Is It Just Me...

"RPM esq." (rpm3) 06/15/2017 at 16:17 • Filed to: MAZDA, AUDI

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...or have Mazda’s interior designers been test-driving some Audis lately?

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great design, but it’s pretty rare to step out of one brand’s vehicle and into another and find everything laid out so very similarly.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 16:25

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I’ve been driving a loaner and fairly loaded CX-9, and yeah, definitely feels like a cheap Audi. It sure won’t fool anyone, but it’s clear what they were going for.

Klaus Schmoll > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 16:27

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Could be my E61 as well. I guess it’s just the general/generic trend.

Textured Soy Protein > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 16:28

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But that’s the old CX-5. The whole lineup has already moved on to the tablet-stuck-to-dash theme.

CX-9

CX-5

CX-4

CX-3

6

3

2

MX-5

(The 3 and CX-4 share upper dashes, the 2 and CX-3 are identical)

RPM esq. > Klaus Schmoll 06/15/2017 at 16:29

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Similar, sure, but controls are actually in different places, different number of buttons and dials, etc....the Mazda and Audi ones are nearly identical, down to the phone slot/cupholder combination.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 16:32

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They all kinda look the same nowadays.

shop-teacher > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 16:39

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I love our CX-5. I wish my wife would let me drive it more.

Rico > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 16:39

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Funny you should mention it: http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-himi-jenkins-mazda-20141228-story.html

Their design chief was at VW/Audi for over a decade before coming on board in 2009 to help design the CX5, 6, 3 and the newest Miata.

RPM esq. > Textured Soy Protein 06/15/2017 at 17:06

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Funny...Audi went that way for 2017 too.

Textured Soy Protein > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 17:10

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NOW WHO’S COPYING WHO?

Ash78, voting early and often > RPM esq. 06/15/2017 at 17:10

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Hell, even the last Kia I rented felt like an Audi inside (partly because of the cross-pollination of management there). I think everything converges toward what works best, like those pass-through exterior door handles. Once rare, now ubiquitous.

Rico > Ash78, voting early and often 06/15/2017 at 21:15

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Almost all the manufacturers are taking a more German approach. Proves that they usually get it right when it comes to cars.