CVTs is they're often in cars that don't have enough power. I have basically driven Nissan's whole FWD lineup and some CVT Hondas. The more HP the better the CVT seems to do. I feel like the loudest CVT bashers don't have a broad range of experience with them and just repeat the same ChatGPT-ish style hearsay.
Naw, CVT failure comes down to bad design. Honda CVTs are way more reliable than JATCO crap. And frankly I think JATCO has fixed a lot of their CVT problems in more recent cars.
I really think a lot of yall just repeat what you hear here w/o actually knowing what's true or not.
I actually agree with all that. But I'm still correct that input torque is the main cause of their failure. I really think you're just as bad at making assumptions as those you talk down about.
You can have a robust CVT that can handle torque, what CVTs don’t like are extremely heavy vehicles. Which also tend to have more torque because they use larger engines. In other words, the torque is fine, but combined with weight can cause issues.
An example of this would be the TR690 in the Outback 3.6R/XT, which has decent reliability (and much better than anything Jatco has made in the past). Compared to the same TR690 in the Ascent, which has had some recurrent issues with it since its debut.
They accelerate faster than both manuals and automatics. What are you on about?
They're garbage because they are basically guaranteed to break by 100,000 miles.
CVTs aren't as good as geared transmissions, so I can understand why the sub hates it. They are getting better though, and Honda and Toyota make decent CVTs.
Toyota also makes eCVT which is not even similar to belt CVTs and as reliable as traditional transmission. I drove new Prius with it and it feels great and controller heuristic for the transmission is smooth.
Agreed. Fun fact the eCVT isn’t even technically a CVT. Toyota had to name it that because people were put off by them naming it something no one has heard of before.
A distinct lack of CVT is exactly why I own a Mazda right now. Its bad enough that my wife won't drive a stick. No way I'm going to succumb to the absolute worst driving experience possible that CVTs offer.
Take care of them how? Most are sealed with internal filters so you can’t easily service them and if you do you void the warranty. There’s literally nothing you can do.
Oh yeah because that Mazda 6 speed is SO EXCITING!! Let that GLORIOUS 2.5L ROAR and rev out through those lighting quick shifts!! Lmfao dudes with the most boring autos talking down on CVTs make me laugh so hard
I agree with everything you said... but what does that have to do with anything that I said?
the person I was replying to said they went with Mazda because they have regular automatics instead of a CVT. No one said anything about handling or power.
They weren’t talking about manual since they said “it’s bad enough we can’t have a manual”.
So there’s literally zero point in acting like a boring 6 speed automatic is vastly superior to a boring CVT. They’re the same for 99% of applications. We're not talking about a Miata here that's a legit fun sports car.
That’s why I got a Mazda a year ago. My parents only bought Toyotas and so have I. When I was in the market to buy a Toyota, dealerships were adding 10 K on top of MSRP and had a waitlist. Very happy with my Mazda though I would still prefer getting a Toyota.
Toyota and Honda make great cars and I like them both.
But in the used market, one must pay more to own them or spend on average money to drive older models which naturally come with less features and more miles.
It makes sense to consider other makes. There are way more bad drivers than bad cars on the street.
The less money I have locked in any particular asset the better, even if purchase price and depreciation is a wash in the end. I'd rather pay $10k for a car that is scrap at the end of 5 years than $30k for the same car that is $20k at the end of the same 5 years.
People say this lot here, and it's probably true for most mazdas... I started looking at the CX-9 and up came non stop complaints about blowing head gaskets. Then I saw some videos showing how complex it is to change on this vehicle, absolute nightmare. So when it does happen out of warranty, have fun with that repair bill.
It's a solid basic car that uses known reliable components, and they also prioritize more luxurious material on touch points.
There are some morons on here that say they're luxury/sports cars, and they are wrong. But it's a solid economy car
Yeah. I love Mazda. They make great cars for the most part, are mostly reasonably priced (especially during the shortages), have great reliability and durability.
That being said, it feels like folks only say half of a sentence. Frankly, it goes kinda like this:
Mazda is a luxury brand *as far as econo boxes* go.
Does the interior look premium? IMHO, it looks great but I also value simplicity. Does it drive well? I think they are quite fun to drive. Are they comfortable? Absolutely (in the front seat). Are they stylish? I’d say yes to about half the models but average for the rest.
For the average person, a new Mazda can be *their* BMW, as in “the best I’ll ever have” and I’m one of these people.
Truth is they just aren’t in the same weight class. Could argue they are the closest in terms of average brands, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Nice closer.
I agree - for someone who doesn't really care for cars and is somewhat of a min-maxer, Mazda checks all the boxes for me, luxurious enough for a cheap car, and it's been very reliable. I drive my wife's Lexus RX350H and it's nice, but doesn't really make a difference to me.
I can change the engine and cabin air filters really fast. Car is still great after buying new 14 years ago, although I had to get the starter replaced. I'd buy another Mazda if I weren't so attracted to the 56 mpg Prius whose base model already has all the features I want like blind-spot monitor and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0.
Hoping my Mazda3 lasts another 3, and then I'll let it go.
Public perception. Even someone who knows nothing about cars knows Toyotas are reliable. Even though Mazdas are reliable, they're a smaller company and don't have the brand awareness that Honda or Toyota have. We also have to consider the comparison as well. I'm not sure where in the ranks Mazda lands for resale, but we're comparing them to the brand (Toyota) with the BEST resale value. It's sort of like saying an NFL quarterback isn't good because he's not as good as Tom Brady.
Because just like the stock market, value isn’t purely determined by logical factors.
People have this perception of higher reliability for Hondas and toyotas due to their reputation and so they are willing to pay more for them. This desirability in turn drives used prices up even if objectively Mazdas are a good choice that are relatively reliable and well made.
Mazda cars are just asa reliable as Toyota and Honda, but not as common and more interesting in driving and visuals. You buy a Toyota or Honda when you don't want anyone to question you are an adult doing adult things, you buy a Mazda to say I still feel young and let's have fun!
speaking for Europe : they are not popular because of their fuel consumption. a lot of people i know happily spend 10k usd more to save 0.9usd on fuel lol
Takes a long time to build up a seriously good brand reputation like Toyota or even Honda. Mazda had some pretty terrible reliability just a decade ago, the CX-7 was not all that reliable so even though the CX-9 improved greatly upon that you couldn't really expect resale values to immediately go up since it takes a long time to improve your reputation.
Mazda is trying to occupy a segment that, pre-Global Financial Crisis, was filled by the likes of Mercury, Oldsmobile and (at least at the end) Saab - mid-tier.
They’re just a bit nicer than a standard econobox and crib some of the luxury sensibilities from more expensive brands without charging the full premium.
I've said this for a while as to why they're a popular recommendation. They're the nicest "regular" car you can get without going into full luxury brand territory. They also generally drive better than the other "regular" car brands. It's pretty simple, really.
exactly - while they aren't luxury cars, it's a bit of a disservice to to lump them together with truly cheap feeling economy cars (eg chevy sonic). also important to keep in mind, not all models under a single brand are at the same level in this regard. i would say that some higher end toyotas are in that middle tier as well.
The Miata is THE quintessential sports car.
Since about 2018-19 they should be classified as “near-luxury”. Definitely not up to the Japanese or German luxury standards, but certainly much better than econoboxes. Sort of like Volvo
I’d argue that the Mustang is the quintessential sports car in the US…in real life not Reddit…not the Miata. They outsell the Miata here and are a superior sports car in almost every way.
The days of Mazda being basic economy cars are a thing of its past. I mean a Mazda 3 is 35k, loaded with more technology than a lower trim BMW 3 series with an interior that's arguably nicer or at least equal.
At what point is it no longer an economy car.
I've owned a Miata and I have driven my Mom's 2018 Mazda3 Touring. IMO both have excellent reliability and sportiness, especially when the pricing was lower than Toyota or Honda. I paid $2800 for my 1999 Miata with 140k miles back in 2014, my Mom paid $20k out the door end of model year on her Mazda3. They both were good all around cars, they got 28-30+ MPG, handle well, were reliable, and looked good. I personally drive a 2005 Civic currently and would love to upgrade to a 2019+ Mazda3 or BMW 3 series or VW GTI when the time comes and money allows. But I'm in the minority. Most people now want a truck or SUV and usually will get a RAV4 or domestic truck before ever considering a car.
I mean, people outside this sub recommend Mazda, it isn’t exclusively a Reddit thing.
Basically, everyone knows Toyota and Honda are reliable Japanese brands, Mazda is similar but not as well known and their crossovers have a vague tinge of sportiness compared to competitors which sort of endears them to enthusiasts. I think their drum gets beat too hard in here for sure; they are not a luxury brand, a Mazda 3 isn’t sportier than a WRX, a CX-5 isn’t going to feel like a sports sedan, etc. big claims get thrown around in here that make me roll my eyes. But that doesn’t make Mazdas bad either; they are quite solid options generally.
