MAZDa Recommended


Editor’s Choice


Mazda MX-5


The fourth generation of the world’s best- selling sports car came in for a little nip and tuck in 2018, though Mazda didn’t alter the appealing core recipe. It’s still a classically proportioned two-seat sports car with the petrol engine mounted up front and drive sent to the rear for entertaining handling. Buyers can choose from the traditional soft- top version and the RF (meaning retractable


OUR PICK OF THE RANGE Mazda2 Executive


OUR PICK OF THE RANGE MX-5 RF GT 2.0


Fastback). The former has a manually operated folding roof and is the purist’s choice, but the RF, with its neatly folding hardtop and coupe- like looks, better suits Ireland’s climate. It also can be had with a more powerful engine, which the MX-5’s chassis is more than capable of exploiting to the full. Even if you don’t intend to drive the MX-5 ‘enthusiastically’, it’s a lovely car to just potter about in.


OUR PICK OF THE RANGE CX-3 2.0 SkyActiv-G manual Executive


Mazda2


The Mazda2 doesn’t compete at the cut-throat, budget- focused end of the supermini market, mainly because it’s priced a little higher than many cars in the class. While that means it’ll never top the sales charts, buyers that favour quality over a low entry-level price will fi nd that the Mazda2 could well tick all the right boxes. The interior is just lovely, especially as you move up the range, while the Mazda2 drives with distinct enthusiasm, despite the fact that its 1.5-litre petrol engine (it’s the only option, in diff erent power outputs depending on the trim level) isn’t turbocharged. It’s a cinch to nip around town in and park, and yet its fi ve-door body makes it a relatively practical car, too.


62 Auto Ireland Guide to New Cars 2019


Mazda CX-3


Just like the larger CX-5, Mazda’s CX-3 compact crossover is an excellent looking car. Unfortunately, the CX-3’s small dimensions do hurt it on a practical level where its 350 litres of boot space lags behind some rivals, while the rear seats don’t provide the most generous levels of passenger room. That aside, the CX-3 is one of the better cars in the segment to drive, with a slick manual gearbox and surefooted handling. There isn’t much of a performance diff erence between the available petrol and diesel engines, but the latter return better economy fi gures on longer runs.


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