Mazda updates trio of CBU models in Malaysia for 2020
In conjunction with Mazda's 100th anniversary, local distributor Bermaz Motor has updated three of its CBU offerings with new features for 2020. The trio includes the new-in-Malaysia Mazda2 facelift, which is now open for booking alongside the refreshed MX-5 RF and CX-9.
2020 MAZDA2 SKYACTIV-G 1.5 (FACELIFT)
Mazda has given its smallest and most affordable model a new grille that gels with its latest-generation products like the Mazda3 and CX-30. Obvious styling changes aside - 16-inch wheels and new LED headlights included - the 2 gets the new Mazda Connect infotainment capable of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity inside. G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) is also part of the package now. It works in tandem with a retuned suspension for better driving dynamics and passenger comfort, or so Mazda claims.
As before, the Mazda2 gets a sole 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G engine good for 114bhp and 149Nm, paired to a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic. This powertrain, and all the other goodies you get in the new Mazda2, can be had in sedan or hatch formats in a single "High" variant - lower specifications are no longer part of the Mazda2's catalogue.
With Bermaz's CKD efforts concentrated on its SUVs, the Mazda2 continues to be a Thai CBU priced at an eye-opening RM103,670 on-the-road without insurance regardless of body style. Can you bring yourself to spend RM10k more than a standard Proton X70 on this cute little thing?
2020 MAZDA MX-5 RF SKYACTIV-G 2.0
Like the Mazda2, the MX-5 RF gains the same Mazda Connect unit for wider multimedia possibilities on the move. Despite being a strict two-seater, Mazda has made its iconic roadster a touch more child-friendly by adding ISOFIX mounts on the passenger seat with an airbag cut-off function. The brand's i-ActiveSense suite of semi-autonomous driver aids is now part of the package too.
Fully-imported from Japan, the MX-5 RF soldiers on with its 181bhp/205Nm two-litre SkyActiv-G engine - only soft-top models get the 1.5-litre mill which was never formally introduced in Malaysia. Two transmissions are available for pickings, so you can have a six-speed manual if you want a little more engagement than the six-speed auto can offer.
Prices start at RM266,154 for the stick-shifter, with the automatic commanding a RM2,000 premium.
MAZDA CX-9 SKYACTIV-G 2.5T
No product update exercise feels quite complete without redecorating the highest shelf, which, in Mazda's case, is home to the CX-9 seven-seat SUV. Exterior updates are subtle to the point of new fonts and a slightly different, metallic gray finish to the CX-9's imposing 20-inch wheels. Inside, the leather seats get new but similarly discreet silver stitching. There are functional updates too such as i-Stop, seatbelt reminders for rear passengers and a pair of extra USB charging ports in the third row. Mazda Connect is present here as well, obviously.
As before, Mazda's turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engine which develops 228bhp and 420Nm of twist continues to propel the CX-9 in 2WD and AWD formats. The latter now gets Mazda's new "Off-road Traction Assist" feature, which helps modulate engine torque and brake pressure whenever a lack of traction is detected in diagonal wheels on uneven terrains. GVC Plus and i-ActiveSense are part of the package here too.
The 2020 Mazda CX-9 retails for RM319,610 for the 2WD, while the AWD variant tops out as the most expensive Mazda available locally at RM336,610.
Note: All prices listed above include a manufacturer warranty and free service for five years.
