We live in a world of distractions. Screens are all around us, consuming our attention and making us feel overwhelmed by too much information. Fortunately, on the Mazda CX-70 there’s a solution to this problem that actually works.
During my week-long test, I noticed how the CX-70 would always beep twice to alert me when I was drifting out of my lane or there was a car approaching.
A little backstory is needed here.
I’ve been testing lane-keeping in cars for the last 15 years or so. The tech comes in all different configurations, including visual warning, excessive beeping and chimes, and even outright control of the steering which helps you avoid a collision.
I like the more subtle-yet-obvious lane-keeping in the CX-70 because it actually works — not in a way that is too overwhelming, but still enough to get my attention.
In several instances, the two-beep system made me take a quick glance in the side mirror or look for lane markings when I wasbn;t quite aware that I was drifting. It was enough to make me realize that not every automaker does alerts quite the same way.
I’m used to a few luxury cars I;ve tested lately that intervene a bit too much, essentially grabbing the steering wheel from you and jutting you back into the lane.
I have also noticed some recent tests where the lane-keeping only shows a visual warning about an obstruction. When the tech is too aggressive, drivers might decide to turn it off entirely. When it is too subtle, you might not even benefit from the safety tech because you can ignore it too easily.
Mazda found a nice balance between getting my attention but not alerting me in a way that the actual safety measure itself was distracting or too annoying.
In one long drive from my house into a downtown area, especially when I was at lower speeds, backing up, and looking for a parking spot, I relied on the two beeps to make sure I wasn’t about to collide with something.
At home, I relied on the alerts when I was pulling out of my driveway, since there tends to be an extra bike or garbage can sitting on the side of the garage way too often.
It was a perfect mix for me that made me take notice when it was important to look. In fact, I sometimes disable the more aggressive warning systems but kept it enabled the whole time I was testing the CX-70.
It’s a feature I’d love to see in every make and model.