Local prices, engine specs, performance, fuel economy data, reliability and safety listings for every car
sold in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait!
The 3 is a fairly roomy and affordable compact car, with the sportiest handling and the poorest engine in this class of cars. The Mazda 3, or Mazda3 as company likes to call it, is available as a four-door sedan in this region,
while a five-door has been released from 2006 onwards, all with only the base engine available. The
3 has an interesting rounded shape that hides the height which is necessary for a roomier cabin. The Mazda 3 features a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, with five trim levels, of which only the base version has a standard manual gearbox, with the rest having a five-speed automatic with manual shift capability. Available features, depending on trim level, includes leather, sunroof, and a premium sound system with a CD changer. As with the engine choices, safety options are limited in the Middle East too. Available airbags only include a standard driver side and an optional passenger-side bag. And ABS brakes are standard only on the higher models. Available on all but the base model are power windows, mirrors, central locking and keyless entry. A sporty appearance kit is optional.
Competitors:
Ford Focus
Hyundai Elantra
Nissan Tiida
Price Range
Dhs 51000 - 58500 (US$ 13900 - 15900)
Body Styles
4-door sedan,
5-door hatchback
Weight (kg)
1260 - 1310
Version
Performance
Engine
Gearbox
Power (hp)
Torque (Nm)
Fuel Econ (l/100km)
0-100 kph (sec)
Top Speed (kph)
1.6 I4 FWD
5M/4A
103
145
7.2-8.0
10.7-12.1
174-182
Good
Handling, front cabin room, somewhat attractive, frugal
Bad
Very slow, hard plastic interior, limited engine choices
Mazda 6
Fully redesigned for 2009, just like its Ford Mondeo platform-mate, the Mazda 6, also known as the grammatically-wrong Mazda6, remains a sporty-handling stand-out among the latest crop of front-wheel-drive midsize family cars. The Mazda 6 was originally designed for the driving enthusiast, with choices of V6 and turbocharged engines, but the Middle East market only gets a weak 2.0-litre and a reasonable 2.5-litre engine, both of which are four-cylinder and come with a choice of 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. Remaining unique to the segment, the Mazda 6 is the midsize offered in sedan, liftback and wagon forms. Standard features include power windows, central locking, basic stereo system, dual airbags for driver and front passenger, and available ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution. Options include a full body kit, rear spoiler, fog lamps, 6-CD changer, cruise control, alloy wheels, sunroof, stability control and leather seats. Poor marketing, pathetic after-sales service and limited engine choices continue to doom this competent car in many GCC markets.
The BT-50 is the forgotten small pickup truck range of the Mazda line-up. No one in their right mind is going to buy one of these for personal use, but for those who want to be different, in a flamboyant American sort of way, they can pick up one of these and modify them for purposes other than hauling cargo. Engines include 2.2-litre and 2.6-litre petrol engines, all four-cylinder motors and all with a standard five-speed manual. Body styles include a single cab and a double cab shape. Key features include an AM/FM radio with cassette deck and 2 speakers, monotone or two-tone paintjob, and manually operated windows. Available accessories include
plastic fender and side-step cladding panels, and front and rear skirt kits. Cargo-box equipment includes a single-action tailgate lock, a rear step bumper, outer and inner rope hooks, and load rests. Options, available in some markets, include front airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, and even power windows.
Competitors:
Mitsubishi L200
Nissan Navara
Toyota Hilux
Price Range
Dhs 45000 - 70000 (US$ 12200 - 19000)
Body Styles
2-door pickup, 4-door pickup
Weight (kg)
1285 - 1686
Version
Performance
Engine
Gearbox
Power (hp)
Torque (Nm)
Fuel Econ (l/100km)
0-100 kph (sec)
Top Speed (kph)
2.2 I4 RWD 2.6 I4 RWD/4WD
5M 5M
110 125
176 210
9.0-9.5 11.6-12.5
13.0 11.5-12.5
140 145
Good
Utility, front cabin space,
affordable
Bad
Acceleration, handling,
bare hard cabin, ride
Mazda CX-9
The perfectly-sized CX-9 is an award-winning crossover 4WD
that drives like a sporty car and goes off-road like a sporty car too. Built on
an all-new architecture, the CX-9 shares the V6 engine sourced from Ford.
Powered by a new-for-2008 3.7-litre V6, it also comes with a six-speed automatic
and all-wheel-drive, which means no low-range gearing. It is a seven-seater that offers easy access to the
third-row seat with only one hand operation for an extra 26 inches of space
between the folded second-row seat and the door opening. The
60-40 split second row carries three, plus offers fore-and-aft slide travel and a reclining backrest.
Other available features include 18-inch rims, CD stereo, and HID
headlights. The disc brakes are assisted by ABS, traction control, dynamic stability
control, and an advanced roll
stability control system. A six
airbag system is fitted as standard and includes side-curtain airbags that
extend to the third row. The
CX-9 now becomes the flagship family vehicle in the Mazda lineup.
Eats petrol like a V8, heavy, off-road ability, pricey
Mazda MX-5
The MX-5, also known as the Miata, is Mazda’s excellent two-seat, rear-wheel-drive convertible sports car that
was completely redesigned for the 2006 model year, but is available for the first time in the GCC from 2008.
Powered by a high-revving 2.0-litre 4-cylinder, this little runner is mated to a
six-speed manual. Only the version with the powered folding hard top is offered
here. Interior features include CD/MP3 stereo with six-disc changer and 7 Bose
speakers, power windows and Mirrors
manual a/c, power steering, leather seats, smart-card for keyless entry and ignition,
and cruise control. Additional features include chrome outer door handles, Xenon
headlights, fog lamps, dual exhaust tips, and 17-inch alloy wheels with run-flat
tyres. Safety features include dual front airbags and side airbags,
ABS brakes, traction control, stability control, tyre pressure monitor, burglar
alarm
with immobilizer, and rollover hoops behind the seats. A bit pricey and a
favourite among women, but a great alternative to German roadsters for carving
up roads.
