Latest news with #CX-90
Motor Trend
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Is Our Yearlong 2025 Mazda CX-70 Actually Luxurious?
Mazda set its sights on evolving into a 'traditional mainstream premium' brand about a decade ago, aiming to carve out space as an alternative to non-German luxury makes like Lexus and Acura. Fast-forward to today, and we've seen that ambition come to life with the introduction of the CX-70 and the brand's new flagship, the CX-90. These SUVs clearly raise the bar for Mazda, delivering cabins that feel a step above the rest of the lineup, with sleek designs, thoughtful tech, and a more upscale experience overall. But the big question remains: Do they truly measure up to Japan's established luxury contenders? 0:00 / 0:00 After more than six months behind the wheel of our yearlong review 2025 Mazda CX-70 Turbo S Premium (plus 14 months in our previous CX-90 PHEV), we appreciate the brand's push upmarket—but it doesn't quite feel like we're driving a true luxury SUV. Sure, the premium interior and sleek styling have turned heads; friends and family have even asked, 'Wait, this is a Mazda?' But luxury is more than skin deep. It's not just about large screens and upscale materials, it's the way a vehicle drives, the refinement in its ride, and the overall sense of effortlessness that separates premium from mainstream. And in those areas, the CX-70 still has room to grow. Where the CX-70 Feels Premium Our long-term CX-70 is a near-loaded trim, powered by the robust 340-hp inline-six turbo engine. But it's inside the cabin where this SUV truly stands out. The dashboard is wrapped in leather, giving the interior a refined touch, while twin 12.3-inch displays—one for the infotainment system and the other for the digital gauge cluster—add a modern, high-tech feel. Our CX-70's Bose premium audio system is, well, premium, too. Altogether, these elements work in harmony to elevate the cabin experience and give the CX-70 a genuine sense of occasion. Mazda also fits the CX-70 with a panoramic moonroof, three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, plush Nappa leather upholstery, and second-row sunshades—all thoughtful touches that add comfort for everyone on board. A few years ago, it would've been hard to imagine seeing features like these in a Mazda, but the brand's upmarket push is unmistakable. And we're glad to see it, especially when you factor in pricing. Our loaded CX-70 Turbo S Premium AWD rings in at $56,120, a few thousand bucks more than the starting prices of the 2026 Acura MDX and 2025 Lexus RX. Yet, the Mazda offers more horsepower and standard all-wheel drive, making it a strong value play in this segment. Where the CX-70 Lags As much as we appreciate the breadth of features our CX-70 offers at its competitive price, true luxury goes beyond the spec sheet. The driving experience matters—and matters a lot in this segment. The CX-70's 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six has delivered some solid moments. It feels punchy, with minimal turbo lag, and the power is well matched to a vehicle of this size. With 340 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, merging onto the highway is effortless. But it's not all smooth sailing. We've encountered noticeable hiccups from our Mazda's eight-speed automatic transmission and an unpolished stop/start system that detracts from the premium experience. As MotorTrend Buyer's Guide director Zach Gale put it, 'Driving smoothly at low speeds shouldn't be so difficult.' We couldn't agree more. At speeds under 30 mph, the CX-70's transmission feels confused, hunting for the right gear and creating a noticeably unrefined experience. When it finally decides to shift, the changes can be abrupt and jarring—enough to cause head toss in the cabin and break the sense of composure. 'I see this as a real issue that could discourage a CX-70 owner from getting another one when a lease is up,' Gale added. And honestly, we've found ourselves wondering how this transmission setup cleared Mazda's own testing. We've also experienced significant vibrations in the cabin when the start/stop system shuts off or restarts the engine. While the system is designed to let the CX-70 coast with the engine off under the right conditions, its behavior is inconsistent—like disengaging on the freeway while maintaining a steady speed. When that happens, the CX-70 begins to lose momentum, prompting us to press the throttle harder. That, in turn, triggers a jarring chain reaction: The engine restarts, the transmission downshifts abruptly, and only then does the vehicle regain speed. These are two key areas where the CX-70 needs improvement if Mazda wants to truly compete with non-German premium brands. Winning over Acura and Lexus customers will require more than just attractive styling and strong value—it demands a smoother, more polished powertrain than Mazda currently offers. And let's be clear: Mazda isn't a newcomer trying to find its footing. This is an automaker with a rich history of building engaging performance-oriented vehicles. The CX-70 doesn't live up to that legacy yet—but we believe it can. And if it does, it'll be far better positioned to stand with established luxury rivals. Last year, we spent time with a long-term 2024 Mazda CX-90 equipped with the plug-in hybrid powertrain—and we ran into multiple issues with its eight-speed transmission. It frequently shuddered, hesitated, and made abrupt shifts that disrupted the driving experience. On top of that, we found the steering overly heavy and the lane keeping assist system somewhat intrusive. Bottom Line Mazda is on the right track with its positioning of the CX-70 as a premium SUV, but the company still needs to sharpen the ride and powertrain experience. Sure, the cabin's clean design and the array of features make a strong first impression, but true luxury means more than just ticking boxes on an options list. The transmission quirks and stop/start system issues we've encountered hold the CX-70 back from delivering a fully refined experience. Ultimately, we'd enjoy the ride more in a Lexus or Acura—even if that meant paying a bit extra. More On Our Long-Term Mazda CX-70:
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
MAZDA CANADA REPORTS SALES FOR MAY 2025
RICHMOND HILL, ON, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) today reported May sales of 7,946 vehicles, representing an increase of 15.0 percent versus May 2024. Sales year-to-date (YTD) are 32,830, which is an increase of 24.0 percent compared to the same period in 2024. MAY 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: CX-30 finished the month with strong results, up 52.2 percent year-over-year, and set a new all-time monthly record. CX-90 continues to perform well, topping last year's figure by 27.9 percent and setting a new benchmark for May sales. Mazda3 sales were up 6.5 percent compared to the same time last year. CX-5 sales gained over last year's total, finishing the month up by 16.7 percent. Full-line sales experienced the best May results in 13 years. Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 dealerships. For additional information, visit Mazda Canada's media website at
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
MAZDA CANADA REPORTS SALES FOR MAY 2025
RICHMOND HILL, ON, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) today reported May sales of 7,946 vehicles, representing an increase of 15.0 percent versus May 2024. Sales year-to-date (YTD) are 32,830, which is an increase of 24.0 percent compared to the same period in 2024. MAY 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: CX-30 finished the month with strong results, up 52.2 percent year-over-year, and set a new all-time monthly record. CX-90 continues to perform well, topping last year's figure by 27.9 percent and setting a new benchmark for May sales. Mazda3 sales were up 6.5 percent compared to the same time last year. CX-5 sales gained over last year's total, finishing the month up by 16.7 percent. Full-line sales experienced the best May results in 13 May YOY YTD YTD YOY2025 2024 Change 2025 2024 Change Mazda3 1,339 1,257 6.5 % 4,938 4,387 12.6 % MX-5 193 240 -19.6 % 348 585 -40.5 % Passenger Car 1,532 1,497 2.3 % 5,286 4,972 6.3 % CX-30 1,862 1,223 52.2 % 6,557 5,746 14.1 % CX-5 2,511 2,152 16.7 % 10,161 8,948 13.6 % CX-50 907 1,005 -9.8 % 5,608 3,809 47.2 % CX-70 383 437 -12.4 % 2,020 500 304.0 % CX-9 0 0 -100.0 % 0 29 -100.0 % CX-90 751 587 27.9 % 3,188 2,365 34.8 % MX-30 0 7 -100.0 % 10 106 -90.6 % Light Truck 6,414 5,411 18.5 % 27,544 21,503 28.1 % MAZDA TOTAL 7,946 6,908 15.0 % 32,830 26,475 24.0 % Mazda Canada Inc. is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer service and parts support of Mazda vehicles in Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Mazda Canada has a nationwide network of 163 dealerships. For additional information, visit Mazda Canada's media website at SOURCE Mazda Canada Inc. View original content to download multimedia:
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Mazda says there's still room for ride quality improvement in its new SUVs
The senior chassis engineer in charge of developing the ride and handling packages for Mazda's new medium and large SUVs says the upgraded CX-60now meets the Japanese brand's dynamic targets, but admits there's still room for improvement via future product updates. When the mid-size CX-60 arrived in Australia in 2023 as the first of four all-new Large Platform Group models – the others being the subsequent CX-90, CX-70 and CX-80 large SUVs – its ride quality was met with widespread criticism. Mazda Australia then released a fix in March last year, when existing CX-60 customers were given the option of having revised rear shock absorbers retro-fitted by dealerships free of charge. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But complaints of overly firm ride quality persisted from both customers and the media alike, and now Mazda has applied softer rear springs and increased rear rebound damping, and added more front compression damping as part of a 2025 upgrade for the CX-60. Speaking at the launch of updated SUV, the manager of chassis dynamics in Mazda's vehicle development division, Toshiaki Aoki, said he was confident the company had met customer expectations with its latest CX-60 suspension upgrade. However, he conceded Mazda has left some advances on the table for future product enhancement. When asked whether this update will finally resolve the suspension issues with the CX-60, or if Mazda will be forced to make more changes to its vital mid-size SUV, Aoki-san said: "Well, as far as the values we want to provide to our customers, I think we have secured and made sure that those values are provided today. "But when it comes to our ideal vision, actually it's higher than the current level. So we will keep improving to get there to that vision. "So we are going to make a proposal to make further improvement, and maybe we get further feedback so that we can really get to that ideal vision, so we continue that," said Aoki-san, who prior to March 2023 was directly in charge of chassis dynamics and ride comfort for all of the company's seventh-generation Large Platform vehicles. Asked whether Large Platform models including the CX-60 could be equipped with adaptive damping in future, he said: "Honestly, I'm sorry but it actually relates to our future product plans. So I'm not allowed to talk about [it]." Aoki-san said he was surprised by the number of comments related to the CX-60's ride quality, but not by the fact feedback was received. "Well, if I say I would be surprised that such feedback it's not maybe appropriate, but I was surprised at receiving so many comments. That's the fact," he said, adding that it was natural for the inaugural Large Platform model to receive the most feedback, which then benefitted the development of subsequent models. "The order of introduction of those models… first [CX-] 60, next 90, and then after that 70 and followed by 80. So in that sense, the first model 60 got a biggest number of comments," said Aoki-san. "We have this bundle of planning deployed across all those Large Product models. "So the feedback we received for the initial model, or other models for the large platform, are actually reflected for the rest of the large products as quickly as possible, so that we can improve those other models as early as possible." Aoki-san also outlined the chassis tuning differences between the CX-60 and the CX-80, which is essentially a longer-wheelbase, seven-seat version of the former, as well as the CX-70 five-seater and CX-90 seven-seater, which are longer, wider, taller and therefore heavier, and share the CX-80's longer wheelbase. "It's kind of difficult to explain. But depending on regions, there are regions which use a summer tyre, and also the regions where they use all-season tyres, and also markets where people drive at high speeds, or markets where they drive at just low speeds," he said. "So looking at those differences, we make a tuning. "So in Australia, we have the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90. There's one suspension tune for each of those models with the summer tyres we get in Australia, so we reacted to that. "When it comes to Australian market, 70 and 90 are kind of similar. So you can understand that tuning for markets is similar between those two models. "And when it comes to 60 and 80, they're different from 70 and 90, so they get the different tuning for 60 and 80. So that's the difference. 70 and 90 similar to same tuning, 60 and 80 the same tuning. "[Apart from their] longer wheelbase, we can see 70 and 90 that tread [track] is actually wider. On top of that, 70 and 90 are actually the same in terms of dimensions so that's the reason why we can make a different tuning for such a grouping as I explained." Aoki-san acknowledged the importance of Australian chassis tuning, which goes beyond tuning multimedia and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions to localise steering and suspension setups – something only a handful of automakers including Ford, Kia and now GWM conduct following the end of local car manufacturing in 2017. But while he insisted that Australian road conditions are considered in the development of new models, he conceded that Mazda does not conduct local chassis testing Down Under nor tune any of its vehicles specifically for Australia. "Well, sure, if saying that we actually tuned to match the Australian market, it might be not necessarily appropriate, but there are road conditions that are really typical or unique to Australian markets, so we made sure that we tune in line with that area also," said Aoki-san. "We must sell our vehicles globally. So rather than specifically saying that we can do this in line with Australia, we just are taking the conditions of Australian market, and then make sure that those conditions requirements are reflected in our development. "So we actually comprehensively look at those conditions, the requirements of the market, and make sure that they are really incorporated in development. "Even if we say Australia, it doesn't really necessarily mean that there's just one condition out there. There are so many different conditions in the Australia market alone. So, you know, rather than just focusing on one thing, we try to really cover the whole variety of situations as much as possible." MORE: Everything Mazda CX-60 • CX-70 • CX-80 • CX-90 Content originally sourced from: The senior chassis engineer in charge of developing the ride and handling packages for Mazda's new medium and large SUVs says the upgraded CX-60now meets the Japanese brand's dynamic targets, but admits there's still room for improvement via future product updates. When the mid-size CX-60 arrived in Australia in 2023 as the first of four all-new Large Platform Group models – the others being the subsequent CX-90, CX-70 and CX-80 large SUVs – its ride quality was met with widespread criticism. Mazda Australia then released a fix in March last year, when existing CX-60 customers were given the option of having revised rear shock absorbers retro-fitted by dealerships free of charge. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But complaints of overly firm ride quality persisted from both customers and the media alike, and now Mazda has applied softer rear springs and increased rear rebound damping, and added more front compression damping as part of a 2025 upgrade for the CX-60. Speaking at the launch of updated SUV, the manager of chassis dynamics in Mazda's vehicle development division, Toshiaki Aoki, said he was confident the company had met customer expectations with its latest CX-60 suspension upgrade. However, he conceded Mazda has left some advances on the table for future product enhancement. When asked whether this update will finally resolve the suspension issues with the CX-60, or if Mazda will be forced to make more changes to its vital mid-size SUV, Aoki-san said: "Well, as far as the values we want to provide to our customers, I think we have secured and made sure that those values are provided today. "But when it comes to our ideal vision, actually it's higher than the current level. So we will keep improving to get there to that vision. "So we are going to make a proposal to make further improvement, and maybe we get further feedback so that we can really get to that ideal vision, so we continue that," said Aoki-san, who prior to March 2023 was directly in charge of chassis dynamics and ride comfort for all of the company's seventh-generation Large Platform vehicles. Asked whether Large Platform models including the CX-60 could be equipped with adaptive damping in future, he said: "Honestly, I'm sorry but it actually relates to our future product plans. So I'm not allowed to talk about [it]." Aoki-san said he was surprised by the number of comments related to the CX-60's ride quality, but not by the fact feedback was received. "Well, if I say I would be surprised that such feedback it's not maybe appropriate, but I was surprised at receiving so many comments. That's the fact," he said, adding that it was natural for the inaugural Large Platform model to receive the most feedback, which then benefitted the development of subsequent models. "The order of introduction of those models… first [CX-] 60, next 90, and then after that 70 and followed by 80. So in that sense, the first model 60 got a biggest number of comments," said Aoki-san. "We have this bundle of planning deployed across all those Large Product models. "So the feedback we received for the initial model, or other models for the large platform, are actually reflected for the