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2020 Mazda3 Hatchback Drivers' Notes | Luxury with a manual

The new Mazda3 wowed us when we got behind the wheel for the first time last year. Today, just one year further along, the 2020 Mazda 3 is still a delightful, premium offering in the compact segment. We happened to spend a week in the 2020 Mazda3 Premium Hatchback with a manual transmission, the most engaging and luxurious variant available. Mazda is sticking to its guns of only offering the manual transmission on the top-of-the-line Premium trim this year, and the only notable change is a $100 price increase. The manual also remains available only with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional but must be paired with the six-speed automatic. We’re expecting to see the magical Skyactiv-X engine show up on our shores eventually, but for now, the 2020 Mazda3 continues on with the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder. It makes 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The manual transmission is a six-speed unit and contributes to a fuel economy rating of 29 mpg combined. Honda is challenging the Mazda3 manual in the new model year with its premium Civic Hatchback Sport Touring model that is newly available with three pedals. This Mazda3 is still rather expensive in this class, though, with our tester coming in at $30,665 after a few options were tacked on. That equipment is as follows: Soul Red paint ($595), navigation ($450), illuminated door sill plates ($425), auto-dimming mirror ($275), wireless charging pad ($275), rear bumper guard ($125) and a rear cargo mat ($100). Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale: I love this car so much. I love the design. I love the materials. But most of all, I love the way this car steers and handles. Every fraction of a degree of steering input yields exactly as much change to the eager nose. The steering wheel gives you a high-definition picture of what's happening between the tires and the pavement. The chassis feels neutral and has plenty of grip. Even its simple torsion-beam rear suspension stays planted over slightly bumpy corners. There's hardly any body roll. This car constantly begs you to take it corner carving, and even on short errands I found myself zipping up and down on-ramps and off-ramps that were out of my way, just because it was fun. With a turbo engine (hint-freaking-hint, Mazda), it could be a killer hot hatch. Assistant Editor Zac Palmer: This car might just be the perfect daily driver for someone with a reasonable budget and no large hauling needs.

2019 Mazda CX-9 Review and Buying Guide | Fun for the whole family

The 2019 Mazda CX-9 crossover is the biggest vehicle in the Japanese automaker's lineup, and the only one to offer a third row of seating. It has only one powertrain option, but offers a wide variety of other content across various trim levels. Many folks are drawn to Mazdas for their elegant design, affordability and driving dynamics that are sharper than most, and the CX-9 has all of that to a certain degree even if it's the biggest, most family-oriented one. Still, the CX-9 may be big for a Mazda, but it's one of the smallest in its segment in terms of third-row space and cargo capacity, so it may not be for every family. What's new with the Mazda CX-9 for 2019? Though largely unchanged from when this generation debuted for the 2016 model year, the Mazda CX-9 gets a few small changes for 2019, the biggest of which is the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, which is optional on its lowest Sport trim and standard on the Touring, Grand Touring, and Signature. The transmission has been retuned for a smoother, quieter driving experience. Thicker floor mats and headliner further help to make the car quieter. Each trim gets a little something new, too. Sport now offers an optional Sport Package, costing $1,290, with heated front seats, a power driver's seat, heated mirrors, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Moving up to the Touring trim, the only other change is a frameless rear-view mirror. The Grand Touring trim gets a new 7-inch info screen in the instrument panel, along with new power-folding side mirrors and a 360-degree camera system. The top-level Signature trim gets new badges, rosewood interior trim, and accent lighting in the grille and around the shifter. Along with the new features, the CX-9 increases in price. The Sport trim costs a mere $150 more, the Touring and Grand Touring trims go up by $370, While the Signature jumps $1,050 compared to the 2018 model. What are the CX-9's interior and in-car technology like? The interior varies by trim level, but with Mazda making moves to grab customers from some of the luxury brands on its "path to premium," the higher grades do look and feel like a high-quality, comfortable place to spend time. It's a spacious interior with room enough for a third row. There are some rally nice materials in use, depending on the trim level, including Nappa leather and something called Santos Rosewood.

Mazda struggles to meet demand on rising sales

For Mazda there's good and not-so-good news on the heels of strong US sales in 2012: demand is high - especially for the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 - but supply is low, TheDetroitBureau.com reports. That's partly because all Mazda production happens in Japan, since it ended its alliance with Ford and pulled out of a joint venture with the blue oval building cars in suburban Detroit last year.
In 2012, Mazda sales here jumped 26.4 percent, but 2013 sales through August have just been keeping pace with the overall US auto industry, increasing at a rate of 6.8 percent. Mazda North American Operations director of marketing and communications Jeremy Barnes says that sales have slowed because the company is facing challenges delivering products here.