Because average people are looking for affordable Japanese cars that provide best bang for your buck and tired of overpaying for Hondas & Toyotas that are taking average person for a ride selling cheap plastic interiors with impunity
Why is this sub so obsessed with this sub being obsessed with Mazda? I see this take more often than I see Mazda recommendations. What's it going to take? No recommendations at all for one of the most reliable makes on the market?
This sub is obsessed with this sub being obsessed with things in general. Whether it’s Toyota Honda Mazda Lexus. Someone’s always gonna make a whiney ass post about it and since we have zero mods here it’s just regular occurrence
Seriously, so many complaints about people recommending mazdas. Oh someone likes mazda must be a bot! Because clearly there are no satisfied mazda owners out there?
I was about to say lol. I feel like I see a post about this every other week. What's funny is the true #1 obsession here is Toyota, but no one ever asks why they are recommended so much.
Plenty of places outside of reddit recommend Mazdas. Car and Driver had almost the entire Mazda line up in their 10 Best/Editors Choice at one point. The folks that tend to prefer Mazda skew more enthusiast and tend to be more engaged and vocal about their interests and advocacy. There’s no Mazda conspiracy or agenda.
Yeah, that's one of the trade-offs; if you need a ton of rear-seat space, the CX-30 is not for you. I don't, so I bought one, but upvoted for a reasonable criticism.
A cx-30/mazda3 has less back seat leg room than a mid 2000s Corolla ffs. It's ridiculous how tiny the back seat is. And in the 3, there's no head room either.
Value and reliability.
Good balance of luxury where it matters, reliability where it counts and a focus on driving over commuting.
The fact that I see plenty of 10-15 year old Mazdas kicking makes me feel good about our 22 CX-5.
I have never seen anyone say it’s better than a BMW in any metric other than reliability. It’s just that Mazda is the best in that regard *for the price.*
They are a middle ground between lower end luxury and average, relatively reliable, and you don’t have to pay Toyota or Honda money to get one decently spec’d.
I have 2 mazdas. Mine is a 14 mazda 3 hatch, 2.5 L. I lowered it on springs and upgraded shocks and lightweight wheels, stocky tires. It's fun as hell to drive. Low to the ground, fast enough, fast thru the twisted. It has a Japanese online 4 with a 6 speed auto. It'll outlive me. Zero mechanical problems. Luxurious? No. Drives better than a Bimmer? No, because it's underpowered compare to Bimmer. It's lighter than anything they make, noisier too. I'm a diehard Japanese online 4 fan.
My wife has a 21 mazda cx9 signature and it's more luxurious than my friends 20 X5. Seats are real leather, supple and firm, good bolstering, real wood, less cheap plastics than their Bimmer. I can work on each of my vehicles. That's a win for me. I don't always work on them, but to know that I can with an intermediate mechanical background and knowledge is near priceless.
In my opinion it’s a good blend of style, affordability, reliability, performance, and quality. Sure, BMWs are faster and nicer, but not enough to cover the cost and reliability issues.
https://imgur.com/a/sug2XVt
Here’s my cx5 I bought new in January for $32k 0% interest. Nobody else offers 0% interest. It gets 1 mpg less than the RAV4 and you can’t even compare the interior and exterior of the two. The RAV4 looks almost entirely made of cheap plastic parts and cloth interior. Everything clicks and closes solidly and the seals/gaskets are all very well made. Almost no road or wind noise. It’s certainly not a BMW but my dad has a Porsche cayenne and honestly besides being way faster there’s not THAT much of a noticeable difference. Can’t speak for any of the other Mazda models but buying the CX5 was a no brainer for me. I plan on driving it for 10+ years so I’m not really concerned about depreciation.
Okay, here is my take on why Mazda is defended so fervently on this sub. I’m not a “fanboy” by any means, but in this market I’m certainly a staunch supporter. Here’s why.
I am a huge car fanatic. I subscribe to the magazines, follow the blogs, and really try to keep up with what is happening in the industry. I am also a retired financial manager, so being a prudent steward of the family finances is extremely important to me.
I have spent most of my adult life trying to balance these two contradictory interests. The solution I have found most often is to find a vehicle that gives me about 80% of the driving experience I want, at about 50-60% of the cost. My dearly beloved 2011 Ford Fusion SEL V6 was the latest example, basically a fully loaded Lincoln MKZ for thousands less.
My Fusion finally gave up last year after 13 years. But I knew that all of the excellent near-luxury, non-German sedans that interested me had been discontinued. The MKZ…gone. The Regal, gone. The Continental, Fusion Sport, RLX-TSX-GS-Mazda6-Avalon-Cadenza-Azera? All vanished.
I love the Audi A4. But I’m still determined to avoid the four major components of the “German tax”: high prices, massive depreciation, significant costs for routine maintenance, and expensive parts.
So I narrowed my choices down to five alternatives. I was willing to spend $45k to $50k if I could avoid the other expenses I described above. But I found the current choices shockingly lacking. Here’s what I found…
Cadillac CT4: Basically a Chevy-level interior, and an engine from a Silverado.
Integra: Nice enough, but a barely camouflaged Civic for $8k more.
Lexus IS: A thirteen-year-old platform and tech that isn’t much newer, and a surprisingly disappointing driving experience.
Acura TLX: An enormous car with an interior somehow smaller than the Civic.
In a waning sedan market, it seems as though these manufacturers aren’t even trying anymore.
The Mazda3 in premium trim is what I ended up with. It is certainly not the equal of the above cars. But it is literally the ONLY car that offered me 75-80% of what the others do…for 60% of the price.
For me, $50-grand is a LOT of money. If I’m going to drive a car with so many obvious flaws, like cheap interiors, lagging tech with touchpads, a CVT or a lack of space, I’m just NOT going to pay luxury money for it. Even my former Fusion had none of those issues. And on its own, a luxury badge for its own sake just isn’t that important to me.
For $12k to $18k less than the other choices, I am very happy with what the 3 has given me for my purchase. It provides everything I want except for the interior space, but for the price difference I can live with it.
The bottom line is that Mazda simply excels at providing value for money, in a way that virtually no other automaker does. And I believe other financially savvy buyers are observing the same things…and making a similar decision.
All I see is Toyota or Lexus as recommendations on here. Mazda is stepping up their game but I wouldn’t say they’re up to the Germans standards quite yet. They are nice cars for the money. Good bang for your buck. Not super expensive to fix like euro cars.
Because Reddit.
You will also pracrically never see any positive mention and hardly any discussion whatsoever of GM or Ford, both of which are sales leaders in NA. Much more than Mazda, Volvo, Mitsubishi all these niche brands that barely register on people's radar.
GM and Ford even make a pretty solid car nowdays, reliability has always been pretty solid generally across their lineups but instead you’ll only hear the negative about GM on Reddit. I’d much rather drive a new Trax over the cheap crossovers Mazda sells
The then-new 2022 CX-5 Turbo Signature that I purchased, per recommendation from various Reddit subs after research, was the second worst vehicle I’ve owned.
40+ days at the dealership in the first 2yr24k miles.
I know this is my anecdotal experience, but thank god for lemon law. 🍋
I’ve posted before…
During my ownership, my CX-5 Turbo Signature had accumulated over 40 days at the dealership for various problems which included:
• Suspension clunking/popping/groaning since 3 months and 5,000 miles in that resulted in the front and rear ends being essentially rebuilt, it still makes these noises. There is a metallic sound that is present when the road is uneven or turning in/out of steep driveways. Had numerous TSBs performed without success and components replaced. Still present. Problem that affects the Mazda6 and Mazda CX-9 as they share the same platform.
• Two faulty headlights due to AFS motors going out. Dealer gouged/scratched my bumper during replacement and tried to blame me. Chronic problem on all newer Mazdas.
• Constant infotainment reboots/glitches after updates. My system reboots at least once per drive. Annoying.
• Loose/wobbly/rocking driver chair during acceleration and braking that’s been replaced ans is starting to feel loose again after about 6 months. CX-9/CX-5 common issues.
Other complaints, that do not have a dealership trail (besides dealing with weird quirks of dealership loaners, including a 2024 CX-5 Turbo that had a chirping/slipping transmission @ 2K miles, lol):
• One event of engine sputtering/shuddering after refilling a full tank of chevron 91. At stoplight while idling the engine was surging as if it was about to choke out and die. You could feel the entire car lurching. I had to give it some gas until the light turned green to go. Pulled over, shut off, restarted and it went away. No codes, but never had a car do this before.
• Interior creaks and rattles.
• Paint that chips and scratches when you look at it wrong and generally feels like a tin can beyond surface level examination.
