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2019 Mazda CX-3 small crossover will start at $21,365

The figures are in for the 2019 Mazda CX-3 subcompact crossover, which will start at $21,365 when it arrives in showrooms later this month. That's $280 above the outgoing model, including a $975 destination and handling fee. Fuel economy figures are also now in from the EPA. When equipped with front-wheel drive, the 2019 CX-3 gets 29 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway for a combined 31 mpg. The all-wheel-drive version is rated at 27 mpg in the city, 32 on the highway and 29 combined. Which are ... exactly the same figures as the outgoing version (so much for the promised fuel economy improvements). We detailed most of what's new about the 2019 version back in March at the New York Auto Show. Mostly, they're non-cosmetic changes: The carryover 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder picks up a couple more horsepower and pound-feet of torque for 148 total horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, joining a six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift and sport modes. It also gets Mazda's G-Vectoring Control driving technology, a sportier, retuned suspension and improvements to make the driving experience quieter and more refined. Mazda says it's also added an electronic parking brake, which necessitated a redesign of the center console and armrest, adding storage space, and it redesigned the front seats and added a new rear armrest with built-in cupholders. Standard features include a new direct tire-pressure monitoring system and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, two USB ports, a rearview camera, hands-free Bluetooth calling and audio pairing capability, and the 7-inch Mazda Connect full-color infotainment and diagnostic display, controllable via voice command or control knob. The new Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package of safety technologies is available for an extra $1,100. It adds features including smart city braking support with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, radar cruise control with stop-and-go function, LED headlights and LED combination tail lights. Other trim levels include Touring, which adds 18-inch wheels and keyless entry, and the top-level Grand Touring, which starts at $26,720 and $28,120 for front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, respectively. Grand Touring includes the Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package, plus Parchment or black full-leather seating with high-gloss pleated piping and chrome accents on the front bumper and side sills, among other features.

Why Mazda did so well and Volvo so poorly in Consumer Reports survey

The poor performances of Tesla and all three domestic automakers got the headlines in Consumer Reports magazine's latest reliability survey, but there were other results that caught our interest. Tiny Mazda notched the biggest gain among the 29 brands included in this year's list, leap-frogging nine spots to No. 3. Buick, which was in the top 10 last year, fell 11 spots to No. 19, the biggest decline of any brand. And then there's Volvo, a brand often vaunted for its quality and reliability, dropping six spots to dead last. What gives? For starters, all three brands benefited or suffered in large part due to their relatively small portfolio of vehicles. So when raves or complaints rolled in for even one particular model, as was often the case, it weighed heavily on the entire brand. That's especially true when it involves a relatively high-volume, hot-selling model such as the Buick Enclave (more on that in a moment). Mazda fared as well as it did despite the CX-3 losing Consumer Reports' influential "recommended" status due to problems with its climate system, including leaks from the condenser and refrigerant unit that triggered a service bulletin from the automaker in late 2016. Deputy auto editor Jon Linkov said that scratch didn't hurt the overall brand, since the CX-9 crossover and MX-5 Miata both jumped up to replace it on CR's list of newly recommended vehicles, thanks to several back fixes Mazda made to both models. For Buick, the redesigned Enclave SUV earned a "Much Worse Than Average" rating after owners reported problems with the new nine-speed automatic transmission it shares with the Chevrolet Traverse as well as some issues with the climate system. There were issues with rough shifting, plus complaints about the torque converter that necessitated fixes to the computer or outright replacement. "Again, similar stuff that we saw with the Traverse: both first-year vehicles, similar powertrains," LInkov said. He said all-new vehicles or redesigns typically fare poorly in CR's reliability survey due to issues that are hard to suss out before vehicles go into everyday use by consumers. The top-selling Encore and Envision fared well, Linkov said, but were outdone by the Enclave's problematic transmission components. The Enclave was Buick's second best-selling model through September at 35,227 units. Then there is Volvo, about which there is one word to sum up its woes: infotainment.

Mazda reveals new 'Game Changers' advertising campaign

Looking to highlight its unique and sporty mindset, Mazda is getting ready to launch its biggest advertising campaign since "Zoom-Zoom" became its tagline in 2000. The new campaign, entitled "Game Changers," will begin in May, and rather than focusing on its sporty past - like it did with Zoom-Zoom early on - the new ads will look at recent advancements made in building its future, including Skyactiv technologies and its new diesel race program, both of which involve its excellent new Mazda6 sedan.
As a part of the ads, Mazda will showcase game changers from the sporting world, including Dick Fosbury who changed how competitors perform the high jump and Laird Hamilton, who redefined how surfers attacked big waves. It doesn't sound like Zoom-Zoom is going away, but "Game Changers" will definitely feature heavily in the Japanese automaker's marketing moving forward. A few examples of the new ad campaign are posted in our gallery, and the press release is available below.