rest of the large products as quickly as possible, so that we can improve those other models as early as possible." Aoki-san also outlined the chassis tuning differences between the CX-60 and the CX-80, which is essentially a longer-wheelbase, seven-seat version of the former, as well as the CX-70 five-seater and CX-90 seven-seater, which are longer, wider, taller and therefore heavier, and share the CX-80's longer wheelbase. "It's kind of difficult to explain. But depending on regions, there are regions which use a summer tyre, and also the regions where they use all-season tyres, and also markets where people drive at high speeds, or markets where they drive at just low speeds," he said. "So looking at those differences, we make a tuning. "So in Australia, we have the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90. There's one suspension tune for each of those models with the summer tyres we get in Australia, so we reacted to that. "When it comes to Australian market, 70 and 90 are kind of similar. So you can understand that tuning for markets is similar between those two models. "And when it comes to 60 and 80, they're different from 70 and 90, so they get the different tuning for 60 and 80. So that's the difference. 70 and 90 similar to same tuning, 60 and 80 the same tuning. "[Apart from their] longer wheelbase, we can see 70 and 90 that tread [track] is actually wider. On top of that, 70 and 90 are actually the same in terms of dimensions so that's the reason why we can make a different tuning for such a grouping as I explained." Aoki-san acknowledged the importance of Australian chassis tuning, which goes beyond tuning multimedia and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions to localise steering and suspension setups – something only a handful of automakers including Ford, Kia and now GWM conduct following the end of local car manufacturing in 2017. But while he insisted that Australian road conditions are considered in the development of new models, he conceded that Mazda does not conduct local chassis testing Down Under nor tune any of its vehicles specifically for Australia. "Well, sure, if saying that we actually tuned to match the Australian market, it might be not necessarily appropriate, but there are road conditions that are really typical or unique to Australian markets, so we made sure that we tune in line with that area also," said Aoki-san. "We must sell our vehicles globally. So rather than specifically saying that we can do this in line with Australia, we just are taking the conditions of Australian market, and then make sure that those conditions requirements are reflected in our development. "So we actually comprehensively look at those conditions, the requirements of the market, and make sure that they are really incorporated in development. "Even if we say Australia, it doesn't really necessarily mean that there's just one condition out there. There are so many different conditions in the Australia market alone. So, you know, rather than just focusing on one thing, we try to really cover the whole variety of situations as much as possible." MORE: Everything Mazda CX-60 • CX-70 • CX-80 • CX-90 Content originally sourced from: The senior chassis engineer in charge of developing the ride and handling packages for Mazda's new medium and large SUVs says the upgraded CX-60now meets the Japanese brand's dynamic targets, but admits there's still room for improvement via future product updates. When the mid-size CX-60 arrived in Australia in 2023 as the first of four all-new Large Platform Group models – the others being the subsequent CX-90, CX-70 and CX-80 large SUVs – its ride quality was met with widespread criticism. Mazda Australia then released a fix in March last year, when existing CX-60 customers were given the option of having revised rear shock absorbers retro-fitted by dealerships free of charge. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But complaints of overly firm ride quality persisted from both customers and the media alike, and now Mazda has applied softer rear springs and increased rear rebound damping, and added more front compression damping as part of a 2025 upgrade for the CX-60. Speaking at the launch of updated SUV, the manager of chassis dynamics in Mazda's vehicle development division, Toshiaki Aoki, said he was confident the company had met customer expectations with its latest CX-60 suspension upgrade. However, he conceded Mazda has left some advances on the table for future product enhancement. When asked whether this update will finally resolve the suspension issues with the CX-60, or if Mazda will be forced to make more changes to its vital mid-size SUV, Aoki-san said: "Well, as far as the values we want to provide to our customers, I think we have secured and made sure that those values are provided today. "But when it comes to our ideal vision, actually it's higher than the current level. So we will keep improving to get there to that vision. "So we are going to make a proposal to make further improvement, and maybe we get further feedback so that we can really get to that ideal vision, so we continue that," said Aoki-san, who prior to March 2023 was directly in charge of chassis dynamics and ride comfort for all of the company's seventh-generation Large Platform vehicles. Asked whether Large Platform models including the CX-60 could be equipped with adaptive damping in future, he said: "Honestly, I'm sorry but it actually relates to our future product plans. So I'm not allowed to talk about [it]." Aoki-san said he was surprised by the number of comments related to the CX-60's ride quality, but not by the fact feedback was received. "Well, if I say I would be surprised that such feedback it's not maybe appropriate, but I was surprised at receiving so many comments. That's the fact," he said, adding that it was natural for the inaugural Large Platform model to receive the most feedback, which then benefitted the development of subsequent models. "The order of introduction of those models… first [CX-] 60, next 90, and then after that 70 and followed by 80. So in that sense, the first model 60 got a biggest number of comments," said Aoki-san. "We have this bundle of planning deployed