Mazda Auto Transmission For Towing
Afternoon everyone,
Just looking for some comments on reliability and drivability when towing with a Mazda automatic from fellow Mazda owners in the club.
My question is, are there any members out there towing with later model automatic Mazda's (Mazda 6, CX-5, CX-30 etc.) and if so, how do you find them in the longer term? Would you buy again.
A couple of years ago following retirement, we downsized the caravan to a Baily Phoenix 420 two berth and at the same time we changed the car from an Octavia to a Mazda CX-30 manual (reliability and dealer support on the Skoda was poor). I really like the Mazda (had one many years ago), cracking car solo and for a petrol a good small towcar. At the time I was going to order the automatic version (as I'm getting older) but the salesman mentioned the auto was a CVT and he advised me to go for the manual transmission due to reliability concerns, which in the end I did (the CX-30 auto is not actually a CVT but a more conventional auto box, Mazda don't use CVTs). Now I've towed with a DSG Auto on a Karoq for over three years with a heavier van with no issues so was alarmed to hear the auto box reliability issues from the salesman. I know Mazda used JATCO auto boxes but changed from these many years ago for the very reason of reliability (had a bad reputation in North America apparently). An independent mechanic mentioned to me that so long as you kept within the manufactures towing limit and kept the car serviced (auto transmission oil changed regularly) they should be OK.
Just to note, I now have a 2024 Sprite Alpine 2 which fully loaded (1210Kg) comes well below the Mazda manufactures towing limit of 1300KG which is the same for both manual and auto boxes. Some may say 1300Kg is a small limit but against the kerb weight of the CX-30 (1500KG approx.), I think is both workable and sensible. Works for us.
Interested in hearing your comments on reliability /driveability.
Regards,
Chris
Comments
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Unfortunately I can’t comment specifically on the Mazda but I do have similar concerns. I’m currently using an old Mercedes C Class diesel auto to tow our Bailey Pegasus 2 berth. The Merc gearbox is old school 7 speed auto with paddles / manual over-ride. The car tows amazingly well and the automatic gearbox is an absolute blessing - I would never willingly go back to manual. I would love to update the car to a medium SUV sized vehicle and have even test driven the Mazda CX5 petrol auto. When you search the internet for DSG and CVT gearboxes you get a mountain of very expensive problems that people have experienced. For me that rings alarm bells (as I would be buying something around 2-3 years old). I’m currently looking at the Ford Kuga 2.0 litre diesel as they seem to have dropped the CVT on this model (although I believe the PHEV 2.5 petrol is CVT) and returned to the standard auto gearbox. Otherwise there now seems to be very few cars with traditional auto gearboxes and decent sized engines. Mazda do seem worth looking at again for me though!
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I can’t help you with your query, but I’ve had 2 Mazdas in the past, a Mazda 2 (diesel) and an MX5, both from new. Both gave years of trouble free service. I gave the Mazda 2 to my daughter, it had over 100,000 miles on the clock, and also gave trouble free service. If it wasn’t for the marginal ratio (our caravan has a MTPLM of 1500 kgs), I’d have bought another. As it was, we went for the Kuga, which also has a bit more grunt.
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We are on our fourth Mazda, but none have been automatics. They all towed well although, a little down on torque against their competitors. What keeps us coming back is the dealers service and reliability. Hardly changed anything but the brakes and oil filters.
Never heard of a problem with the auto boxes though and I would have one if it suited me but I do like to be in charge.
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