Is Mazda looking to become the new BMW?

Friday, 4 December 2020

The Stuff Top Compact/Small SUV for 2020 is the Mazda CX-30.

Mazda is on a bit of a roll at the moment.

The new Mazda3 and CX-30 both brought a marked step up in terms of interior quality, the Kodo design language doesn’t miss, even when applied to utes and the flashy SkyActiv-X engine is bringing a decent bump in efficiency to the Takami grades of the 3 and CX-30.

It currently has another engine under development though, one that should (hopefully) appease those lamenting the loss of the Mazdaspeed performance brand. All we know so far is that it’s going to be a turbocharged and eventually electrified straight-six powering a new rear-wheel and all-wheel drive platform but a new rumour is offering up some more information.

Mazda’s new inline-six is expected to power a brand new Mazda6 sedan. Hopefully it looks a bit like this.

According to BestCarWeb.jp (translated), the inline-six will come in 3.0 and 3.3-litre sizes and initially power next-generation versions of the Mazda6 sedan and the CX-5 SUV.

**READ MORE:

Another brand famous for its inline-sixes is BMW. All the signs thus far are pointing to Mazda taking on BMW at its own game but will it succeed?

* Top Compact/Small SUV: Mazda CX-30

* First drive review: Mazda BT-50

There’s a chance the yet-to-be-confirmed CX-50 will be a coupe-SUV and sell alongside the CX-5 but the CX-30 isn't very coupe-like...

* Mazda comes out swinging with BT-50 ute pricing

* Mazda tops 2020 Consumer Reports reliability survey

Funnily enough, that puts Mazda right up against BMW in terms of drivetrains. Power figures are nowhere to be seen but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Japanese six make around 285kW/500Nm, two numbers common in BMW brochures.

The report goes on to claim that the thus-far-unconfirmed CX-50 will be a coupe and sell alongside the CX-5. We’re not so sure about that, given the CX-30 indirectly replaces the CX-3 and we haven’t seen any indication of an updated version of the latter.

It was previously thought that the CX-x0 naming scheme (CX-30, CX-50 etc) would replace the CX-x scheme, in order to keep the family links clear, especially with the electric MX-30 coming.

Plus, the CX-30 isn’t exactly a coupe-SUV, not in the way an X4 M is a coupe-SUV version of the X3 M at least.

Though, on the other hand, Mazda sells a lot of SUVs and more options in the market surely wouldn’t hurt…

Furthering the BMW comparisons are comments from Mazda officials, who told BestCarWeb that the next CX-5 will be “a premium SUV comparable to the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X5.”

The only thing that remains is the performance of the new powertrain. It’s basically a given at this point that Mazda will produce a gorgeous sedan/medium SUV with an upmarket interior for less outright cash than the comparable BMW or Mercedes. A high-performance flagship would really be the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.