Mazda CX-5 Named Finalist for 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year

Brunswick, 12/26/2012 / SubmitMyPR /

Mazda’s all-new CX-5 crossover has earned a lot of attention on the sales floor, quickly becoming the brand’s best-selling utility vehicle, and now, it has earned the approval of dozens of industry experts as well. The 2013 Mazda CX-5 has been named a finalist for the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year award, which honors the truck or SUV that has set the most impressive new benchmarks in its class.

The North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards are now in their 20th year, and the accolades are unique in that they are not determined by any one media outlet. Instead, a jury of no more than 50 automotive journalists from Canada and the United States vote for their favorite all-new or substantially changed vehicles. Along with the Ford C-MAX and Ram 1500, the Mazda CX-5 emerged from a group of 10 nominees as a Truck/Utility of the Year finalist, and the winner will be announced on Jan. 14 at the Detroit Auto Show following a second round of voting.

“Mazda won the North American Truck of the Year award in 2008 with its other crossover, the CX-9, but a win for the CX-5 would be even more satisfying because it’s a completely new breed in its segment,” said Jeanette Downing, general manager of Goodwin Mazda, a Brunswick, Maine Mazda dealer. “The CX-5 is built from the ground up with lightweight parts and smart engineering, giving it a unique mix of versatility, fuel efficiency and performance.”

It was the performance of another Mazda, the 2013 MX-5 Miata, that recently landed the sports car on Car and Driver magazine’s annual 10Best Cars list for the eighth-straight year and 14th time overall. Beyond its affordable price, editors praised the MX-5 Miata for its balanced chassis and precisely tuned controls, which allow the vehicle to perform far above what its modest power output might suggest.

Car and Driver selected this year’s 10Best Cars from all-new or significantly updated 2013 models, returning 2012 winners and vehicles that were not available for testing for last year’s competition. Cars also had to be scheduled to be on sale in January 2013 with a base price of less than $80,000. After testing the group across more than 15,000 miles in total, editors cast their votes for what they considered the very best vehicles of the year.

The MX-5 Miata received a mild facelift for the 2013 model year, donning a sharper five-point grille and larger fog-lamp surrounds that add a touch more aggression to the best-selling two-seat roadster ever. Acceleration still comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 167 horsepower, which is channeled to the rear wheels through either a six-speed automatic transmission or one of two manual gearboxes, including a five-speed and a six-speed.

“Since 1989, the Mazda Miata has been the standard bearer for affordable, grin-inducing performance,” Downing noted. “There is nothing else in the same price range that can come close to matching the experience of driving the Miata, which is why the car continues to earn fans and accolades from industry experts.”

About Goodwin Mazda:
A part of the Goodwin Motor Group that has been serving area car buyers for over 80 years, Goodwin Mazda prides itself on being a leading destination for Maine Mazda fans from all over the state. Family owned and operated, Goodwin Mazda is dedicated to carrying on the Goodwin tradition of excellence in all areas of automotive service, sales and maintenance. Stop by their Brunswick, ME Mazda dealership at 195 Pleasant Street, call them at 888-236-5129, browse their online inventory at www.goodwinmazdame.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoodwinChevroletMazda.