Two Mazdas Win Popular Mechanic’s 2017 Automotive Excellence Awards

Mazda has plenty of laurels to stand on, if they so choose. Popular Mechanic’s Automotive Excellence awards are certainly no exception, with 2017 awards going to the Mazda 6 and the MX-5 Miata RF. It says something about the manufacturer that they won in two different categories, and one of them the highly competitive Sedan.

The Mazda6 is as close as you can get to the perfect sedan. It’s designed to feel more responsive, with Mazda’s proprietary G-Vectoring Control, which controls chassis dynamics by shifting weight to the front tires to provide a better ride. For the 2017 model year, Mazda added acoustic glass and tighter door seals and now offers options including Nappa leather seats, heated steering wheel and rear heated seats.

Coming in three trim levels – Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring, you can get a Mazda6 for as little as $21,945, or go all the way to the Grand Touring for amazing features including dark silver-painted aluminum wheels and leather-trimmed seats. Oh, and it has regenerative braking – similar to systems designed for racing cars – that results in a 40 mpg highway score. For a decent-sized sedan that comfortably fits five.

In contrast, the MX-5 Miata RF is pure sports car. The RF, by the way, stands for “Retractable Fastback” – a power-operated hideaway hardtop that takes just 13 seconds to come up or down. It comes in two trim levels – Club and Grand Touring. The 16-valve 4-cylinder engine offers 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque (on both trim levels). That is not what you see first, though – its muscular exterior stands out in the crowd. Like the sedan, it has G-Vectoring Control for an amazingly responsive ride.

Power to weight ratio is essential in a sports car – and the MX-5 RF weighs only 2,445 lbs, making it one of the lightest cars available. On top of that, the MX-5 may be the best car according to Popular Mechanics, but it is far from the most expensive – the Club starts at a bit over $32 thousand – quite amazing for the engineering and design work that has gone into it. The softtop MX-5 Miata is a little bit cheaper, but lacks that amazing roof.

To win a prestigious award in two such distinct categories should give faith in Mazda as a manufacturer. Whether you want the practical Mazda6 or the frankly less so MX-5, you know you will be getting a car worth the money. Or consider the rest of Mazda’s range including sedans, hatchbacks and crossover SUVs. Both of these vehicles, though, epitomize Mazda’s focus on one thing above all – a good drive and a good ride.

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Tags: Mazda, mazda6, MX-5 Miata RF
Posted in 2017 Mazda MX-5-RF, Charlotte New Mazda, Mazda6 | Comments Off on Two Mazdas Win Popular Mechanic’s 2017 Automotive Excellence Awards