across all those Large Product models. "So the feedback we received for the initial model, or other models for the large platform, are actually reflected for the rest of the large products as quickly as possible, so that we can improve those other models as early as possible." Aoki-san also outlined the chassis tuning differences between the CX-60 and the CX-80, which is essentially a longer-wheelbase, seven-seat version of the former, as well as the CX-70 five-seater and CX-90 seven-seater, which are longer, wider, taller and therefore heavier, and share the CX-80's longer wheelbase. "It's kind of difficult to explain. But depending on regions, there are regions which use a summer tyre, and also the regions where they use all-season tyres, and also markets where people drive at high speeds, or markets where they drive at just low speeds," he said. "So looking at those differences, we make a tuning. "So in Australia, we have the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90. There's one suspension tune for each of those models with the summer tyres we get in Australia, so we reacted to that. "When it comes to Australian market, 70 and 90 are kind of similar. So you can understand that tuning for markets is similar between those two models. "And when it comes to 60 and 80, they're different from 70 and 90, so they get the different tuning for 60 and 80. So that's the difference. 70 and 90 similar to same tuning, 60 and 80 the same tuning. "[Apart from their] longer wheelbase, we can see 70 and 90 that tread [track] is actually wider. On top of that, 70 and 90 are actually the same in terms of dimensions so that's the reason why we can make a different tuning for such a grouping as I explained." Aoki-san acknowledged the importance of Australian chassis tuning, which goes beyond tuning multimedia and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions to localise steering and suspension setups – something only a handful of automakers including Ford, Kia and now GWM conduct following the end of local car manufacturing in 2017. But while he insisted that Australian road conditions are considered in the development of new models, he conceded that Mazda does not conduct local chassis testing Down Under nor tune any of its vehicles specifically for Australia. "Well, sure, if saying that we actually tuned to match the Australian market, it might be not necessarily appropriate, but there are road conditions that are really typical or unique to Australian markets, so we made sure that we tune in line with that area also," said Aoki-san. "We must sell our vehicles globally. So rather than specifically saying that we can do this in line with Australia, we just are taking the conditions of Australian market, and then make sure that those conditions requirements are reflected in our development. "So we actually comprehensively look at those conditions, the requirements of the market, and make sure that they are really incorporated in development. "Even if we say Australia, it doesn't really necessarily mean that there's just one condition out there. There are so many different conditions in the Australia market alone. So, you know, rather than just focusing on one thing, we try to really cover the whole variety of situations as much as possible." MORE: Everything Mazda CX-60 • CX-70 • CX-80 • CX-90 Content originally sourced from: The senior chassis engineer in charge of developing the ride and handling packages for Mazda's new medium and large SUVs says the upgraded CX-60now meets the Japanese brand's dynamic targets, but admits there's still room for improvement via future product updates. When the mid-size CX-60 arrived in Australia in 2023 as the first of four all-new Large Platform Group models – the others being the subsequent CX-90, CX-70 and CX-80 large SUVs – its ride quality was met with widespread criticism. Mazda Australia then released a fix in March last year, when existing CX-60 customers were given the option of having revised rear shock absorbers retro-fitted by dealerships free of charge. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But complaints of overly firm ride quality persisted from both customers and the media alike, and now Mazda has applied softer rear springs and increased rear rebound damping, and added more front compression damping as part of a 2025 upgrade for the CX-60. Speaking at the launch of updated SUV, the manager of chassis dynamics in Mazda's vehicle development division, Toshiaki Aoki, said he was confident the company had met customer expectations with its latest CX-60 suspension upgrade. However, he conceded Mazda has left some advances on the table for future product enhancement. When asked whether this update will finally resolve the suspension issues with the CX-60, or if Mazda will be forced to make more changes to its vital mid-size SUV, Aoki-san said: "Well, as far as the values we want to provide to our customers, I think we have secured and made sure that those values are provided today. "But when it comes to our ideal vision, actually it's higher than the current level. So we will keep improving to get there to that vision. "So we are going to make a proposal to make further improvement, and maybe we get further feedback so that we can really get to that ideal vision, so we continue that," said Aoki-san, who prior to March 2023 was directly in charge of chassis dynamics and ride comfort for all of the company's seventh-generation Large Platform vehicles. Asked whether Large Platform models including the CX-60 could be equipped with adaptive damping in future, he said: "Honestly, I'm sorry but it actually relates to our future product plans. So I'm not allowed to talk about [it]." Aoki-san said he was surprised by the number of comments related to the CX-60's ride quality, but not by the fact feedback was received. "Well, if I say I would be surprised that such feedback it's not maybe appropriate, but I was surprised at receiving so many comments. That's the fact," he said, adding that it was natural for the inaugural Large Platform model to receive the most feedback, which then benefitted the development of subsequent models. "The order of introduction of those models… first [CX-] 60, next 90, and then after that 