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Last month, Mazda revealed their aspirations to move upmarket and be considered a “credible alternative” to non-German luxury brands (read: Lexus).
I think they can do it. Because anyone who’s driven a Mazda since 2015 knows that they offer 80% of a luxury car experience for 50% of the price. Materials, ergonomics and styling are all top-notch – and Mazda already outranks everyone in reliability.
If you ask me, all that’s left is for Mazda to refine their powertrains. They’ve historically been a pinch underpowered, paired with aging single-clutch transmissions. But the company’s exciting transition to PHEVs circumvents that problem entirely.
– Chris Butsch, Contributor