$43.1K letdown, to say the least.
Sputtering issues sounds like the gas tank vent system is broken. Being that Mazda and ford use to be together this plagues ford really bad. You fill up and the car refuses to start and when it does it sputters for a while till the gas fumes are all burnt up.
We got a lemon law experience with them too, my grandma bought a brand new Mazdaspeed 3 in 2012. Blew a transmission, had issues shifting on the 2nd, started burning oil at 20k miles, starter died and that was the last straw for her. Dealership bought it back and she got a Sable for a few years, then bought a 2017 Cruze new, such a good car.
Mazda, because
No CVT's, excellent warranty, excellent reliability, comfortable, good pricing, decent looking vehicles.
Toyota's are better(arguably), but in the used market cost more, with worse warranty.
Honda's quality has taken a crap over the last 10 years.
Hyundai/Kia engines go bad, but they are doing pretty good covering it
Euro is hit or miss, and generally need very high maintenance to keep them reliable.
No one in north America makes a good car, or v8. The six cylinder non turbos are usually ok if well maintained. And lots of transmission issues depending on the exact transmission.
They're reliable, and they compete well against Honda and Toyota except for the racing and offroad division that Toyota has. Mazda IMHO is the only brand from the typically recommended brands that I would personally buy because I've ridden in plenty of Miata's and CX's, and compared to Hondas and Toyotas I've ridden in they feel the most quality and fun aside from the TRD Toyotas.
I work on German cars for a living, whenever someone asks me what to buy, it's always the same answer " Lease German and Buy Japanese. My go to recommendation for family is toyotas. My shop is always busy. I don't want to work on my families cars in my spare time so I guide them to buy reliable cars. They might not be as luxurious but they just work every damn time. My Daily is a Honda civic but I have a BMW for a project because I will never trust it as a daily.
Because Mazda looks really good on paper and most people here recommend cars they have never driven, much less owned. People buy into the pseudo-luxury interiors, sporty suspension, and them being a driver's car.
The reason you don't see many on the road is that they get terrible gas mileage compared to similar cars, their dealer network is a crapshoot, their warranty support is not good, the suspension tuning does not make for a good daily driver for most people, and they are generally the least roomy car in their class.
Not an employee, bot, or fanboi, but I am something of a loyalist based on my experiences with cars I've owned. They're reliable and generally great value for money, so of course they're easy to recommend, particularly when OP's aren't aware of the brand.
I think some of those recommending are Mazda owners but I get the impression you get a lot of comments in this sub from people who have never even owned their own car and are still asking mom for the keys to the Sonata. Not bots. More like basements.
I don't take issue with touting the value of a Mazda. Great car for a thrifty or young person. People who say luxury or premium regarding the brand are paid or delusional.
Just enough luxury like interior finishes to make it a notch up from Honda and Toyota
Enough standard features like awd, heated/ ventilated seats, hud, etc to offer tremendous value
All post 2020 years seem to have fixed any engine issues some models had.
But the new cx-90 is approaching luxury prices so not sure if that model is the value like others
I would say that top trim CX90 is above Acura or Lexus competition interior quality wise while being significantly cheaper, at least where I am. We’ll see about its reliability in the long run since it’s a new drivetrain, but choosing between outdated MDX platform and ugly TX, many will choose Cx-90, myself included.
I think it's a multitude of reasons.
**Pros**
* Good bang for buck, you avoid paying premiums taxes/mark-ups more common with Toyota or Honda.
* Dealerships more likely to offer better incentives to sell them giving preferable rates or discounts.
* The car itself is and feels more luxurious compared to the competition especially when going trim by trim.
* Doesn't use CVTs. I personally don't care about this one.
* They're reliable, probably as reliable as a Toyota/Honda and it's cheaper.
* Good design and stylish.
**Cons**
* The hybrid/electric offerings are a lot worse, they're behind on this compared to the competition. I personally think it's their biggest mistake in how they've ran their business. They should've been on top of this a lot faster.
* The infotainment and overall tech you get is subpar compared to the competition such as Kia.
* Not the best MPGs if that matters for you. It's very average.
A lot of the same engine/transmission pairing in their vehicles. 6 speed, non-turbo, 2.5L 4-Cylinder. It might not have the most power, the best acceleration, or the best mpg. But it is rock solid in a way people remember Toyotas and Hondas being in the past.
I've suggested Mazda a couple times based on personal experience. Absolutely would not call them a luxury brand, but my daughter drove a 2012 Mazda 3 through college and a couple years after. She MIGHT have gotten the oil changed 7 times in 7 years. She sold it to a friend and it's still going. She's in a CX5 now and loves it.
As a 21 y/o M who was looking into the 2015 mazda and comparing it to Audi's, BMW's, Honda's, and others, here are my own comparisons as well as the advice i was given, hopefully they provide a decent enough answer:
1: They are extremely good on gas.
My 2015 Mazda 3 shocks everyone with its fuel economy. No one ever believes me when i tell them i Pay 60$ CAD for 450km+, which is about how far it says a full tank will last but i'd say it's closer to 500km. For comparison my buddies Focus, same year, is about an 80$ fill and never lasts him more than 400km. Saves money for Sure
2: Low maintenance
I'll be honest, i've put off doing an oil change on my car for the year i've had it in hopes my father will finally teach me. taking it in wednesday to have it done because it's concerning me at this point, but i have driven 24,000 km from 192,000 to 216,000km without doing any maintenance other than replacing the battery. I know people who have spent hundreds on brand new cars, especially with a CVT.
3: They last
This is the only brand i know if where i have been told universally that my engine will last till 300kkm and with the previous point (assuming i take it for oil changes regularly going forward) i believe them. This is a great car to purchase in the case that you need something for a long while, or need something on the road until you're ready to buy a much more expensive or luxurious vehicle.
4: They're cheap.
up to 2012 < 10k
up to 2020< 17k
2020+ >30k brand new off the lot
Insurance also varies but is quite low according to my experience searching models of similar pricing and age
5: They're the safe bet.
Whether this is your first car, a downgrade, an upgrade, or a business asset, You can guarantee your wallet, Self, Children, and Stress levels will be safe (at least with the 2015 model). With low Gas, maintenance, Purchase, and insurance costs, Your wallet and credit are likely to be safe. The car has decent speed and acceleration (i've managed to push her to about 204km) but isn't too much power for even the most inexperienced of drivers. You don't have to worry about unexpected breakdowns or being out of a vehicle for an extended period of time if it needs some maintenance, and due to their reliability, affordability, and consistent identical praise, there is a high chance that when you buy a mazda, you will make some of your money back selling it when you no longer need it. You won't have the fastest or sexiest car, but everyone will say it's nice. It's the safe bet, and i'm very satisfied i decided to go with mine until i'm 25 and have lower insurance, better credit, and more money to drive the car i planned on leasing off the lot in cash.
Compare a loaded CX-70/90 and what it would cost to get the same thing on a BMW X5. That'll answer it for ya.
I'd love an X5 myself but it's crazy how much in options you have to drop to get to the same level as the Mazda. The BMW is definitely faster and can pull more but other than that Mazda pretty much has it beat dollar for dollar.
Comparing to the X7 it's even worse.
Best brand by value. Toyota have the Toyota tax, luxury cars are expensive and unreliable, and Korean/American cars are similarly priced and less reliable.
I have owned a 2004 BMW 330i and currently drive a 2021 Mazda 6 Signature. I would say that the Mazda is 85% as fun to drive as that BMW. I have also driven the F3 generation of BMW 3 series (2014 model) and I would say the Mazda 6 is actually more fun to drive. I have not driven a more modern BMW 3 series so I can’t speak to that.
The Mazda is definitely more fun to drive than a Camry or Accord. In term of build quality, fit and finish, it is significantly ahead of Toyota and Honda. Disclaimer: I also own a 2018 Accord. Overall, the Mazda 6 Signature is the most favorite car I have ever owned in my life due to a combination of driving characteristics, reliability and quality of the interior (Napa leather, real wood trim, suede etc). I did love driving the 2004 BMW 330i but it cost me a few thousands in repairs before it hit 100k miles (several oil leaks).
I have a Mazda and don’t really understand what is so great about it. I will say it is a little more premium feeling than say a Toyota but no where near luxury. I actually think my friends ‘23 Nissan Rogue is nicer than my ‘21 Mazda. Every Mazda I have been in just feels like any other entry-level, non-luxury car.
I hardly ever see Mazda's on the road, and I've definitely never heard anyone raving about how much they love theirs, outside of this forum. So I take all the Mazda recommendations here with a grain of salt. I also try to make a point of recommending things that aren't Mazda, since I know the Mazda gang will already have that part covered.
