MAZDA3, MAZDA6 EARN SPOTS ON CAR AND DRIVER'S 2015 '10BEST CARS' LIST

- Mazda Makes the Top Ten List for 13th Consecutive Year -

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Nov 19, 2014, 04:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2015 Mazda3 and 2015 Mazda6 have been named to Car and Driver's 2015 10Best Cars list, marking the 31^st and 32^nd times a Mazda vehicle has been awarded a spot on the long-running, highly coveted Top Ten list. This also records the brand's 13^th consecutive annual appearance. Mazda is the only company to have two cars named to the list.

Completely redesigned last year, both Mazda3 and Mazda6 feature the full suite of efficient SKYACTIV®^{^[1]} technologies and wear the handsome character lines of the KODO "Soul of Motion" design language. Both vehicles also feature a slew of technology with the safety-first i-ACTIVSENSE, capacitor-based regenerative engine braking i-ELOOP system and MAZDA CONNECT™, a next-generation, driving-focused in-vehicle connectivity system.

"Mazda is honored to again be part of Car and Driver's 10Best list, a distinction which proves that the best cars don't have to be the most expensive, most powerful and most out-of-reach for consumers," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "Both recently redesigned, Mazda3 and Mazda6 entered their respective segments as already established dynamic-driving benchmarks but also surpassed expectations to lead the way in fuel efficiency, safety and in-car technologies."

The 10Best nomination process has three official restrictions: the vehicle cannot exceed an $80,000 price tag; a sample vehicle must be available for testing by mid-September of the current calendar year; and the vehicle must be on sale to the public by January of the following calendar year.

"10Best list is made up of vehicles that offer the most value, that elegantly and comprehensively fulfill their missions, and that engage their drivers in spirted conversation," said Eddie Alterman, Car and Driver Editor. "Since their introductions as all-new 2014 SKYACTIV models, the Mazda3 and Mazda6 embody this spirit and made the list for the second year in a row."

Dynamic, desirable and dents wallets only slightly, Mazda's best-selling vehicle worldwide, the 2015 Mazda3 compact car is available in two's: body styles – four- and five-door; transmissions – six-speed manual and automatic; and engines – SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter. New-for-2015 is the added availability of the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission for the larger engine, which offers consumers the choice of eight different model configurations.

Also, regardless of vehicle build, Mazda3 offers high fuel economy – up to an EPA-estimated 41 highway mpg for sedans and 40 highway mpg for five-doors – when outfitted with the 2.0L engine. The brawnier 2.5L offers an estimated 40 highway mpg for sedans while five-doors are EPA-rated at up to 39 highway mpg (with available i-ELOOP). Pricing for the 2015 Mazda3 starts at $16,945[2] MSRP.

The 2015 Mazda6 continues to push the vanilla-flavored envelope of the mid-size sedan segment with its grin-inducing driving dynamics, chiseled-chin design, award-winning safety and best-in-class highway fuel economy (40 mpg[3]). Starting at $21,190 MSRP, Mazda6 is currently fitted with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine, which can be paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Both vehicles have earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and received a 5-Star Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

About Mazda North American Operations
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

[1] SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation (MC).

[2] Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

[3] 2015 Mazda6 Grand Touring models equipped with 6-speed automatic and i-ELOOP. Sport and Touring models are not available with i-ELOOP and are EPA-estimated to achieve 37 highway mpg (6-speed manual) or 38 highway mpg (6-speed automatic). Actual fuel economy will vary based on driving habits and road conditions.

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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations