“Mazda’s reputation as a performance brand isn’t just because the Mazda3 and Mazda6 are arguably the most fun-to-drive cars in their segments. You can also look at the Mazda CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs, and realize they’re the most driver-centric in their competitive sets as well. Then there’s the endlessly entertaining MX-5 Miata, which is in a class of its own.” States a paragraph on the Kelly Blue Book website.

• MAZDA CX-3 – “one of the top choices among subcompact-crossover SUVs.”
• MAZDA CX-5 – “Driving talent mixed with useful fuel economy, a well-equipped premium-quality cabin available at a reasonable price, and head-turning looks”
• MAZDA CX-9 – “The CX-9 looks high-end, and its interior will make you feel like you’re riding in an Audi or a Lexus SUV”
• MAZDA MAZDA3 – “Fresh technology, enhanced safety features, a premium feel, and newly available all-wheel drive”
• MAZDA MAZDA6 – “The driving experience is fun and engaging, yet fuel consumption is impressive and safety scores are high”
• MAZDA MX-5 Miata & Miata RF – “The Mazda MX-5 Miata, the world’s best-selling sports car, is even more of a joy to drive in 2019 thanks to its 26 extra horsepower”

Representing the combined wisdom of the American car-buying public, the 11th annual Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards recognize automakers’ outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and create enthusiasm from the new-car buying public.

“We work hard to focus on what the driver wants – cars that are engaging to drive with our unique Kodo styling and our inventive engineering. This commitment to our customers is what pushes us to continually make improvements. We are honoured to have this dedication recognized by being awarded Kelley Blue Book’s Top Performance Brand award for 2019,” said Dino Bernacchi, chief marketing officer for Mazda North American Operations. “Mazda is a company made up of skilled craftsmen, and we will continue to infuse each vehicle with the soul and passion of our talented people.”

Determining the winner of the Brand Image Awards is not just based on a moment in time or a quick online poll. The 2019 Brand Image Awards are determined by consumer automotive perception data from Kelley Blue Book Strategic Insights’ Brand Watch, which is an online brand and model perception tracking study. It annually taps into more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers who research purchasing decisions through Kelley Blue Book’s official website, KBB.com. The comprehensive study provides insights into what factors new car buyers take into consideration when making their purchase decisions. The study also captures brand and model familiarity and brand loyalty among new-car shoppers.

“Mazda vehicles are engineered to be intuitive and exciting to both the driver and passenger, which is something that resonates with consumers,” said Hwei-Lin Oetken, director of strategic insights for Kelley Blue Book. “This is Mazda’s second consecutive award for Top Performance Brand, which is a validation of the Mazda team’s steadfast commitment to building familiarity and loyalty among consumers.”

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