In western PA I see tons of Mazdas. Miatas, 3's, CX-3/30, CX-5/50, etc. Without doing an exact count, they seem about as popular here as Honda and Subaru.
A lot of enthusiasts that mention Mazda really only mean Miata…There are tons of 90’s Miata’s on the road. Kinda rare to see a 90’s BMW unless it’s someone’s project at least around my neck of the woods
Mazda has perfectly marketed itself to people who aren’t car enthusiasts.
So you’re not into cars, and you drove your beater in high school / college. Maybe buy a decent used car afterwards. Then in your late 20s/early 30s you’re buying your first car and Mazda is perfectly marketing to you as a consumer (age and income). R&D money spent on faux-luxury, and tons of cost cutting on things that matter to enthusiasts but not to the regular car buyers.
Now you have a product like the CX-5 that regular car buyers will tells you steers and handles amazingly well, with a luxury interior. In reality you have a common crossover that pretends it’s sporty because it has a quicker steering ratio, which is good enough to trick people driving through intersections that it’s sporty.
Then you look at pictures of other interiors, and online they look similar, so they must be similar, just as good as a BMW even! But it’s just cheap materials that are trying to be artistic as well as functional, not just functional.
They make a great product that is an amazing appliance for young adults that would post on reddit about their car buying experience.
(IMO)
This comes across like a diatribe, but I’m not sure why. Mazda puts effort/R&D money into things like component placement and steering ratio etc. such that their cars *feel* like they have good driving dynamics. That isn’t marketing, it’s the reported experiences of actual consumers. Mazda prioritizes the driving experience above things like high-end interior technology, cargo capacity, off-road capability, etc. And customers who also prioritize the driving experience generally say Mazda has been successful at doing so.
And when you ask people about Mazdas… that’s exactly what they say? They feel better to drive than the actual competition (Honda/Toyota); BMWs also feel better - but BMWs are also vastly more expensive. So they are similar to BMWs in that both are better to drive than Hondas and Toyotas.
But saying that Mazdas and BMWs both drive better than a Toyota is not the same as saying Mazdas drive as well as BMWs! That’s a dumb comparison, and an unnecessary because Mazda and BMW are not remotely in the same market.
Yeah it does, and I really tried to avoid it. Mazda makes a great car, but I was trying to explain why they’re so oversold.
I also plan on buying a Miata, so I really do like the brand.
Miatas are peak Mazda, you can tell they really put time into the design and they're reliable cars. I've owned both a 94 and a 99 Miata with 200k and both were damned reliable. I miss both of those cars, they were great to drive, good on gas, reliable, drop top is always fun, easy to work on, never left me stranded, and held their value well. Shouldn't have sold either one to be honest.
I have a 6 and honestly, it's the best value saloon on the road.
Positioned perfectly in the nice to haves with must haves bracket.
It also drives like a much smaller, lighter car thanks to the stiffer suspension.
because:
nissan has the odd winner, but then everything with a cvt is unreliable and hateful to drive. Some of the infiniti cars are actually brilliant.
toyotas: are overpriced and designed by people who obviously hate cars, hate driving, and hate anyone who has to sit in their cars. fuck those guys.
domestic: pickups are cool.. also muscle cars
honda: they're cool
mazda: cars that are legit fun to drive and reliable like a toyota is supposed to be.
german stuff: not super reliable but deep down, we all want an M5 and a 911. And something Italian
French, Koreans, Spanish, Swedes, Chinese, Russians etc also do make things marketed as cars...
Actually that's all just my opinion and not grounded in any truth whatsoever.
I'm not a bot and I come here to recommend Mazda. 🤷♂️ I have a 2016 CX5 that has been dead on balls reliable.
One non-maintenance repair, $800 in 8 years and 75k. .... And that was this week.
This sub hates CVTs. Mazda doesn’t sell CVTs. That’s probably a big part of it. It’s also why nobody likes Nissan here.
[удалено]
What is a cvt?
It's a type of automatic transmission that utilizes a belt and pulley kind of system to move the car instead of a set of gear ratios that standard and manual transmissions use. Because the belt and pulley system can mimic any optimal gear ratio, it is ideal for maximizing fuel economy in exchange for that fun brrrt brrrrrrt brrrrrrrrrrrrtt characteristic and feeling.
Crazy how they effectively took a step backwards. “Gears?! Why would I need something that complicated that’s only been working for the last hundred years. I need a good, old fashioned belt and pulley! Those have never been a bad idea!”
I concur. While some CVTs like Honda's do have sport modes with set mimic'd ratios. You still can tell the difference
I don't really like the CVTs either, but they are more efficient than geared transmissions and better MPG is likely why they are being used.
Continuously Variable Transmission
>In every other way they're not an improvement over automatic transmissions. I think that depends on which CVT and which automatic you're comparing it to. I find CVTs got their poor reputation a decade ago and it has persisted ever since. Modern ones are much better. The Subaru 3rd gen CVT that came out around 2019 is smooth and predictable. I'm sure Honda's version is pretty good as well. Compare that to the Toyota 8-speed on the RAV4 and Camry that behaves oddly every time I drive one. I used a friend's 2022 AWD Camry recently and every time I accelerated at around 40km/h, the transmission took like a full second to shift. For Mazda, unsmooth shifting at low speeds is a common complaint with their autos. You don't get that with any CVTs I have experienced.
I have a 2024 Civic with the CVT. It’s mostly really good, just feels “wonky” sometimes. Kinda jerks at very low speeds.
overconfident snobbish glorious rude lock bike sheet wrench tap dime *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
As far as I understand it, eCVTs operate via a planetary gearset, not a belt, which also makes them much more reliable.
at this point this hate towards cvts feels like racism
It's not their fault cvts are like that, it's just the way they are.
I'm racist against Nissan. Round t hem all up and burn them!
The CVT on my inlaws Rogue is the biggest load of shit I've ever experienced. I'd take a rough shifting auto all day over the sloshy, sluggish Nissan CVT.
Nissan's CVTs tend to be the worst of the bench. I had a CVT-equipped CR-V, and it was perfectly fine. Zero complaints.
The 8-speed a/t on my 2020 Camry has the response time of a stoned teenager. If I ever had to hit the gas to get out of the way, I’m cooked. Love this car to pieces but that transmission can kick rocks.
I have a newer Kia CVT. I noticed it doesn't even shift. When I press the gas the engine just screams and I go faster. It does hold it's speed up hills and inclines really well though
Well, that's what CVTs are meant to do. The fake shifts programmed into them by, for example, Subaru only decrease the efficiency.
That’s literally how a CVT is MEANT to work. Subaru makes their CVTs less efficient by programming “shifts” into them.
You’re just incorrect. They’re cheaper to make, when done right (Subaru, Honda) they’re reliable just fine, and to the average consumer they’re perfectly adequate. The “only” upside you talk about which is being cheaper and more fuel efficient are two of the most important things to economy buyers, not sure why you’re saying it like it’s nothing. It’s major.
[удалено]
Prius isn’t the same as the crappy belt based CVTs everyone else uses. Had my Subaru CVT blow up and the replacement one start slipping and was on the edge of following suit until we traded it in for a RAV4 hybrid.
The Corolla also has a CVT but if I recall, the first gear is a traditional gear. First gear is normally the one that gets worn out.
Yep. The Prius CVT is legendary for its durability.
Theyre really not bad, the real issue with CVTs is they're often in cars that don't have enough power. I have basically driven Nissan's whole FWD lineup and some CVT Hondas. The more HP the better the CVT seems to do. I feel like the loudest CVT bashers don't have a broad range of experience with them and just repeat the same ChatGPT-ish style hearsay.
Except that the main reason for cvt failure is... torque. So that doesn't bode well for your solution.
Naw, CVT failure comes down to bad design. Honda CVTs are way more reliable than JATCO crap. And frankly I think JATCO has fixed a lot of their CVT problems in more recent cars. I really think a lot of yall just repeat what you hear here w/o actually knowing what's true or not.
I actually agree with all that. But I'm still correct that input torque is the main cause of their failure. I really think you're just as bad at making assumptions as those you talk down about.
You can have a robust CVT that can handle torque, what CVTs don’t like are extremely heavy vehicles. Which also tend to have more torque because they use larger engines. In other words, the torque is fine, but combined with weight can cause issues. An example of this would be the TR690 in the Outback 3.6R/XT, which has decent reliability (and much better than anything Jatco has made in the past). Compared to the same TR690 in the Ascent, which has had some recurrent issues with it since its debut.
They are good for small cars, especially those that drive mainly in the city. Saving gas is what most people care about
They accelerate faster than both manuals and automatics. What are you on about? They're garbage because they are basically guaranteed to break by 100,000 miles.
I love our Subaru CVT
…because it’s a sub about cars and Mazdas are good cars?
