Mazda MX-5 voted ‘Best Convertible’ in CarBuyer awards
Mazda’s iconic two-seater roadster, the Mazda MX-5, continues to win awards 21 years after the UK launch of the innovative and inspirational original model. Its latest accolade comes from the newly established CarBuyer website in its inaugural ‘Car of the Year’ awards announced recently.
Using judging criteria set by website visitors and the experts from Auto Express, Evo and Octane magazines (founders of the website) the Mazda MX-5 was voted ‘Best Convertible’ to win its category in the first CarBuyer Awards with a star rating of 4.6 (out of 5). This 92 percent score ensured that the MX-5 beat the short-listed models from Porsche, Audi, Peugeot and Volvo to claim the convertible crown.
Commenting on the Mazda’s success, the CarBuyer judges stated, “The Mazda MX-5 reins supreme as the ultimate drop top choice. With a soft-top model, the clever folding hard-top Roadster Coupe and even an automatic option, there is something for everyone – and the tiny two-seater is great fun to drive.
“Cars that are this much fun rarely make so much sense. The latest MX-5 has a racy new look to match the rest of the Mazda 2011 line-up and comes with attractive prices. Build quality is brilliant and reliability first rate, while the 1.8 and 2.0 engines provide just the right amount of performance. Best of all, this sporty roadster is no bone-shaker, so it’s as comfortable as it is good to drive.”
In compiling its list of award winners across 17 different categories, CarBuyer focused on running costs, safety, mpg, performance and owner satisfaction as well as reliability and comfort.
“This latest award for the Mazda MX-5 confirms what 900,000 happy owners worldwide and 100,000 owners in the UK already know. This is a great sportscar, hugely rewarding to drive, affordable to buy and own, with enviable reliability, good practicality and excellent residual values,” comments Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director, Mazda UK.
“Today, the Mazda MX-5 remains unrivalled as a rewarding sportscar that can also be used for everyday motoring all year round. It continues to evoke the spirit of open-top driving while the lightweight, agile and balanced driving dynamics offer the purest, fun-to-drive thrills. The Roadster Coupe comes with the added benefit of the world’s fastest powered retractable hard top which adds to those thrills. The MX-5 is an extremely competitive proposition which is reinforced by the certification that it is the world’s best-selling two-seater sportscar,” adds Thomson.
This spring, the regular 10-strong Mazda MX-5 model range, which is priced from £17,975 to £23,205 (OTR), is boosted by the arrival of two special editions. These new models, called the
Mazda MX-5 Kendo, are available in two versions – the 1.8i Kendo soft-top priced at £19,255 (OTR) and the more powerful 2.0i Kendo Roadster Coupe with the world’s fastest folding powered roof (up or down in 12 seconds), costing £22,320 (OTR). The new model is named after ‘The way of the Sword’ – a modern Japanese martial art and features unique premium specification including stone leather interior, tinted alloy wheels and chrome exterior accents. Available in two new exterior colours Sparkling Black Mica, and new to Mazda in the UK, the premium-looking Dolphin Grey Mica.
