I have rented a 2024 Artisan Red PHEV Premium for about one year, and although I am fortunate to have avoided the dependability concerns reported by others, I must concur with the thoughts expressed in this discussion. Mazda's exclusion of what many automotive manufacturers see as fundamental amenities in a vehicle priced at over $57,000 is somewhat disappointing.
I was aware of these omissions before my purchase, and overall, we are satisfied with the vehicle; however, I am still astonished that basic features such as passenger seat height adjustment, memory for side view mirrors, and fully illuminated tail lights are not standard. Their selections look to be peculiar for Mazda, especially given they seem to be attempting to market the car as a near-luxury alternative to companies such as BMW. I am not an engineer, however I question if the incorporation of such components would significantly alter the price/profit dynamics.