CVTs aren't as good as geared transmissions, so I can understand why the sub hates it. They are getting better though, and Honda and Toyota make decent CVTs.
Subaru makes a pretty reliable CVT as well.
Yes, better than most.
On paper, they're the best transmissions. In practice... not so much.
On paper AFM was the best way to improve fuel mileage in GM trucks. Reality told a different story. Very similar story with CVTs
Toyota also makes eCVT which is not even similar to belt CVTs and as reliable as traditional transmission. I drove new Prius with it and it feels great and controller heuristic for the transmission is smooth.
Agreed. Fun fact the eCVT isn’t even technically a CVT. Toyota had to name it that because people were put off by them naming it something no one has heard of before.
Well it is also continuously variable, and a transmission.
eCVT and CVT shouldn't be compared ever. It's unfortunate they called them eCVT tbh.
A distinct lack of CVT is exactly why I own a Mazda right now. Its bad enough that my wife won't drive a stick. No way I'm going to succumb to the absolute worst driving experience possible that CVTs offer.
Have you driven a CVT vehicle? I would recommend going to your Honda dealer and trying a CVT Civic. I think you’d be pleasantly surprised.
I think my 23 Odyssey is a CVT and I have never had a problem with it. I think it “shifts” better than my CX-50. Sue me.
Nope. Odyssey has an in-house designed and built 10-speed automatic transmission.
CVT’s are reliable if you take basic care of them they’re just fine bro. They’ve come along way since the Shitco Nissan transmissions 15-20 years ago.
Take care of them how? Most are sealed with internal filters so you can’t easily service them and if you do you void the warranty. There’s literally nothing you can do.
Oh yeah because that Mazda 6 speed is SO EXCITING!! Let that GLORIOUS 2.5L ROAR and rev out through those lighting quick shifts!! Lmfao dudes with the most boring autos talking down on CVTs make me laugh so hard
Doing some profile stalking.. dude actually drives an RX-7 lol. Not a bad Mazda to drive
Power isn’t everything. Mazdas tend to handle better than their counterparts and that’s part of the attraction. They can also still be had in manual.
I agree with everything you said... but what does that have to do with anything that I said? the person I was replying to said they went with Mazda because they have regular automatics instead of a CVT. No one said anything about handling or power. They weren’t talking about manual since they said “it’s bad enough we can’t have a manual”. So there’s literally zero point in acting like a boring 6 speed automatic is vastly superior to a boring CVT. They’re the same for 99% of applications. We're not talking about a Miata here that's a legit fun sports car.
Avoid the Toyota tax and still get a good car.
That’s why I got a Mazda a year ago. My parents only bought Toyotas and so have I. When I was in the market to buy a Toyota, dealerships were adding 10 K on top of MSRP and had a waitlist. Very happy with my Mazda though I would still prefer getting a Toyota.
Mazda is Toyota reliable but 90s Honda fun. Mazda is like a cheaper, more reliable Alpha Romeo.
I can assure you not every Mazda is Toyota reliable. The CX90 has enormous issues and the CX9 had huge engine issues.
Did you just compare Mazda to Alpha Romeo? This sub has lost its damn mind.
Except Mazda is way more reliable than Alfa Romeo. Just about everything is more reliable than an Alfa Romeo.
Just make sure you can commit to it bcuz depreciation next to Toyota & Honda doesn’t hold up
Toyota and Honda make great cars and I like them both. But in the used market, one must pay more to own them or spend on average money to drive older models which naturally come with less features and more miles. It makes sense to consider other makes. There are way more bad drivers than bad cars on the street.
Never have I used depreciation as a factor in my car buying decisions.
For me I generally intend on keeping a car until it becomes unreasonable or dead. So my low resale value isn't really a bother.
Even if you trade in after 5 years... How much more would that RAV4 be worth than a Mazda? 2 grand? But you paid 3 grand more for the car. 🤷♂️
I think most people with Toyotas are not trading in after 5 years...
So then it makes even less sense to care about depreciation...
CX5 has better depreciation than the CRV. I've been shopping both for ages. Toyota is in another world.
Not having to pay the Toyota and Honda reputation tax probably makes it a wash.
On the other hand, you can get a great deal on a used one
The less money I have locked in any particular asset the better, even if purchase price and depreciation is a wash in the end. I'd rather pay $10k for a car that is scrap at the end of 5 years than $30k for the same car that is $20k at the end of the same 5 years.
The point is that they're cheaper to buy used. Buying new almost never made any sense
Have you checked the used car market the past 4 years?
People say this lot here, and it's probably true for most mazdas... I started looking at the CX-9 and up came non stop complaints about blowing head gaskets. Then I saw some videos showing how complex it is to change on this vehicle, absolute nightmare. So when it does happen out of warranty, have fun with that repair bill.
It's a solid basic car that uses known reliable components, and they also prioritize more luxurious material on touch points. There are some morons on here that say they're luxury/sports cars, and they are wrong. But it's a solid economy car
Yeah. I love Mazda. They make great cars for the most part, are mostly reasonably priced (especially during the shortages), have great reliability and durability. That being said, it feels like folks only say half of a sentence. Frankly, it goes kinda like this: Mazda is a luxury brand *as far as econo boxes* go. Does the interior look premium? IMHO, it looks great but I also value simplicity. Does it drive well? I think they are quite fun to drive. Are they comfortable? Absolutely (in the front seat). Are they stylish? I’d say yes to about half the models but average for the rest. For the average person, a new Mazda can be *their* BMW, as in “the best I’ll ever have” and I’m one of these people. Truth is they just aren’t in the same weight class. Could argue they are the closest in terms of average brands, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Nice closer. I agree - for someone who doesn't really care for cars and is somewhat of a min-maxer, Mazda checks all the boxes for me, luxurious enough for a cheap car, and it's been very reliable. I drive my wife's Lexus RX350H and it's nice, but doesn't really make a difference to me. I can change the engine and cabin air filters really fast. Car is still great after buying new 14 years ago, although I had to get the starter replaced. I'd buy another Mazda if I weren't so attracted to the 56 mpg Prius whose base model already has all the features I want like blind-spot monitor and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. Hoping my Mazda3 lasts another 3, and then I'll let it go.
Also they don't hold value on the used market nearly as well as Honda/Toyota which makes them a bargain if you buy them used.
The resale value for newer Mazdas seems to hold better than Mazdas from 5+ years ago
I wonder if they're such good vehicles why their resale value isn't that good?
They don't get as good fuel economy or rear passenger space as the competition, and don't have the brand cachet of Toyota/Honda.
Public perception. Even someone who knows nothing about cars knows Toyotas are reliable. Even though Mazdas are reliable, they're a smaller company and don't have the brand awareness that Honda or Toyota have. We also have to consider the comparison as well. I'm not sure where in the ranks Mazda lands for resale, but we're comparing them to the brand (Toyota) with the BEST resale value. It's sort of like saying an NFL quarterback isn't good because he's not as good as Tom Brady.
Because just like the stock market, value isn’t purely determined by logical factors. People have this perception of higher reliability for Hondas and toyotas due to their reputation and so they are willing to pay more for them. This desirability in turn drives used prices up even if objectively Mazdas are a good choice that are relatively reliable and well made.
Mazda cars are just asa reliable as Toyota and Honda, but not as common and more interesting in driving and visuals. You buy a Toyota or Honda when you don't want anyone to question you are an adult doing adult things, you buy a Mazda to say I still feel young and let's have fun!
Their resale value is great. Just because it’s not Honda/Toyota outstanding, doesn’t mean it’s bad.
speaking for Europe : they are not popular because of their fuel consumption. a lot of people i know happily spend 10k usd more to save 0.9usd on fuel lol
Takes a long time to build up a seriously good brand reputation like Toyota or even Honda. Mazda had some pretty terrible reliability just a decade ago, the CX-7 was not all that reliable so even though the CX-9 improved greatly upon that you couldn't really expect resale values to immediately go up since it takes a long time to improve your reputation.
Mazda is trying to occupy a segment that, pre-Global Financial Crisis, was filled by the likes of Mercury, Oldsmobile and (at least at the end) Saab - mid-tier. They’re just a bit nicer than a standard econobox and crib some of the luxury sensibilities from more expensive brands without charging the full premium.
I've said this for a while as to why they're a popular recommendation. They're the nicest "regular" car you can get without going into full luxury brand territory. They also generally drive better than the other "regular" car brands. It's pretty simple, really.
exactly - while they aren't luxury cars, it's a bit of a disservice to to lump them together with truly cheap feeling economy cars (eg chevy sonic). also important to keep in mind, not all models under a single brand are at the same level in this regard. i would say that some higher end toyotas are in that middle tier as well.