70 and followed by 80. So in that sense, the first model 60 got a biggest number of comments," said Aoki-san. "We have this bundle of planning deployed across all those Large Product models. "So the feedback we received for the initial model, or other models for the large platform, are actually reflected for the rest of the large products as quickly as possible, so that we can improve those other models as early as possible." Aoki-san also outlined the chassis tuning differences between the CX-60 and the CX-80, which is essentially a longer-wheelbase, seven-seat version of the former, as well as the CX-70 five-seater and CX-90 seven-seater, which are longer, wider, taller and therefore heavier, and share the CX-80's longer wheelbase. "It's kind of difficult to explain. But depending on regions, there are regions which use a summer tyre, and also the regions where they use all-season tyres, and also markets where people drive at high speeds, or markets where they drive at just low speeds," he said. "So looking at those differences, we make a tuning. "So in Australia, we have the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90. There's one suspension tune for each of those models with the summer tyres we get in Australia, so we reacted to that. "When it comes to Australian market, 70 and 90 are kind of similar. So you can understand that tuning for markets is similar between those two models. "And when it comes to 60 and 80, they're different from 70 and 90, so they get the different tuning for 60 and 80. So that's the difference. 70 and 90 similar to same tuning, 60 and 80 the same tuning. "[Apart from their] longer wheelbase, we can see 70 and 90 that tread [track] is actually wider. On top of that, 70 and 90 are actually the same in terms of dimensions so that's the reason why we can make a different tuning for such a grouping as I explained." Aoki-san acknowledged the importance of Australian chassis tuning, which goes beyond tuning multimedia and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions to localise steering and suspension setups – something only a handful of automakers including Ford, Kia and now GWM conduct following the end of local car manufacturing in 2017. But while he insisted that Australian road conditions are considered in the development of new models, he conceded that Mazda does not conduct local chassis testing Down Under nor tune any of its vehicles specifically for Australia. "Well, sure, if saying that we actually tuned to match the Australian market, it might be not necessarily appropriate, but there are road conditions that are really typical or unique to Australian markets, so we made sure that we tune in line with that area also," said Aoki-san. "We must sell our vehicles globally. So rather than specifically saying that we can do this in line with Australia, we just are taking the conditions of Australian market, and then make sure that those conditions requirements are reflected in our development. "So we actually comprehensively look at those conditions, the requirements of the market, and make sure that they are really incorporated in development. "Even if we say Australia, it doesn't really necessarily mean that there's just one condition out there. There are so many different conditions in the Australia market alone. So, you know, rather than just focusing on one thing, we try to really cover the whole variety of situations as much as possible." MORE: Everything Mazda CX-60 • CX-70 • CX-80 • CX-90 Content originally sourced from:
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Price cuts don't mark an end to Mazda's premium push
Though customers haven't flocked to Mazda Australia's new fleet of large, premium SUVs in the way the brand had hoped, it's confident it can still offer a similar experience while cutting local pricing. Australia is Mazda's only major international market to receive all four SUVs on the brand's Large Architecture: the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. The CX-60 has just received an update to address ride complaints, while also having its price cut by up to $5560 across the board, while new, cheaper variants have slashed the base price to $50,240 before on-roads – and even cheaper, four-cylinder grades will reduce that even further. Similarly, Mazda brought CX-90 prices down by between $6000 and $7000 earlier this year, while the CX-80 was launched last year with a base price of $54,950 before on-roads, undercutting the smaller CX-60 at the time. Despite that, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi says the plan with its original pricing strategy wasn't just to become a premium brand. "Our objective wasn't only to reposition, it was to expand from where we were," he said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "So when you look at our portfolio, we've got cars like Mazda 2, CX-3 and CX-30, that are more in the 'volume' zone and sensitive to consumers that have limited budget. "Then we've got CX-5 that's in the middle, and then we've got a step above CX-5. Now, you've got to appreciate that there is a next-generation CX-5 unveiled at some point – I can't tell you when – but that will have multiple powertrains including Mazda hybrid systems." Mr Bhindi added that Mazda's Large Architecture vehicles like the CX-60 complement the CX-5, while CX-70 sits above that as a more niche model. Mazda in turn has two three-row SUVs, the CX-80 and CX-90, which indirectly replaced the old CX-8 and CX-9. "Now where we've adjusted is where we have been pretty much transacting from early on, but it was very obvious that there is an opportunity in the 'entry' zone, hence the Pure inline six-cylinder [new base CX-60]," he said. "And that's a very unique offering; inline-six in either the medium SUV or even going towards the larger is a unique offering, and we think we can carve out a bit of a niche in there. And yes, once we add in the 2.5-litre four-cylinder [for CX-60], that will go more in the 'volume' zone, in CX-5 territory – that's our thinking." In any case, Mazda's sales projections for its Large Architecture SUVs haven't met expectations. Late last year, the brand predicted 550 sales per month for the CX-60, 60 for the CX-70, 650 for the CX-80, and 100 