Tests and Features

Mazda is a smaller manufacturer whose pockets aren’t as deep as those of most competitors. To protect its long-term viability, Mazda has decided to let Honda, Toyota and Hyundai occupy the affordable segment, while it focuses on offering more luxurious—and more expensive—vehicles. Their goal is to increase profit margins and …

The current generation of the Mazda3, which was introduced for the 2014 model year, has been good for the Japanese automaker. Although it didn’t sell quite as well than the first-gen model (2004-2008), it consistently ranked among the best-selling cars in Canada, at a time when consumers were shifting towards …

With the current-generation Mazda3 being on the market since the 2014 model year, it was time for a slight refresh to keep things relevant to today’s buyers. Slight might even be an understatement as there have only been a few small changes to speak of. Up front, we find a …

Trailing the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla, the Mazda3 is not the bestselling car in its class, nor does it feature as many variants as some of its competitors. Moreover, it’s been around for several years now. And yet, it remains the measuring stick in the compact car …

As we all know, the compact-car segment has always been popular in Canada. Despite the growing appetite for SUVs, many of which are based on car platforms, we’re still buying compact cars in massive quantities, thanks to their affordable price, their fuel economy and their versatility. However, compact hatchbacks push …

ESTEREL, Quebec – The stakes are high in the car business. One false move can be catastrophic, especially when changes to critically important nameplates are concerned. Imagine Ford screwing up the F-150 or Toyota messing about with the Camry—such moves would imply immediate doom. Mazda’s entire product lineup is fresh, …

Canada’s car sales war is primarily waged in the compact segment. One such automobile has owned the title of the best seller for as long as most of us can remember, the Honda Civic. Never too far behind are the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai’s hero, the Elantra. Rounding out the …

Last year’s complete overhaul of the Mazda3 made it a more sophisticated, somewhat more mature model. It won numerous prestigious awards, not to mention being named “ 2015 Best Compact Car ” by The Car Guide. We like the Mazda3 primarily for its style and dynamic ride, two characteristics that …

Fresh off of a redesign for the current model year the 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Sport has become the darling of the automotive press, and it's easy to see why. Once again Mazda has seemingly created the blueprint for compact hatchback success in the Canadian market: expressive styling, thrifty fuel consumption, …