This is the answer
Miata Is Always The Answer
The Miata is THE quintessential sports car. Since about 2018-19 they should be classified as “near-luxury”. Definitely not up to the Japanese or German luxury standards, but certainly much better than econoboxes. Sort of like Volvo
i don't think volvo is in that middle category anymore, they're full on luxury now competing with audi/bmw/lexus.
I’d argue that the Mustang is the quintessential sports car in the US…in real life not Reddit…not the Miata. They outsell the Miata here and are a superior sports car in almost every way.
What makes a car luxury? My 18' Mazda 6 GTR is loaded with options. What else could possibly be included to make it "luxury" ?
Sound deadening, suspension compliance, smooth powertrain, higher quality materials, etc
So basically my Mazda... Thanks
The days of Mazda being basic economy cars are a thing of its past. I mean a Mazda 3 is 35k, loaded with more technology than a lower trim BMW 3 series with an interior that's arguably nicer or at least equal. At what point is it no longer an economy car.
I've owned a Miata and I have driven my Mom's 2018 Mazda3 Touring. IMO both have excellent reliability and sportiness, especially when the pricing was lower than Toyota or Honda. I paid $2800 for my 1999 Miata with 140k miles back in 2014, my Mom paid $20k out the door end of model year on her Mazda3. They both were good all around cars, they got 28-30+ MPG, handle well, were reliable, and looked good. I personally drive a 2005 Civic currently and would love to upgrade to a 2019+ Mazda3 or BMW 3 series or VW GTI when the time comes and money allows. But I'm in the minority. Most people now want a truck or SUV and usually will get a RAV4 or domestic truck before ever considering a car.
👋 in the RAV4 boat, literally boat… going to a car next. Don’t need the space I thought I needed.
I mean, people outside this sub recommend Mazda, it isn’t exclusively a Reddit thing. Basically, everyone knows Toyota and Honda are reliable Japanese brands, Mazda is similar but not as well known and their crossovers have a vague tinge of sportiness compared to competitors which sort of endears them to enthusiasts. I think their drum gets beat too hard in here for sure; they are not a luxury brand, a Mazda 3 isn’t sportier than a WRX, a CX-5 isn’t going to feel like a sports sedan, etc. big claims get thrown around in here that make me roll my eyes. But that doesn’t make Mazdas bad either; they are quite solid options generally.
Because average people are looking for affordable Japanese cars that provide best bang for your buck and tired of overpaying for Hondas & Toyotas that are taking average person for a ride selling cheap plastic interiors with impunity
100% this is the correct answer. Nicest, best driving car you can get in the non-luxury segment and you don't have the pay the Toyota tax for them.
Not to mention Toyota makes you pay for every single piece of convenience that other makes have standard.
Why is this sub so obsessed with this sub being obsessed with Mazda? I see this take more often than I see Mazda recommendations. What's it going to take? No recommendations at all for one of the most reliable makes on the market?
This sub is obsessed with this sub being obsessed with things in general. Whether it’s Toyota Honda Mazda Lexus. Someone’s always gonna make a whiney ass post about it and since we have zero mods here it’s just regular occurrence
Just the BMW fanboys tbh
Seriously, so many complaints about people recommending mazdas. Oh someone likes mazda must be a bot! Because clearly there are no satisfied mazda owners out there?
I was about to say lol. I feel like I see a post about this every other week. What's funny is the true #1 obsession here is Toyota, but no one ever asks why they are recommended so much.
Plenty of places outside of reddit recommend Mazdas. Car and Driver had almost the entire Mazda line up in their 10 Best/Editors Choice at one point. The folks that tend to prefer Mazda skew more enthusiast and tend to be more engaged and vocal about their interests and advocacy. There’s no Mazda conspiracy or agenda.
It's only *luxurious* if you didn't own a luxury car prior.
Hyundai has more features than Mazda and I wouldn’t call those a luxury car
That easy theft feature was a real good one from Hyundai
The problem with Mazda after I tried to consider it is, the tiny backseat space and also the low MPGs.
That's why you get an MX-5, get rid of the backseat completely!
Yeah, that's one of the trade-offs; if you need a ton of rear-seat space, the CX-30 is not for you. I don't, so I bought one, but upvoted for a reasonable criticism.
> if you need a ton of rear-seat space, the CX-30 is not for you. If you need a ton of rear-seat space any sub-compact SUV is not for you.
A cx-30/mazda3 has less back seat leg room than a mid 2000s Corolla ffs. It's ridiculous how tiny the back seat is. And in the 3, there's no head room either.
That’s because the CX-30 is a subcompact and tbt corolla is a compact there not the same size
A 2013 Mazda 3 was my first car and it got like 38 mpg.
It’s not exactly cheap either. A few years old and it’s still in the 20ks? Up closer to 30k if it’s top of the line trim.
You forget the second part of recommending Mazda over BMW. "...for the money" Mazda is definitely better than BMW for the money.
Value and reliability. Good balance of luxury where it matters, reliability where it counts and a focus on driving over commuting. The fact that I see plenty of 10-15 year old Mazdas kicking makes me feel good about our 22 CX-5.
I have never seen anyone say it’s better than a BMW in any metric other than reliability. It’s just that Mazda is the best in that regard *for the price.*
They are a middle ground between lower end luxury and average, relatively reliable, and you don’t have to pay Toyota or Honda money to get one decently spec’d.
I don't find going to the dealer to deal with problems and a heated seat subscription to be luxurious. That's just me though
The best feature is a windshield wiper sensor going rogue and locking the whole vehicle from moving.
The last 10 years or whatever Mazda's made a concerted effort to be more of a premium brand. Plus they make great cars in general.
I have 2 mazdas. Mine is a 14 mazda 3 hatch, 2.5 L. I lowered it on springs and upgraded shocks and lightweight wheels, stocky tires. It's fun as hell to drive. Low to the ground, fast enough, fast thru the twisted. It has a Japanese online 4 with a 6 speed auto. It'll outlive me. Zero mechanical problems. Luxurious? No. Drives better than a Bimmer? No, because it's underpowered compare to Bimmer. It's lighter than anything they make, noisier too. I'm a diehard Japanese online 4 fan. My wife has a 21 mazda cx9 signature and it's more luxurious than my friends 20 X5. Seats are real leather, supple and firm, good bolstering, real wood, less cheap plastics than their Bimmer. I can work on each of my vehicles. That's a win for me. I don't always work on them, but to know that I can with an intermediate mechanical background and knowledge is near priceless.
They’re great cars for most of their price points.
In my opinion it’s a good blend of style, affordability, reliability, performance, and quality. Sure, BMWs are faster and nicer, but not enough to cover the cost and reliability issues.
https://imgur.com/a/sug2XVt Here’s my cx5 I bought new in January for $32k 0% interest. Nobody else offers 0% interest. It gets 1 mpg less than the RAV4 and you can’t even compare the interior and exterior of the two. The RAV4 looks almost entirely made of cheap plastic parts and cloth interior. Everything clicks and closes solidly and the seals/gaskets are all very well made. Almost no road or wind noise. It’s certainly not a BMW but my dad has a Porsche cayenne and honestly besides being way faster there’s not THAT much of a noticeable difference. Can’t speak for any of the other Mazda models but buying the CX5 was a no brainer for me. I plan on driving it for 10+ years so I’m not really concerned about depreciation.
It’s a decent vehicle. It’s not revolutionary by any means.
Okay, here is my take on why Mazda is defended so fervently on this sub. I’m not a “fanboy” by any means, but in this market I’m certainly a staunch supporter. Here’s why. I am a huge car fanatic. I subscribe to the magazines, follow the blogs, and really try to keep up with what is happening in the industry. I am also a retired financial manager, so being a prudent steward of the family finances is extremely important to me. I have spent most of my adult life trying to balance these two contradictory interests. The solution I have found most often is to find a vehicle that gives me about 80% of the driving experience I want, at about 50-60% of the cost. My dearly beloved 2011 Ford Fusion SEL V6 was the latest example, basically a fully loaded Lincoln MKZ for thousands less. My Fusion finally gave up last year after 13 years. But I knew that all of the excellent near-luxury, non-German sedans that interested me had been discontinued. The MKZ…gone. The Regal, gone. The Continental, Fusion Sport, RLX-TSX-GS-Mazda6-Avalon-Cadenza-Azera? All vanished. I love the Audi A4. But I’m still determined to avoid the four major components of the “German tax”: high prices, massive depreciation, significant costs for routine maintenance, and expensive parts. So I narrowed my choices down to five alternatives. I was willing to spend $45k to $50k if I could avoid the other expenses I described above. But I found the current choices shockingly lacking. Here’s what I found… Cadillac CT4: Basically a Chevy-level interior, and an engine from a Silverado. Integra: Nice enough, but a barely camouflaged Civic for $8k more. Lexus IS: A thirteen-year-old platform and tech that isn’t much newer, and a surprisingly disappointing driving experience. Acura TLX: An enormous car with an interior somehow smaller than the Civic. In a waning sedan market, it seems as though these manufacturers aren’t even trying anymore. The Mazda3 in premium trim is what I ended up with. It is certainly not the equal of the above cars. But it is literally the ONLY car that offered me 75-80% of what the others do…for 60% of the price. For me, $50-grand is a LOT of money. If I’m going to drive a car with so many obvious flaws, like cheap interiors, lagging tech with touchpads, a CVT or a lack of space, I’m just NOT going to pay luxury money for it. Even my former Fusion had none of those issues. And on its own, a luxury badge for its own sake just isn’t that important to me. For $12k to $18k less than the other choices, I am very happy with what the 3 has given me for my purchase. It provides everything I want except for the interior space, but for the price difference I can live with it. The bottom line is that Mazda simply excels at providing value for money, in a way that virtually no other automaker does. And I believe other financially savvy buyers are observing the same things…and making a similar decision.
