As a Mazda lifer, owner, as well as a Volvo owner, it is a tough one. Mazda had a massive price advantage new over the Volvo used with 41k on it. The Mazda was all around great, but the feel on the road, the road noise isolation, the features, and tech of the older (now dated) Volvo was a big big step above the Mazda. Yes, it is a not apples to apples as the Volvo has the T6 and tech package, and Mazda only has the I4 and no tech available. That is hard for me to say as I am a Mazda kind of guy through and through. Now if Mazda had a luxo-division, yes, I think it could go heads up with the Volvos. I do still from time to time, want a Miata NC with a turbo, beefy sway, and some fatties.