for the CX-90. In April 2025, all models posted roughly half the sales of Mazda's individual targets or less, though the CX-60 performed best with 377 examples delivered. When asked whether Mazda buyers had rejected the higher pricing of the brand's newer models, Mr Bhindi maintained that while sales numbers weren't as expected, they weren't leagues away. "You have to remember, we have been going through a squeeze on family budgets for the past two or three years. Interest rates did what it did, so people became a bit more cautious when we launched this car two years ago," he said. "So, it's reacting to where the market is. If people didn't see the value, or people didn't see the uniqueness about what we have to offer, then I would have seen more pressure on the numbers. "[Customers] like what they bought, but it was very clear that in terms of growing that opportunity, we have to appeal not just to the driver, but to the broader family. "Because in the end, it is an SUV and mainly purchased by young families or couples." MORE: 2025 Mazda CX-60 gets mechanical upgrades, but here's what's missingMORE: Everything Mazda Content originally sourced from: Though customers haven't flocked to Mazda Australia's new fleet of large, premium SUVs in the way the brand had hoped, it's confident it can still offer a similar experience while cutting local pricing. Australia is Mazda's only major international market to receive all four SUVs on the brand's Large Architecture: the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. The CX-60 has just received an update to address ride complaints, while also having its price cut by up to $5560 across the board, while new, cheaper variants have slashed the base price to $50,240 before on-roads – and even cheaper, four-cylinder grades will reduce that even further. Similarly, Mazda brought CX-90 prices down by between $6000 and $7000 earlier this year, while the CX-80 was launched last year with a base price of $54,950 before on-roads, undercutting the smaller CX-60 at the time. Despite that, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi says the plan with its original pricing strategy wasn't just to become a premium brand. "Our objective wasn't only to reposition, it was to expand from where we were," he said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "So when you look at our portfolio, we've got cars like Mazda 2, CX-3 and CX-30, that are more in the 'volume' zone and sensitive to consumers that have limited budget. "Then we've got CX-5 that's in the middle, and then we've got a step above CX-5. Now, you've got to appreciate that there is a next-generation CX-5 unveiled at some point – I can't tell you when – but that will have multiple powertrains including Mazda hybrid systems." Mr Bhindi added that Mazda's Large Architecture vehicles like the CX-60 complement the CX-5, while CX-70 sits above that as a more niche model. Mazda in turn has two three-row SUVs, the CX-80 and CX-90, which indirectly replaced the old CX-8 and CX-9. "Now where we've adjusted is where we have been pretty much transacting from early on, but it was very obvious that there is an opportunity in the 'entry' zone, hence the Pure inline six-cylinder [new base CX-60]," he said. "And that's a very unique offering; inline-six in either the medium SUV or even going towards the larger is a unique offering, and we think we can carve out a bit of a niche in there. And yes, once we add in the 2.5-litre four-cylinder [for CX-60], that will go more in the 'volume' zone, in CX-5 territory – that's our thinking." In any case, Mazda's sales projections for its Large Architecture SUVs haven't met expectations. Late last year, the brand predicted 550 sales per month for the CX-60, 60 for the CX-70, 650 for the CX-80, and 100 for the CX-90. In April 2025, all models posted roughly half the sales of Mazda's individual targets or less, though the CX-60 performed best with 377 examples delivered. When asked whether Mazda buyers had rejected the higher pricing of the brand's newer models, Mr Bhindi maintained that while sales numbers weren't as expected, they weren't leagues away. "You have to remember, we have been going through a squeeze on family budgets for the past two or three years. Interest rates did what it did, so people became a bit more cautious when we launched this car two years ago," he said. "So, it's reacting to where the market is. If people didn't see the value, or people didn't see the uniqueness about what we have to offer, then I would have seen more pressure on the numbers. "[Customers] like what they bought, but it was very clear that in terms of growing that opportunity, we have to appeal not just to the driver, but to the broader family. "Because in the end, it is an SUV and mainly purchased by young families or couples." MORE: 2025 Mazda CX-60 gets mechanical upgrades, but here's what's missingMORE: Everything Mazda Content originally sourced from: Though customers haven't flocked to Mazda Australia's new fleet of large, premium SUVs in the way the brand had hoped, it's confident it can still offer a similar experience while cutting local pricing. Australia is Mazda's only major international market to receive all four SUVs on the brand's Large Architecture: the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. The CX-60 has just received an update to address ride complaints, while also having its price cut by up to $5560 across the board, while new, cheaper variants have slashed the base price to $50,240 before on-roads – and even cheaper, four-cylinder grades will reduce that even further. Similarly, Mazda brought CX-90 prices down by between $6000 and $7000 earlier this year, while the CX-80 was launched last year with a base price of $54,950 before on-roads, undercutting the smaller CX-60 at the time. Despite that, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi says the plan with its original pricing strategy wasn't just to become a premium brand. "Our objective wasn't only to reposition, it was to expand from where we were," he said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "So when you look at our portfolio, we've got cars like Mazda 2, CX-3 and CX-30, that are more in the 'volume' zone and sensitive to consumers