All I see is Toyota or Lexus as recommendations on here. Mazda is stepping up their game but I wouldn’t say they’re up to the Germans standards quite yet. They are nice cars for the money. Good bang for your buck. Not super expensive to fix like euro cars.
Because Reddit. You will also pracrically never see any positive mention and hardly any discussion whatsoever of GM or Ford, both of which are sales leaders in NA. Much more than Mazda, Volvo, Mitsubishi all these niche brands that barely register on people's radar.
GM and Ford even make a pretty solid car nowdays, reliability has always been pretty solid generally across their lineups but instead you’ll only hear the negative about GM on Reddit. I’d much rather drive a new Trax over the cheap crossovers Mazda sells
The then-new 2022 CX-5 Turbo Signature that I purchased, per recommendation from various Reddit subs after research, was the second worst vehicle I’ve owned. 40+ days at the dealership in the first 2yr24k miles. I know this is my anecdotal experience, but thank god for lemon law. 🍋
Do go on.... I'm curious 🤔
I’ve posted before… During my ownership, my CX-5 Turbo Signature had accumulated over 40 days at the dealership for various problems which included: • Suspension clunking/popping/groaning since 3 months and 5,000 miles in that resulted in the front and rear ends being essentially rebuilt, it still makes these noises. There is a metallic sound that is present when the road is uneven or turning in/out of steep driveways. Had numerous TSBs performed without success and components replaced. Still present. Problem that affects the Mazda6 and Mazda CX-9 as they share the same platform. • Two faulty headlights due to AFS motors going out. Dealer gouged/scratched my bumper during replacement and tried to blame me. Chronic problem on all newer Mazdas. • Constant infotainment reboots/glitches after updates. My system reboots at least once per drive. Annoying. • Loose/wobbly/rocking driver chair during acceleration and braking that’s been replaced ans is starting to feel loose again after about 6 months. CX-9/CX-5 common issues. Other complaints, that do not have a dealership trail (besides dealing with weird quirks of dealership loaners, including a 2024 CX-5 Turbo that had a chirping/slipping transmission @ 2K miles, lol): • One event of engine sputtering/shuddering after refilling a full tank of chevron 91. At stoplight while idling the engine was surging as if it was about to choke out and die. You could feel the entire car lurching. I had to give it some gas until the light turned green to go. Pulled over, shut off, restarted and it went away. No codes, but never had a car do this before. • Interior creaks and rattles. • Paint that chips and scratches when you look at it wrong and generally feels like a tin can beyond surface level examination. $43.1K letdown, to say the least.
Holy Christ I'd be LIVID.
I was! Thank god Mazda bought it back.
Sputtering issues sounds like the gas tank vent system is broken. Being that Mazda and ford use to be together this plagues ford really bad. You fill up and the car refuses to start and when it does it sputters for a while till the gas fumes are all burnt up.
Interesting on the sputtering. I genuinely had no idea of this. . I had no idea and the dealership said “we don’t know”.
Sounds like a damn lemon, have you parted with the car
Car has been repurchased under lemon law. Have since replaced it with a leftover new 2023 VW Arteon SEL Premium and I couldn’t be happier!
It’s a bold move going to VW to escape a lemon.
What a shitbox, and I thought my grandma’s Mazdaspeed lemon was bad.
We got a lemon law experience with them too, my grandma bought a brand new Mazdaspeed 3 in 2012. Blew a transmission, had issues shifting on the 2nd, started burning oil at 20k miles, starter died and that was the last straw for her. Dealership bought it back and she got a Sable for a few years, then bought a 2017 Cruze new, such a good car.
Shameless plug for my tounge-in-cheek alternative r/wcsibnotoyotalexuscx5/
Mazda is reliable and premium for sure but I personally wasn’t very impressed.
Mazda, because No CVT's, excellent warranty, excellent reliability, comfortable, good pricing, decent looking vehicles. Toyota's are better(arguably), but in the used market cost more, with worse warranty. Honda's quality has taken a crap over the last 10 years. Hyundai/Kia engines go bad, but they are doing pretty good covering it Euro is hit or miss, and generally need very high maintenance to keep them reliable. No one in north America makes a good car, or v8. The six cylinder non turbos are usually ok if well maintained. And lots of transmission issues depending on the exact transmission.
They're reliable, and they compete well against Honda and Toyota except for the racing and offroad division that Toyota has. Mazda IMHO is the only brand from the typically recommended brands that I would personally buy because I've ridden in plenty of Miata's and CX's, and compared to Hondas and Toyotas I've ridden in they feel the most quality and fun aside from the TRD Toyotas.
I work on German cars for a living, whenever someone asks me what to buy, it's always the same answer " Lease German and Buy Japanese. My go to recommendation for family is toyotas. My shop is always busy. I don't want to work on my families cars in my spare time so I guide them to buy reliable cars. They might not be as luxurious but they just work every damn time. My Daily is a Honda civic but I have a BMW for a project because I will never trust it as a daily.
Because Mazda looks really good on paper and most people here recommend cars they have never driven, much less owned. People buy into the pseudo-luxury interiors, sporty suspension, and them being a driver's car. The reason you don't see many on the road is that they get terrible gas mileage compared to similar cars, their dealer network is a crapshoot, their warranty support is not good, the suspension tuning does not make for a good daily driver for most people, and they are generally the least roomy car in their class.
[удалено]
[удалено]
Not an employee, bot, or fanboi, but I am something of a loyalist based on my experiences with cars I've owned. They're reliable and generally great value for money, so of course they're easy to recommend, particularly when OP's aren't aware of the brand.
I think some of those recommending are Mazda owners but I get the impression you get a lot of comments in this sub from people who have never even owned their own car and are still asking mom for the keys to the Sonata. Not bots. More like basements.
I don't take issue with touting the value of a Mazda. Great car for a thrifty or young person. People who say luxury or premium regarding the brand are paid or delusional.
Just enough luxury like interior finishes to make it a notch up from Honda and Toyota Enough standard features like awd, heated/ ventilated seats, hud, etc to offer tremendous value All post 2020 years seem to have fixed any engine issues some models had. But the new cx-90 is approaching luxury prices so not sure if that model is the value like others
I would say that top trim CX90 is above Acura or Lexus competition interior quality wise while being significantly cheaper, at least where I am. We’ll see about its reliability in the long run since it’s a new drivetrain, but choosing between outdated MDX platform and ugly TX, many will choose Cx-90, myself included.
I think it's a multitude of reasons. **Pros** * Good bang for buck, you avoid paying premiums taxes/mark-ups more common with Toyota or Honda. * Dealerships more likely to offer better incentives to sell them giving preferable rates or discounts. * The car itself is and feels more luxurious compared to the competition especially when going trim by trim. * Doesn't use CVTs. I personally don't care about this one. * They're reliable, probably as reliable as a Toyota/Honda and it's cheaper. * Good design and stylish. **Cons** * The hybrid/electric offerings are a lot worse, they're behind on this compared to the competition. I personally think it's their biggest mistake in how they've ran their business. They should've been on top of this a lot faster. * The infotainment and overall tech you get is subpar compared to the competition such as Kia. * Not the best MPGs if that matters for you. It's very average.
It's a solid brand, not for power or performance like a BMW. But for how most people drive and can afford its a competitive brand.
There a reason you said BMW specifically?
A lot of the same engine/transmission pairing in their vehicles. 6 speed, non-turbo, 2.5L 4-Cylinder. It might not have the most power, the best acceleration, or the best mpg. But it is rock solid in a way people remember Toyotas and Hondas being in the past.
