2010 Mazda Mx-5 Miata Grand Touring Convertible Automatic - One Owner - Perfect on 2040-cars

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2019 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback get IIHS Top Safety Pick awards

The 2019 Mazda3 is all-new, and now we have crash test ratings from the IIHS for both the sedan and hatchback. A Top Safety Pick (not the TSP+) award was given to both variants of the compact car. Since the IIHS only rates the Mazda3 headlights as "Acceptable" and not "Good," it doesn't get the "Top Safety Pick+" rating. All the major crash categories like small overlap front, side and moderate overlap front are rated as Good. The IIHS also makes crash avoidance part of its battery of tests now to evaluate forward collision and pedestrian detection systems. Both versions of the Mazda3 offer these systems, but the IIHS points out that Mazda's "Smart Brake Support" is only standard on the hatchback. This makes the hatchback standard with a "superior-rated" crash prevention system, and only optional on the sedan. Both cars equipped with the system were able to avoid collisions at 12 mph and 25 mph in the IIHS tests. Even though the Mazda3 does come standard with LED headlight projectors, the IIHS still didn't think they were good enough for a Good rating. There is one video of the Mazda3 going through the side crash test if you'd like to watch the new sedan get hit. You can read our thoughts on the new Mazda3 here. We certainly like driving the redesigned Mazda, and it's good to know the car will perform well in a crash, too.

Mazda announces Takata expansion in US to 472k vehicles [UPDATE]

Update: Mazda is revising the total number of vehicles affected by its Takata airbag inflator recall downward to 464,684 units, compared to the original NHTSA documents showing 472,056. According to Mazda Public Affairs Manager Tamara Mlynarczyk to Autoblog, "It is my understanding that Mazda Japan will be submitting a revised Part 573 on Monday that reflects our numbers." The company's official statement on the recall is now included below. Mazda is the latest automaker in the US to officially announce the details of its expanded Takata airbag inflator recall. The company is broadening its campaign to cover a total of 472,056 vehicles. Mazda's airbag inflator recall covers now the front driver's side for the 2003-2008 Mazda6 produced between May 29, 2002, and May 5, 2008, the 2004-2008 Mazda RX-8 from between April 10, 2003, and February 18, 2008, and the 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 made between August 4, 2005, and June 29, 2007. Among these three models there are 444,907 units affected. This is an expansion from of the previous total of about 330,000 examples from 2004-2008. The passenger-side airbag of the 2004-2006 B-Series pickup is also being recalled for those with build dates between April 17, 2003, and May 2, 2006. There are 27,149 of these vehicles in need of replacement parts. Takata's airbag inflator recalls have affected 34 million vehicles nationwide from 11 automakers. In a recent hearing before Congress, Takata said it was producing 740,000 replacement kits a month and hoped to grow that to a million. Other suppliers have also started making the parts. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture Report Receipt Date: JUN 04, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V345000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 444,907 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) MAZDA MAZDA6 2003-2008 MAZDA MAZDASPEED6 2006-2007 MAZDA RX-8 2004-2008 Details Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations SUMMARY: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2002, to May 5, 2008, 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles manufactured April 10, 2003, to February 18, 2008, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles manufactured August 4, 2005, to June 29, 2007.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is truly a four-season sports car

For all intents and purposes, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is a product of California. I know it says Hiroshima on the shipping container, but the car belongs to the Golden State as it was dreamt up in Irvine and honed its driving skills on the roads near Santa Barbara. And logic would dictate the Miata would be useless in any situation other than direct sunlight. That's what drivers from other states would think, anyway. It's the time of year when those of us from the west coast fly out to places where it's snowy and icy and everyone laughs at us because the cold and white stuff essentially shuts us down. Make fun of Californians driving in the rain or freaking out when the outside temperature dips below 55 degrees. What can we say, we're just out of our element. Perhaps, then, it's surprising the Miata handles snow a lot better than I do. I found this out when Mazda sent me to Crested Butte, CO, for a little fun on a frozen track. Yes, there was a lot of sideways action, but it had more to do with the two California residents inside than with the car. The company really invited journalists to Colorado to get an idea of how its all-wheel-drive crossovers perform when things get snowy and icy. But the real show was watching how we navigated the autocross course they set up for the rear-drive Miatas that Mazda brought along. The Miata had a good heater, but it was my laughter caused by immense admiration that kept me from freezing my fingers off. Armed with a set of Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires, the Miata performs just about how you'd expect it to – if you're light on the gas and quick with the steering and have a good amount of patience in you. It all works well if you're a pro driver, less so if you're not a frequent track visitor, regardless of the weather. But fortunately we were using the fourth-generation Miata, which has to be the most forgiving sports car ever. On pavement, it behaves like a compact hatchback. Put it in sixth and it's relaxed and compliant, with a ride that doesn't beat you up and an engine that knows when you just want to get where you need to go. Provoke it, however, and it rewards you with predictable responses from the controls. It does the same thing on ice, if you have a firm grasp on how a car responds to the frozen stuff. Starts are tricky, even in second gear, if you underestimate the power from the 2.0-liter four.