Could Mazda Be America’s Most Underrated Brand?

For this writer, the “zoom zoom” campaign was the first I’d heard of Mazda. I was young, granted, but as a kid who prided themselves on knowing every make and model that drove by on the road, it was surprising that a now-100-year-old brand had escaped my notice. While their presence is surely more noticeable today than it was back then, Mazda remains a relatively uncommon brand. Mazda’s annual sales in the US capped out just under 300,000 vehicles in 2019 and 2020 – it was one of only a select few brands to not regress in 2020. But these numbers are only ahead of niche luxury brands like Volvo and Jaguar-Land Rover among major manufacturers – Ford sells nearly three times as many F-150’s as Mazda sells total each year, and in 2020, even Tesla out-paced Mazda sales. Used Mazda dealerships tend to be somewhat smaller than the competitors as a result – but in those small lots, excellence is concentrated, with reliable and enjoyable vehicles up and down the lineup for years on end!

Today’s Mazdas are among some of the most beautiful economy-class vehicles on the market. Sure, they can get pricey in their top trims, but at that point, they compare less to Ford and more to Lincoln, making them a real bargain. Not only that, Mazdas of every shape and size are consistently praised for excellent performance, a comfortable ride, and top-notch safety features. If you, like the younger version of myself, aren’t yet familiar with the Mazda brand, then let this serve as an introduction by highlighting what’s so special about their three most popular models – the CX-5, CX-30, and Mazda3 – and as an invitation to get yourself a piece of what might be America’s most underrated automotive brand name.

The CX-5 Is the Ultimate Family Car

Accounting for more than half of all Mazda sales, the CX-5 is by far Mazda’s most popular model. The compact crossover is that perfect size – small enough that it feels maneuverable in tight spaces and big enough that adult rear-seat passengers will be plenty comfortable. An ergonomic upright seating position and strong fuel economy, plus more storage space than a sedan, has propelled the crossover style to the front of the market, so it’s no surprise that the CX-5 is the best-selling Mazda. What is surprising is that the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Chevy Equinox outsell it by a huge margin, because the CX-5 is one of the most highly-rated cars on the market, period. As a 2021 entry on Car and Driver’s 10Best list, it represents the crossover segment alongside the Genesis GV80 and Porsche Macan, which is seriously good company – especially when your starting price is under $30,000.

Despite the economical price, all Mazdas look the part of the luxury car with glimmering grille accents, body lines that invoke a sense of motion even at a standstill, and eye-catching paint colors like the stunning Soul Red Crystal Metallic. The interiors offer a modern layout adorned in high-quality materials at every trim level that masks the MSRP well, and high trim levels compare to BMW and Mercedes. Safety features are present in abundance as well – standard i-ACTIVSENSE safety tech has every new CX-5 looking out in all directions, whether via blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, or emergency braking with pedestrian detection, to defend against potential accidents. It’s enough that the CX-5 is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2021!

But looking good and being safe isn’t all that the CX-5 does well. Mazda’s signature feature is refined performance, which the 2021 CX-5 delivers in spades. Dynamic steering injects your drive with a fun factor every time the road gets twisty; an ingeniously tuned damping system keeps the body steady while comfortably absorbing bumps and shocks better than any sport suspension. Powerful, responsive braking adds stopping confidence, and the available 2.5L turbocharged engine delivers 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque to the wheels for exciting acceleration.

The standout of the lineup isn’t the base Sport trim or pinnacle Signature trim, though both deliver excellent value. In 2021 Mazda is offering some models, like the CX-5, with a distinctive Carbon Edition trim in an exclusive Polymetal Gray paint and with blacked-out exterior features. These mid-trim CX-5 models are a step above the Touring trim with the Preferred SV package equipped, featuring a Bose sound system, black or red leather seating, and powered features throughout. It’s also the cheapest point of entry to get the turbocharged engine instead of the base four-cylinder, so if the looks fit your style (the color scheme can be admittedly polarizing), then the Carbon Edition is a great way to get the best value for your dollar.

The CX-30 Has Pint-Sized Power

The CX-30 is a relatively new model but has nonetheless propelled itself to the Mazda leaderboard. Not to be confused with the smaller CX-3 subcompact crossover, the CX-30 is based directly on the Mazda3 hatchback but with a lifted suspension and slightly more SUV-like proportions. The CX-30 is loaded with a broad array of standard features, from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.

The super-stylish crossover is modern inside and out, with peak trims that feel more like Lexus than Toyota, and it’s got the pep to boot. Few rivals are quicker to 60 mph than the CX-30 with its base 186 hp inline-four engine. Top trim CX-30s even have access to the 2.5L turbo, making it the quickest vehicle in its class! Drivers who want more engagement and who can deal with reduced capacity compared to the CX-5 would be well-served to give the CX-30 a spin – a fun ride is inherent to the Mazda DNA, and the reduced size sure helps! Mazda’s available i-ACTIV all-wheel drive system monitors the weight distribution of the vehicle and directs torque to each of the four wheels to maximize grip at all times.

The benefit of the CX-30 vs the Mazda3 may be passenger comfort. Although the storage volume isn’t practically any different, four adults up to 6 feet tall can sit comfortably in the CX-30. Add that to a surprisingly quiet cabin and a composed freeway ride, and you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a German luxury SUV instead of a subcompact Japanese crossover. You don’t need to spend more than $30,000 to get premium refinement, thanks to Mazda!

The Mazda3 is Affordable and Exclusive

Mazda’s number three seller is the Mazda3, a compact car that is available as either a sedan or a hatchback. The 2020 World Car Design of the Year was awarded to the Mazda3 as a result of its simple yet dramatic bodylines and the distinct characters delivered by the hatchback and sedan versions. The Mazda3 is as sporty as any Mazda should be expected to be, blowing competitors like Civic and Corolla right out of the water in terms of pure fun.

The Mazda3 primarily features the same 2.5 L engine as the CX-30, but the 2021 model also offers a base 2.0 L engine for some extra savings and fuel economy, as well as the same 2.5L SkyActiv-G Turbo as the other high-trim Mazdas. The Mazda3 even continues to offer a manual transmission for those who prefer to have a third pedal, but we think there’ll be a wider appeal to the optional all-wheel drive system. That’s right – the Mazda3, an affordable compact car, offers all-wheel drive! While the Civic Type R offers more power, few competitors can drive with confidence in any weather like an all-wheel drive Mazda3.

Although the Mazda3’s standard features list isn’t quite as long as the crossovers, and its top trims are a little pricey to compete with other, more popular models, it’s still loaded enough to be considered an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and impressive enough to be US News and World Report’s #1 compact car for 2021. The most economical of the models we’ve featured here, the Mazda3 also has the potential to be the quickest, sportiest, and most entertaining of them all, and it’s every bit as safe without sacrificing practicality. Despite this, it’s only America’s 8th-highest-selling compact sedan, moving just 10% as many units as Civic and Corolla. To us, this just means that our Mazda3 drivers are part of an exclusive bunch, the lucky few who are in on the Mazda secret, and while we’d be happy to see more Mazdas on the road, we think the uncommon nature of Mazda has value in its own right.

Spread the News!

The average driver might be surprised to learn that the Mazda CX-5, CX-30, and Mazda3 have all finished in the Top 3 for the World Car of the Year awards since 2018, but we aren’t! Only Volvo has made that same list twice in the same span. Despite this, Mazda remains relatively rare in the US, making this world-renowned brand something of a cult classic in the US market. We’re proud to represent Mazda, and we’re always excited to share the latest Mazda news with drivers like you. Mazda’s current lineup is among the safest, most engaging, and most beautiful in the country, at prices that embarrass similarly-equipped entry-level luxury models. With all of that going for it, showcased in world-class models like the CX-5, CX-30, and Mazda3, it’s almost a guarantee that America’s most underrated car brand won’t stay underrated for long.