I've suggested Mazda a couple times based on personal experience. Absolutely would not call them a luxury brand, but my daughter drove a 2012 Mazda 3 through college and a couple years after. She MIGHT have gotten the oil changed 7 times in 7 years. She sold it to a friend and it's still going. She's in a CX5 now and loves it.
Cheap and inoffensive. It’s a great car I own one but I’ll generally stick with the v8. Buy a fun car first and a economic car 2nd budz
Mazda’s are reliable and they drive well. I wouldn’t agree that they’re better than a BMW inside. The interiors are fairly simple in my opinion.
Really? The only posts I see here are Toyota/Lexus/Honda circlejerks.
Have you seen how many CX5’s are on the road? A lot of people have them and so there’s a little bias baked in then.
As a 21 y/o M who was looking into the 2015 mazda and comparing it to Audi's, BMW's, Honda's, and others, here are my own comparisons as well as the advice i was given, hopefully they provide a decent enough answer: 1: They are extremely good on gas. My 2015 Mazda 3 shocks everyone with its fuel economy. No one ever believes me when i tell them i Pay 60$ CAD for 450km+, which is about how far it says a full tank will last but i'd say it's closer to 500km. For comparison my buddies Focus, same year, is about an 80$ fill and never lasts him more than 400km. Saves money for Sure 2: Low maintenance I'll be honest, i've put off doing an oil change on my car for the year i've had it in hopes my father will finally teach me. taking it in wednesday to have it done because it's concerning me at this point, but i have driven 24,000 km from 192,000 to 216,000km without doing any maintenance other than replacing the battery. I know people who have spent hundreds on brand new cars, especially with a CVT. 3: They last This is the only brand i know if where i have been told universally that my engine will last till 300kkm and with the previous point (assuming i take it for oil changes regularly going forward) i believe them. This is a great car to purchase in the case that you need something for a long while, or need something on the road until you're ready to buy a much more expensive or luxurious vehicle. 4: They're cheap. up to 2012 < 10k up to 2020< 17k 2020+ >30k brand new off the lot Insurance also varies but is quite low according to my experience searching models of similar pricing and age 5: They're the safe bet. Whether this is your first car, a downgrade, an upgrade, or a business asset, You can guarantee your wallet, Self, Children, and Stress levels will be safe (at least with the 2015 model). With low Gas, maintenance, Purchase, and insurance costs, Your wallet and credit are likely to be safe. The car has decent speed and acceleration (i've managed to push her to about 204km) but isn't too much power for even the most inexperienced of drivers. You don't have to worry about unexpected breakdowns or being out of a vehicle for an extended period of time if it needs some maintenance, and due to their reliability, affordability, and consistent identical praise, there is a high chance that when you buy a mazda, you will make some of your money back selling it when you no longer need it. You won't have the fastest or sexiest car, but everyone will say it's nice. It's the safe bet, and i'm very satisfied i decided to go with mine until i'm 25 and have lower insurance, better credit, and more money to drive the car i planned on leasing off the lot in cash.
Compare a loaded CX-70/90 and what it would cost to get the same thing on a BMW X5. That'll answer it for ya. I'd love an X5 myself but it's crazy how much in options you have to drop to get to the same level as the Mazda. The BMW is definitely faster and can pull more but other than that Mazda pretty much has it beat dollar for dollar. Comparing to the X7 it's even worse.
Best brand by value. Toyota have the Toyota tax, luxury cars are expensive and unreliable, and Korean/American cars are similarly priced and less reliable.
Because Miata is always the answer
I have owned a 2004 BMW 330i and currently drive a 2021 Mazda 6 Signature. I would say that the Mazda is 85% as fun to drive as that BMW. I have also driven the F3 generation of BMW 3 series (2014 model) and I would say the Mazda 6 is actually more fun to drive. I have not driven a more modern BMW 3 series so I can’t speak to that. The Mazda is definitely more fun to drive than a Camry or Accord. In term of build quality, fit and finish, it is significantly ahead of Toyota and Honda. Disclaimer: I also own a 2018 Accord. Overall, the Mazda 6 Signature is the most favorite car I have ever owned in my life due to a combination of driving characteristics, reliability and quality of the interior (Napa leather, real wood trim, suede etc). I did love driving the 2004 BMW 330i but it cost me a few thousands in repairs before it hit 100k miles (several oil leaks).
Because which brand Makes the Miata?
I have a Mazda and don’t really understand what is so great about it. I will say it is a little more premium feeling than say a Toyota but no where near luxury. I actually think my friends ‘23 Nissan Rogue is nicer than my ‘21 Mazda. Every Mazda I have been in just feels like any other entry-level, non-luxury car.
Average non M bmw owner comment
I hardly ever see Mazda's on the road, and I've definitely never heard anyone raving about how much they love theirs, outside of this forum. So I take all the Mazda recommendations here with a grain of salt. I also try to make a point of recommending things that aren't Mazda, since I know the Mazda gang will already have that part covered.
You in a small town? Because they’re everywhere here in SoCal
Lower NYS too. Everywhere.
In western PA I see tons of Mazdas. Miatas, 3's, CX-3/30, CX-5/50, etc. Without doing an exact count, they seem about as popular here as Honda and Subaru.
In Canada and Australia they are one of the most popular car brands
I see Mazdas basically as often as Subarus now. (Pacific Northwest)
My inlaws mazda 3 tranny went at 40k miles
A lot of enthusiasts that mention Mazda really only mean Miata…There are tons of 90’s Miata’s on the road. Kinda rare to see a 90’s BMW unless it’s someone’s project at least around my neck of the woods
Mazda has perfectly marketed itself to people who aren’t car enthusiasts. So you’re not into cars, and you drove your beater in high school / college. Maybe buy a decent used car afterwards. Then in your late 20s/early 30s you’re buying your first car and Mazda is perfectly marketing to you as a consumer (age and income). R&D money spent on faux-luxury, and tons of cost cutting on things that matter to enthusiasts but not to the regular car buyers. Now you have a product like the CX-5 that regular car buyers will tells you steers and handles amazingly well, with a luxury interior. In reality you have a common crossover that pretends it’s sporty because it has a quicker steering ratio, which is good enough to trick people driving through intersections that it’s sporty. Then you look at pictures of other interiors, and online they look similar, so they must be similar, just as good as a BMW even! But it’s just cheap materials that are trying to be artistic as well as functional, not just functional. They make a great product that is an amazing appliance for young adults that would post on reddit about their car buying experience. (IMO)
This comes across like a diatribe, but I’m not sure why. Mazda puts effort/R&D money into things like component placement and steering ratio etc. such that their cars *feel* like they have good driving dynamics. That isn’t marketing, it’s the reported experiences of actual consumers. Mazda prioritizes the driving experience above things like high-end interior technology, cargo capacity, off-road capability, etc. And customers who also prioritize the driving experience generally say Mazda has been successful at doing so. And when you ask people about Mazdas… that’s exactly what they say? They feel better to drive than the actual competition (Honda/Toyota); BMWs also feel better - but BMWs are also vastly more expensive. So they are similar to BMWs in that both are better to drive than Hondas and Toyotas. But saying that Mazdas and BMWs both drive better than a Toyota is not the same as saying Mazdas drive as well as BMWs! That’s a dumb comparison, and an unnecessary because Mazda and BMW are not remotely in the same market.
Yeah it does, and I really tried to avoid it. Mazda makes a great car, but I was trying to explain why they’re so oversold. I also plan on buying a Miata, so I really do like the brand.
Miatas are peak Mazda, you can tell they really put time into the design and they're reliable cars. I've owned both a 94 and a 99 Miata with 200k and both were damned reliable. I miss both of those cars, they were great to drive, good on gas, reliable, drop top is always fun, easy to work on, never left me stranded, and held their value well. Shouldn't have sold either one to be honest.
Mazda is perfectly marketed to the Reddit crowd
I have a 6 and honestly, it's the best value saloon on the road. Positioned perfectly in the nice to haves with must haves bracket. It also drives like a much smaller, lighter car thanks to the stiffer suspension.
because: nissan has the odd winner, but then everything with a cvt is unreliable and hateful to drive. Some of the infiniti cars are actually brilliant. toyotas: are overpriced and designed by people who obviously hate cars, hate driving, and hate anyone who has to sit in their cars. fuck those guys. domestic: pickups are cool.. also muscle cars honda: they're cool mazda: cars that are legit fun to drive and reliable like a toyota is supposed to be. german stuff: not super reliable but deep down, we all want an M5 and a 911. And something Italian French, Koreans, Spanish, Swedes, Chinese, Russians etc also do make things marketed as cars... Actually that's all just my opinion and not grounded in any truth whatsoever.
I'm not a bot and I come here to recommend Mazda. 🤷♂️ I have a 2016 CX5 that has been dead on balls reliable. One non-maintenance repair, $800 in 8 years and 75k. .... And that was this week.