MAZDA Brand Glossary

MAZDA Brand Glossary

Every new Mazda vehicle carries technology names that you won’t see on any other brand, and each one is worth understanding before you set foot in a showroom. This page breaks down five of the most common terms you’ll encounter, including what they do and why they matter. When you’re ready to see them firsthand, Bakersfield Mazda is the place to start.

Illustration of Mazda Skyactiv-Technology engine, drivetrain chassis, and a technician drawing out plans

SKYACTIV®-Technology

Rather than engineering the engine, transmission, chassis, and body as separate projects, Mazda developed them simultaneously under the Skyactiv®-Technology umbrella. Each component is tuned to work with the others, which means performance and efficiency pull in the same direction on every new Mazda vehicle instead of trading off against each other.

Mazda featuring i-ACTIV AWD capability driving smoothly on all types roads

i-ACTIV AWD®

Conventional AWD systems are reactive: a wheel slips, the system responds. i-Activ AWD®, available on all crossovers, SUVs, and select passenger models such as the Mazda3 Hatchback, skips that lag by processing 27 channels of sensor data more than 200 times per second. Outside temperature, wiper activation, steering load, and individual wheel behavior all feed the system continuously, so torque is redistributed before grip is lost rather than after.

Illustration of Mazda i-Activsense radar and camera safety technology monitoring surroundings

i-ACTIVSENSE®

Pull back the curtain on the safety suite in a new Mazda and you find i-Activsense®, a coordinated set of radar- and camera-based technologies that monitor vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and road hazards continuously. Available features include Smart City Brake Support to avoid or mitigate low-speed collisions, Mazda Radar Cruise Control™ to manage following distance on the highway, and Lane-Keeping Assist to help you hold your line without constant attention.

Mazda vehicle taking a corner demonstrating G-Vectoring Control Plus stability with a graphic of a horse and rider displaying the jinabi itai philosophy of the G-Vectoring Control Plus

G-Vectoring Control Plus®

G-Vectoring Control Plus® evolved from a vehicle dynamics program Mazda spent eight years developing, and the result is a system that quietly works to smooth out every ride. When you steer into a corner on a new Mazda, it reduces engine torque to shift weight forward and sharpen grip, while on the exit, a gentle rear-braking input stabilizes the car. That translates to fewer corrections at the wheel and less fatigue across a long drive.

craftmen hand sewing a Mazda steering wheel cover and utilizing clay to make Mazda designs demonstrating Mazdas Kodo Design philosophy

Kodo Design®

The Kodo Design® philosophy stems from a single observation: the most compelling moment in any movement is the instant just before it begins. Every body line on a new Mazda captures that coiled tension, producing an exterior that reads as dynamic from any angle and proportions shaped by purpose.

Bakersfield Mazda dealership showroom featuring new Mazda vehicles

Explore New MAZDA Models in Bakersfield, CA

Reading about these technologies only tells part of the story. Our Mazda dealership in Bakersfield, CA, can help you experience what truly sets Mazda vehicles apart firsthand. Explore Mazda financing options and find the perfect model today at Bakersfield Mazda.