Mazda prices and performance: a 2014 update

If you are looking for a car that offers great value for the money, solid performance that doesn’t scrimp on style, and several models that hold their value and have proven reliability, you could do much worse than giving a serious look at buying a Mazda. This Japanese carmaker, founded in the 1920s and forged from the challenges of coming back (literally) from the ashes of Hiroshima after WWII, has earned its place in car-making history. From its rotary engine technology to iconic models like the RX-7 and the Miata, Mazda seems to have hit its stride lately with its stable of sleek ponies. Stacking up trophies and accolades from organizations like Kelley Blue Book, J.D. Power & Associates, Consumer Reports and Car & Driver Magazine, there’s something for everyone when it comes to considering slipping into the driver’s seat of a new Mazda.

The 2014 stable from Mazda includes some sporty sedans, some innovative crossover SUVs, and a still, pat-on-the-butt cute sports car:

Mazda2

Mazda touts the 2014 Mazda2 as Performance Beyond All Spatial Reasoning, and they may be right. This sub-compact is an ideal option for car buyers who are looking for a small car that offers excellent gas mileage. It comes equipped with a 1.5-liter, 16 valve, four-cylinder engine that also delivers a speedy little 100 horsepower.

You can get the Mazda2 in a five-speed manual transmission rated for excellent mileage (29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway) or opt for the 4-speed, electronically controlled overdrive automatic transmission that shaves a bit off your fuel efficiency (28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway.)

It claims five adults can fit comfortably (that might be a stretch) but it does offer a 60/40 split, fold-down rear seat that does afford some space and storage options. Excellent safety features include:

• Advanced front air bags
• Front side-impact air bags
• Side-impact air curtains
• Dynamic stability control
• Traction control systems

The Mazda2 is available in two standard packages (Sport and Touring) and the 2014 models are tagged with starting MSRPs from $14,720 to $16,210.

Find local Mazda dealers, today.

Mazda3

This stylish compact comes in a four-door and five-door version (essentially, a hatchback) and there are four engine options you can select (only three of which are available with the four-door option.) The entry-level 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine comes with either the Skyactiv 6-speed manual transmission or its automatic transmission counterpart. Both deliver 155-hp (though the more controlled automatic gets you a little better gas mileage.) You can step up to a 184-hp, 2.5L four-cylinder that comes with a Skyactive 6-speed automatic transmission in the four-door version and two options with the five-door (one that comes standard with Mazda’s i-ELOOP regenerative engine braking system that captures energy when you lift your foot off the accelerator and uses the stored energy to power the car's electrical components.) If you want to pay for more power, you can select packages with optional engine specs that can get you to 263-hp with a 2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

All Mazda3s come jam-packed with features including:

• Moonroof
• 6-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment
• Heated front seats
• Advanced keyless entry and start system
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability
• Navigation and infotainment systems with 7” full color touchscreen display
• Bose 9-speaker surround-sound with HD radio and satellite capability

As for safety, there’s no short cutting here either. The Mazda3 comes with a full array of front and side-impact air bags and curtains as well as rearview camera, and blind spot monitoring.

Car & Driver magazine named the Mazda3 one of its “10 Best” for 2014 and it was one of the top three cars in its class in the 2014 World Car Awards. The entry-level 2014 Mazda3 four-door package has a starting list price of $16,945 and the high-end, five-door option for 2014 starts with an MSRP of $26,495.

Mazda5

The Mazda5 maneuvers its way through that emerging market of crossover SUVs (or slimmed-down minivans, whichever your preference) epitomized by Subaru’s Outbacks and Foresters. The 2014 Mazda5 can be found in three finish packages (Sport, Touring and Grand Touring) and all three are available with a 2.5L, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. You can select from a 5-speed manual transmission or the 5-speed sport automatic (both deliver about 22mpg city and 28mpg highway) gearing through 157-hp. Power is not the point with this model, but comfort and versatility are.

You can get that with many of its standard amenities like:

• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Heated side mirrors
• Heated front seats
• Leather-trimmed seats throughout
• Power sliding-glass moonroof

Safety features include advanced front and side-impact air bags and curtains (on all three rows of seats) and rear backup sensors on the Touring and Grand Touring packages.

In 2014, you can get into the Mazda5 Sport package with a starting MSRP of $20,140 or step all the way up to the Grand Touring package with a starting list price of $24,670.

Mazda6

There’s no resisting the fact that this midsize sedan is just flat-out fun to drive. The fun doesn’t come at the expense of much, however. Call it a fun car for grown-ups.

Like the Mazda5, the Mazda6 comes in three separate finish packages (Sport, Touring and Grand Touring) and with each you can select from three separate options off of a base 2.5L, four-cylinder engine that delivers 184-hp. You can select from one of three Skyactiv transmission options: a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed Sport automatic, or the automatic backed up with Mazda’s innovative i-Eloop energy-saving braking system. You will enjoy 25-28 mpg city and 37-40 mpg highway with these options.

All three finish packages will come loaded with some sweet standards, including:

• Adaptive front-lighting system
• Moonroof
• 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment
• Variable heated front seats
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio
• Bose Centerpoint 11-speaker surround sound (with subwoofer)
• LED daytime running lights
• Auto-dimming rearview mirrors

Standard safety features bring aboard advanced front and side-impact air bags and curtains and a passel of advanced features including what Mazda calls Smart City Brake Assist and warning systems for lane departure and other potential hazards. The safety features helped the Mazda6 earn a distinction from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a Top Safety Pick+, its highest ranking.

