Mazda3

The Mazda3 is all-new and probably the most beautiful small car ever built, one of the most beautiful cars, period.

The Mazda3 will offer one of the most innovative new engines of the 21st century: SKYACTIV-X. A gasoline engine, it partially uses compression to ignite the fuel like a diesel engine. This design will get excellent fuel mileage and perform well without many of the emissions problems of a diesel. The compression ignites the gasoline mixture, but it is triggered by the spark plug, keeping the combustion more controlled. The new engine can burn extremely lean mixtures of gasoline, controllably and under different loads and RPMs.

The 2019 Mazda3 will offer all-wheel drive for the first time. This is not a stretch, mechanically, as the CX-3 offers all-wheel drive and shares a platform with the previous Mazda3.

A diesel engine will be offered in the Mazda3 worldwide, but probably not in the United States.

Of course, all of the latest safety features will be standard or optional: driver condition monitor, front cross traffic alert can warn the driver of a vehicle approaching from the side in an intersection, collision warning, adaptive cruise control and more. A new knee airbag for the driver will help reduce leg forces and keep the driver upright and in the proper place for deployment of the full frontal airbag.

Partly to save cost, partly to improve cargo room, the previous multilink rear suspension has been replaced with a simpler torsion beam. The sedan no longer offers a manual transmission.

Mazda6

As in the Mazda3 Sedan, the manual transmission is no longer offered on the Mazda6. Automatic headlights, automatic high beams, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, rain sensitive wipers and the torque-vectoring system are all now standard. The turbocharged versions (Grand TOuring and Signature) get new, larger front brakes: 12.6 inches in diameter. Power folding side mirrors are new: standard on Grand Touring Reserve and Signature.

CX-3

After only three years, the CX-3 gets a mild refresh, including a new grille, taillights and wheels. The inside gets  mor thorough refresh with a new front seats, center console, center armrest, a full leather interior (Grand Touring), improved materials and greater sound insulation. The center console's storage is much larger than before. A new rear center armrest with cupholders is fitted to the new rear seat as standard equipment.

The parking brake lever is replaced with an electric one, a clearly accelerating trend to make more room in passenger cabins.

The passenger seat still doesn't offer power, but Touring and Grand Touring models now have a manual height adjustment.

Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Warning are now standard on all models. The tire pressure sensor now uses sensors in each wheel instead of inferring pressure from the anti-lock brake speed sensors. Smart City Brake Support, a low speed collision warning and automatic brake system was already standard.

On Sport models, the i-ACTIVSENSE Package adds pedestrian detection and higher speed functionality to the automatic braking system, adaptive cruise control, Lane Departure Warning, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, LED headlights and automatic high beams. Most of these were previously only optional on the Grand Touring.

On Touring models the i-ACTIVSENSE Package has a shorter list of features since automatic temperature control, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers are already standard. The package is standard on Grand Touring.

The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder is retuned to deliver 2 more horsepower: 148.

CX-5

The CX-5, like the Mazda6, gets the mean 2.5-liter turbo from its big brother the CX-9. Good for up to 250 horsepower on premium gas, it is only available on all-wheel drive models, at least initially. (Mazda has gone to the trouble of certifying the engine with front-wheel drive in the CX-5 with the EPA.) The new engine comes with larger 12.6-inch front brake rotors, up from 11.7-inches.

Along with the new engine comes two new trims: CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve and CX-5 Signature. The GT-R (sorry, Nissan) only gets the mean engine and makes the GT's Premium Package standard. The Signature receives all manor (sic intended) of interior sophistication, including geniune layered wood trim, Nappa leather seatsunique stitching on the leather-wrapped steering wheel and satin chrome accents. Other Signature exclusives: a frameless rearview mirror and a 360° View Monitor that stitches together a full overhead view around the entire vehicle and displays it on the center monitor. Power folding mirrors are also new and standard on the Signature; they can be had as an option on the Grand Touring.

Other minor adjustments: the CX-5 touring now shares the smaller 225/65R17 tires from the CX-5 Sport.

CX-9

Automatic power-folding mirrors are now standard on Grand Touring and Signature.

A 360-degree view monitor, new 7-inch gauge display and ventilated seats are also new and standard on Grand Touring and Signature. Touing, Grand Touring and Signature models have a new frameless rearview mirror and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto.

SiriusXM Travel Link is now available, standard on Grand Touring and Signature, optional in Touring, it provides additional funcionality to the navigation system including weather, fuel prices, parking and more. It comes with a three year subscription.

CX-9 Signature gets a new badge (don't like it).

MX-5 Miata

The Miata gets a 26-horsepower boost and a higher redline (not a coincidence) from its 2.0-liter engine. Revisions to the engine allow it to spin and breathe more freely resulting in 181 horsepower at a higher engine speed (7000 RPM). This results in a new redline: 7500 RPM!  Peak torgue is up slightly to 151 pound-feet at a lower 4000 RPM so this engine will also be more flexible in its power delivery. The primary strategy was the reduction of reciprocating weight in the engine, including a 1 ounce reduction for each piston and 1-1/2 ounces for each connecting rod. A larger throttle body and larger intake and exhaust ports then allow the extra breathing necessary to turn the extra engine speed into horsepower. Fuel mileage increase 1 MPG on the highway with the manual transmission.

Finally the Miata is fitted with a telescoping steering wheel adjustment, standard. A backup camera is also new and standard on all models.

Smart City Brake, a forward collision warning and autonomous braking system is offered. An i-ACTIVSENSE Package includes Smart City Brake, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-Path Warning. These features are now available in all models, including Sport.

A new brown top is offered on soft-top Miatas. A CD player is no longer offered.