Earlier this year, Mazda Canada Inc. accepted three awards from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) for winning their overall categories.

• Mazda3 was awarded Best Small Car In Canada For 2018
• CX-5 took the award for Best Small Utility Vehicle In Canada For 2018
• CX-9 was named Best Large Utility Vehicle In Canada For 2018.

These awards make the Mazda3 eligible to win the overall 2018 Canadian Car of the Year award, and the CX-5 and CX-9 are on the shortlist to win the Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year for 2018.

“The Canadian Car of the Year awards, presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, are the most prestigious automotive awards in the country – and they’re extremely hard to win. A vehicle really does have to be the very best in its category, and the competition grows tougher every year,” said AJAC President, Mark Richardson. “It’s a tremendous achievement for a manufacturer to win one AJAC award in any given year, but it’s a remarkable achievement for Mazda Canada to win three in 2018.”

Mazda is no stranger to the AJAC podium, being one of the winningest brands in the history of the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year awards. The Mazda3 has topped its category eight times prior to this win, which helps to highlight why it is Mazda’s best-selling model not only in Canada, but worldwide.

With a recent redesign, the CX-5 embodies everything Canadian consumers want in their everyday vehicle: award-winning interior design, best-in-class driving dynamics, and excellent fuel economy. For 2018, the CX-5 gets even better, introducing an updated 2.5L SKYACTIV-G engine with cylinder deactivation, the first of its kind in North America. This new engine has the ability to imperceptibly shut down two cylinders at cruising speeds and is designed to assist in maximizing real-world fuel efficiency.

The CX-9 is Mazda’s largest vehicle, with room for seven passengers, and is the flagship model in Mazda’s crossover lineup. The CX-9 Signature offers Canadian customers a premium experience, without the price tag that is usually associated with this level of sophistication and refinement. CX-9 is also the first Mazda model to employ the SKYACTIV-G 2.5T turbocharged engine which produces 310 lb-ft of torque at a low 2,000 RPM, making it one of the most responsive and rewarding 7-passenger crossovers to drive.

“We are very proud to accept these awards. The Mazda3, CX-5, and CX-9 clearly stand out in their respective segments, and each one represents a different, but unified take on the best that Mazda has to offer for the Canadian consumer,” said Masaharu Kondo, President, Mazda Canada. “Each of these vehicles features Mazda’s signature dynamic handling characteristics, head-turning looks, and a full suite of safety technology, all combined in a way that our competition can’t beat.”

Stay tuned to these pages for more information on Mazda’s innovative technologies and the many awards and accolades they earn across Canada and around the world.