To get into the base model Mazda6 Sport edition, you’re looking at a starting MSRP of $21,190. The standard Touring edition will start you with a MSRP of $23,845 while the upgraded Grand Touring package starts at $29,895.

Contact a local Mazda dealer about a test drive.

CX-5

Mazda introduced the CX-5 in 2013 in part as a way to bridge the loss of its previous foray into the crossover SUV market, the CX-7 (a model whose aspirations never quite panned out and was discontinued in 2012.) This five-passenger compact SUV is an entry-level pitch aimed directly at the wheelhouse of the burgeoning crossover SUV market. It’s three finish packages (Sport, Touring and Grand Touring) all come with the option of taking the 2.0L four-cylinder engine (topping out at 155-hp) or stepping up to a 2.4L four-cylinder with 184-hp. With the 2.0L you can select a 6-speed manual transmission or a Skyactiv 6-speed automatic (both on a front-wheel drive train.) The 2.5L engine comes with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and both feature the 6-speed Skyactiv automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings range from 24-26 mpg in city driving to 30-35 mpg on the highway.

Interior finishes and features abound as you can get the MX-5 with:

• Adaptive front-lighting system and halogen fog lights
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated side mirrors
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio
• Keyless entry
• Heated front seats
• 9-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound
• SMS text auto delivery and reply

Safety is key and the Mazda CX-5 wraps its passengers in advanced front and side-impact air bags and curtains, stability and traction control, Smart City braking and select blind spot monitoring.

The CX-5 seems to have earned its stripes, receiving the Highest Ranked Vehicle Appeal in its class with J.D. Power & Associates. Starting MSRP for the entry-level CX-5 Sport package is $21,545, the Touring model starts out at $24,965, and the Grand Touring model comes out of the gate costing you $27,970.

CX-9

Batting cleanup for Mazda in the crossover SUV class is the CX-9. It has evolved since first being introduced in 2007 as a sort of transition from the wagon class and today, it takes on all comers as a sleek-looking, seven-passenger SUV. It is the largest vehicle in Mazda’s lineup and it’s the only one equipped with a six-cylinder engine. The 3.7L, 24-valve DOHC power source delivers 273-hp and drives a 6-speed sport automatic transmission. The CX-9 comes in either front-wheel drive or Mazda’s heralded Active Torque split all-wheel drive. Fuel efficiency rages from 16-17 mpg in city settings to 22-24 mpg on the highway.

Three finish options await the CX-9 customer (Sport, Touring and Grand Touring, sound familiar?) each one with a progressively more impressive array of options (and each with a higher starting sticker price.) Some of the more impressive amenities include:

• Bi-Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights with auto on/off
• Power sliding glass moonroof with one-touch-opening and an interior sunshade
• Power rear liftgate
• Advanced keyless entry and start system
• Heated front seats and a powered driver’s seat (oh, and driver seat memory!)

All of these amenities, yet it doesn’t fail to deliver when, say, you want to tow the jet-skis up to the lake. That six-cylinder engine delivers 279-lb-ft of torque, allowing it to tow up to 3,500 lbs.

Safety features include the standard advance front and side-impact air bags and curtains, as well as stability and roll-stability control. Other options include rearview backup camera, rear-parking sensor, blind spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system. Kelley Blue Book ranked the CX-9 among its lowest cost to own cars for a five-year stretch in both 2013 and 2014. You can get into a Mazda CX-9 Sport with a starting MSRP of $29,985, upgrade to the Touring starting at $32,480 or go all in with the Grand Touring model starting at $35,035.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

When the Miata hit the ground in its debut year of 1990, it spun the auto world’s heads like the cute new girl in high school. At the time, there really were no other 2-seater, open-air roadsters with front engine, rear-wheel drive available to mere mortals. Mazda has been riding this show pony and its success ever since, making only the occasional upgrade or style change.

With the 2014 Miata you can select from three finish packages (Sport, Club and Grand Touring) and with each you can choose your convertible in a rolldown soft top, or a power retractable hard shell.

This cute little number is powered y a quick-response 2L, 16-valve four-cylinder engine that deftly delivers 167-hp. You can take your pick of a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed sport automatic transmission. While you may not care too much, fuel efficiency ranges from 21-22 mpg in the city to 28 mpg on the open road. Some may squawk at the “low horsepower” but thanks to a pretty light load (2,5000 lbs. or so at its heaviest) the horsepower-to-weight ratio has always been a great driving/selling point for the Miata. It’s relatively lighter weight, lower clearance, great balance and the tightness of its almost click-button transmission have always been strong closers when folks take the Miata for a test drive.

You can find yourself in the starter Sport edition 2014 Miata for an MSRP beginning at $23,720. Step up to the Club edition and it will cost you $26,905 to start. Let the real show pony ride with the Grand Touring edition and you’ll be facing a starting MSRP of $27,550.

Warranty coverage

All 2014 Mazdas come with a standard package of warranties.  Every new Mazda is covered by a 3-year/36,000 mile Bumper-to-Bumper warranty backed up with the support of a corresponding 3-year/36,000 mile emergency roadside assistance plan that provides 24/7 towing and minor mechanical service should any warranted part or system malfunction and leave your Mazda un-drivable. Accompanying these, each 2014 Mazda is also covered by its 5-year/60,000 mile limited powertrain warranty. Mazda sells several extended warranty packages, depending on the make and model you choose.

You will have plenty of options if you start taking a look at new cars available from Mazda. What you may not be too clear on is just what kind of great deal you can get from a local or regional dealer. Reply! can help. Our online marketplace can put you directly in touch with local Mazda dealers just waiting to schedule your next (zoom, zoom!) test drive.