that have limited budget. "Then we've got CX-5 that's in the middle, and then we've got a step above CX-5. Now, you've got to appreciate that there is a next-generation CX-5 unveiled at some point – I can't tell you when – but that will have multiple powertrains including Mazda hybrid systems." Mr Bhindi added that Mazda's Large Architecture vehicles like the CX-60 complement the CX-5, while CX-70 sits above that as a more niche model. Mazda in turn has two three-row SUVs, the CX-80 and CX-90, which indirectly replaced the old CX-8 and CX-9. "Now where we've adjusted is where we have been pretty much transacting from early on, but it was very obvious that there is an opportunity in the 'entry' zone, hence the Pure inline six-cylinder [new base CX-60]," he said. "And that's a very unique offering; inline-six in either the medium SUV or even going towards the larger is a unique offering, and we think we can carve out a bit of a niche in there. And yes, once we add in the 2.5-litre four-cylinder [for CX-60], that will go more in the 'volume' zone, in CX-5 territory – that's our thinking." In any case, Mazda's sales projections for its Large Architecture SUVs haven't met expectations. Late last year, the brand predicted 550 sales per month for the CX-60, 60 for the CX-70, 650 for the CX-80, and 100 for the CX-90. In April 2025, all models posted roughly half the sales of Mazda's individual targets or less, though the CX-60 performed best with 377 examples delivered. When asked whether Mazda buyers had rejected the higher pricing of the brand's newer models, Mr Bhindi maintained that while sales numbers weren't as expected, they weren't leagues away. "You have to remember, we have been going through a squeeze on family budgets for the past two or three years. Interest rates did what it did, so people became a bit more cautious when we launched this car two years ago," he said. "So, it's reacting to where the market is. If people didn't see the value, or people didn't see the uniqueness about what we have to offer, then I would have seen more pressure on the numbers. "[Customers] like what they bought, but it was very clear that in terms of growing that opportunity, we have to appeal not just to the driver, but to the broader family. "Because in the end, it is an SUV and mainly purchased by young families or couples." MORE: 2025 Mazda CX-60 gets mechanical upgrades, but here's what's missingMORE: Everything Mazda Content originally sourced from: Though customers haven't flocked to Mazda Australia's new fleet of large, premium SUVs in the way the brand had hoped, it's confident it can still offer a similar experience while cutting local pricing. Australia is Mazda's only major international market to receive all four SUVs on the brand's Large Architecture: the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. The CX-60 has just received an update to address ride complaints, while also having its price cut by up to $5560 across the board, while new, cheaper variants have slashed the base price to $50,240 before on-roads – and even cheaper, four-cylinder grades will reduce that even further. Similarly, Mazda brought CX-90 prices down by between $6000 and $7000 earlier this year, while the CX-80 was launched last year with a base price of $54,950 before on-roads, undercutting the smaller CX-60 at the time. Despite that, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi says the plan with its original pricing strategy wasn't just to become a premium brand. "Our objective wasn't only to reposition, it was to expand from where we were," he said. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "So when you look at our portfolio, we've got cars like Mazda 2, CX-3 and CX-30, that are more in the 'volume' zone and sensitive to consumers that have limited budget. "Then we've got CX-5 that's in the middle, and then we've got a step above CX-5. Now, you've got to appreciate that there is a next-generation CX-5 unveiled at some point – I can't tell you when – but that will have multiple powertrains including Mazda hybrid systems." Mr Bhindi added that Mazda's Large Architecture vehicles like the CX-60 complement the CX-5, while CX-70 sits above that as a more niche model. Mazda in turn has two three-row SUVs, the CX-80 and CX-90, which indirectly replaced the old CX-8 and CX-9. "Now where we've adjusted is where we have been pretty much transacting from early on, but it was very obvious that there is an opportunity in the 'entry' zone, hence the Pure inline six-cylinder [new base CX-60]," he said. "And that's a very unique offering; inline-six in either the medium SUV or even going towards the larger is a unique offering, and we think we can carve out a bit of a niche in there. And yes, once we add in the 2.5-litre four-cylinder [for CX-60], that will go more in the 'volume' zone, in CX-5 territory – that's our thinking." In any case, Mazda's sales projections for its Large Architecture SUVs haven't met expectations. Late last year, the brand predicted 550 sales per month for the CX-60, 60 for the CX-70, 650 for the CX-80, and 100 for the CX-90. In April 2025, all models posted roughly half the sales of Mazda's individual targets or less, though the CX-60 performed best with 377 examples delivered. When asked whether Mazda buyers had rejected the higher pricing of the brand's newer models, Mr Bhindi maintained that while sales numbers weren't as expected, they weren't leagues away. "You have to remember, we have been going through a squeeze on family budgets for the past two or three years. Interest rates did what it did, so people became a bit more cautious when we launched this car two years ago," he said. "So, it's reacting to where the market is. If people didn't see the value, or people didn't see the uniqueness about what we have to offer, then I would have seen more pressure on the numbers. "[Customers] like what they bought, but it was very clear that in terms of growing that opportunity, we have to appeal not just to the driver, but to the broader family. "Because in the end, it is an SUV and mainly purchased by young families or couples." MORE: 2025 Mazda CX-60 gets mechanical upgrades, but here's what's missingMORE: Everything Mazda Content originally sourced from:
