2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Specs and Details Announced

• The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata will offer 155 horsepower, 148 lb-ft of torque
• Curb weight is down about 150 pounds from today's 2,500-lb figure
• Mazda has not yet announced when the MX-5 Miata will go on sale

Mazda has officially announced several new details about its all-new, fully redesigned 2016 MX-5 Miata, which is scheduled to go on sale later this year. The new details include final weight, horsepower and torque figures as well as other specifications of importance to fans of the popular sports car.

The most eagerly anticipated new piece of information from Mazda is the 2016 MX-5's horsepower figure. According to the automaker, the new Miata will use a 2.0-liter SkyActiv4-cylinder that will make 155 hp, which is down 12 hp from the current model. But the 2016 MX-5 Miata's torque figure, 148 lb-ft, is up 8 notches from last year's number, suggesting that acceleration will be roughly the same.

In fact, the new Miata might even be a little faster than last year's model. Mazda recently confirmed that the next-generation MX-5 will boast a 150-lb weight reduction compared to its predecessor. That's not a small figure, considering last year's model weighed in at just 2,500 lbs.

Beyond the weight and power numbers, Mazda has announced a few other key details about the new MX-5 Miata. Among them are dimensions, with the new Miata measuring 154.1 inches in length, about 3 inches shorter than the current model, and transmissions, which will include a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed automatic. The new MX-5 Miata will also offer two wheel sizes: 17-in alloys in Club and GT trim, or 16 in base-level Sport guise.

Unfortunately, Mazda has not yet announced pricing for the 2016 MX-5 Miata, though we expect it'll be close to today's base price of around $25,000 with shipping. Mazda also hasn't announced when the new MX-5 Miata will reach dealers, though we're expecting to see it this spring or summer.

What it means to you: The 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata will boast more torque and a lighter curb weight than its predecessor, but it'll make less horsepower.

Honda Civic Vs. Mazda 3: Compare Cars

7.8

TCC RATING

2015 Honda Civic

 

8.6

TCC RATING

2015 Mazda MAZDA3

By Bengt Halvorson

Deputy Editor The Car Connection

January 27, 2015

2015 Mazda Mazda3

Fazda have excelled not just at making good, fuel-efficient subcompact sedans (and hatchbacks), but also those that are nimble and fun to drive, with more personality than a lot of the other driving appliances out there at their price. With the latest Mazda 3, this is true, more than ever; and with its latest Civic, Honda appears to have bounced back gracefully from an ill-conceived redesign.

The Honda Civic got a redesign for 2012 that made it feel, undeniably, a little more conservative; to Honda's credit, it did retain much of the futuristic look and rakish roofline of the previous Civic versions, but with a somewhat careful, evolutionary look in front, combined with a more utilitarian look inside, Honda's clearly emphasized practicality over style this time. Then a quick restyle for 2013 made the Civic much more handsome and chiseled from the front, and darker interior themes and more soft-touch materials made it feel more sophisticated inside. What remains in today's Civic from a design standpoint is still tough to love, mostly the Dali-esque instrument panel curvature.

The Mazda3 is the winner here, and remains one of the most distinctive small-car picks--especially if you opt for the five-door hatchback (a layout not offered in the Civic). Inside, the Mazda3 is more inspiring, more aspirational and cockpit-like, and the upscale look and feel of the new cabin materials clearly trumps those in the Civic. 

The Civic might remain nimble and responsive compared to most other subcompacts, but it's clearly the second choice in terms of performance; its 140-hp, 1.8-liter four is still one of the best, but the steering isn't as precise or as well-weighted as the Mazda's. Honda retired its aging five-speed automatic transmission, replacing it with a continuously variable transmission (CVT); a five-speed manual still is available.

The Mazda 3 offers a 2.0-liter four rated at 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, and a more powerful 2.5-liter version putting out 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. Whether you go for the six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission, these transmissions bring out a perky driving feel and return good real-world gas mileage. The latest Mazda 3 feels tight, precise, and pleasing in all the right aesthetic and tactile ways from the driver's seat. Steering is the only thing that isn't a clear step ahead, but it still has a more precise feel on the road than the Civic.

Mileage for either of these models is now great, with city ratings in the upper 20s and highway ratings up around 40 mpg--even if you spring for the larger 2.5-liter engine in the Mazda 3. Keep in mind that the Civic also offers an Si model, with a larger 2.4-liter four, as well as a Civic Hybrid, which returns an EPA-rated 44 mpg.

We used to caution away from the Mazda 3 for its harder ride and cabin harshness, but the latest version is better, with a more sophisticated ride and less cabin boom. What we still would point to as a weakness of the Mazda 3 is its cramped cabin, and especially the 'scrunched' feel of the back seat compared to that of the Civic. It's true that the Mazda is offered either as a sedan or hatchback, but it's the case in either body style that form trumped function to a higher degree than in the Honda--which would be our choice of the two if you need to carry adults in the back seat at times.

The former Mazda 3 wasn't a strong performer for safety, but what a difference a new edition makes. For 2015, the Mazda 3 is a IIHS Top Safety Pick+ choice, with top scores all around, and available forward-collision warnings with Smart City Brake Support, which can anticipate a collision and activate emergency braking under 19 mph. The Civic? It's a Top Safety Pick, an excellent crash performer but a car without the forward-collision warning system now sought by the safety agency.

Honda has packed many more features into the Civic in the past couple of years, without any major price hike (although it lost the base DX). All Civics now get Bluetooth hands-free calling connectivity and audio streaming, text-message functionality, Pandora integration, and a rearview camera system. Yet at the top of the lineup, the Mazda 3 offers more, in things like rain-sensing wipers and adaptive bi-xenon headlamps. All 's' versions, as well as 'i' Grand Touring (and optioned 'i' Touring models) include the Mazda Connect system, which brings a large, colorful, high-contrast touch-screen display atop the dash.

Overall, if you simply go by the numbers and consider only value for the money--or want a simple commuting car--you could be satisfied with either the Civic or the Mazda 3. The Civic has become a much more agreeable sedan for commuters, and those who put pragmatism at the top. But especially if you like driving, and want a sharp-looking, sharp-performing car, the Mazda 3 is the clear choice.

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Maita Mazda Service Manager, Darrell Lewis, shows us how to check the power steering fluid level on a Mazda.

For more information or questions please call (916)-486-8500 or visit us on line at http://www.maitamazda.com/

2016 Mazda CX-5 keeps it simple | Maita Mazda Sacramento CA

By Steven J. Ewing
Take a long, hard look, folks. This is the refreshed 2016 Mazda CX-5, which makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. And if you're thinking, "Say, that looks just like the old one," you really aren't alone. The visible updates certainly aren't major – Mazda has instead focused on giving the already-good CX-5 some thoughtful upgrades to make it a more attractive package than ever.

Outside, there are some slight changes to the styling, including new LED light signatures at the front and rear, as well as redesigned foglamp housings. Uplevel models also ride on attractive new 19-inch alloy wheels, with a dark finish.

Under the hood, it's all the same. Mazda's Skyactiv 2.0- and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines carry over, with 155 and 184 horsepower, respectively. Front-wheel-drive, 2.5-liter models get a small bump in fuel economy, too – the CUV is now rated at 26 miles per gallon city and 33 mpg highway, up from 25/32. Models equipped with the automatic transmission now benefit from different drive modes, as well.

Moving inside the cabin, the biggest news is the upgrade to the newer Mazda Connect infotainment system that debuted in the Mazda3. It uses a larger screen, with a cleaner, better-designed interface. This is an update that couldn't come soon enough. Additional interior improvements include more sound deadening, a new electronic parking brake, as well as some improved material and trim finishes. There's a host of new active safety features available, too, including radar-based cruise control with auto-brake support, lane-departure warning, and so on.

2016 Mazda CX-3 is a 2 cute ute | Maita Mazda Sacramento CA

By Brandon Turkus
Mazda has finally lifted the veil on its 2016 CX-3 crossover, giving us our very first glimpse at the Mazda2-based entry into the rapidly expanding world of subcompact crossovers.

Mazda's KODO design language is once again on display, presenting some increasingly familiar

styling touchstones including a five-point grille that integrates neatly with the front headlights to present an almost protruding snout that's both clean and complex. Like previous KODO designs, the CX-3's profile features swoopy character lines that highlight the wheel arches and a higher beltline. Mazda has cleverly chosen to black out the CX-3's D-pillar in favor of a floating roof look, a design decision that adds to the model's fashionable styling. It's the rear of the design that borrows most heavily from the Mazda2, largely in the shape of the headlights and rear hatch.

Globally, under that fashionable sheetmetal sits Mazda's 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder that can be mated to a six-speed manual or automatic. Unfortunately, in North America, it looks like we'll only get the automatic. Regardless of gearbox, power can be sent to an optional next-gen all-wheel-drive system that uses the active torque control system found on the Mazda CX-5. Like the Mazda2, front-drive is standard.

Further mechanical details remain in short supply, but we can discuss Mazda's efforts in the cabin. Like the Mazda2, the CX-3 shown here boasts a pretty red, white and black color scheme. The interior isn't a fussy place, displaying a minimum of buttons and knobs. Driver interfaces include a small-diameter steering wheel that looks like a lot of fun to work, and a (likely optional) head-up display and larger pop-up infotainment screen strike us as very high-end features for what will likely be a rather affordable vehicle.

With all of the hype and anticipation surrounding the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, the Japanese brand was able to sneak another driver-oriented model into its lineup. The company's spec page for the 2015 Mazda3 hatchback and sedan have been updated to list the Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder as finally being available with a six-speed manual transmission, in addition to the previous six-speed automatic. The automaker had promised the row-your-own gearbox with the bigger engine back when it first announced the new Mazda3, but it waited a model year to actually put the combo on sale.

According to Mazda's specs, the manual gearbox trims 40 pounds off of a hatchback or 54 pounds off of a sedan in s Touring and s Grand Touring trims. However, shedding that weight doesn't necessarily boost fuel economy. The six-speed hatch is rated at 26 miles per gallon city and 35 mpg highway, compared to 27/37 for the automatic. The manual sedan is rated at 25/37 city/highway mpg, versus 28/39 with the auto. Buyers can save a little money by opting for the manual, though. Regardless of body style, it's about $1,050 cheaper than the automatic. There are two, other minor 2015 model year changes, as well. The Mazda Connect infotainment system and rear camera are now standard on the i Touring model, and all buyers can get Mazda Connect upgraded to include navigation for $399.95 from dealers, if they don't already have nav.

Autoblog reached out to Mazda and learned that the 2.5L 6MT models started hitting dealers in August. The 2.5 wasn't initially available with the stick because, "We had to prioritize engineering resources and the 2.5L 6MT was not a high priority combination. Globally, smaller engines are preferred in terms of sales," a Mazda spokesperson explained via email. The automaker also notes that Austrailia will probably be the only other market outside of North America to get the six-speed gearbox with the larger engine.

By Chris BruceRSS feed