New England Motor Press Association Awards Titles to Mazda MX-5 and CX-3
Right now, when it comes to Mazda’s next-generation lineup, there are three vehicles that you continually hear about when the awards are being handed out: The new MX-5 Miata roadster, the compact Mazda3, or the small SUV CX-3. On June 16th, the New England Motor Press Association joined the throng for two out of the three.
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First, the Association presented awards to the obvious: the MX-5 Miata for “Best Affordable Convertible” in the Ragtop Awards category, while also highlighting it as a lifetime achievement award. It’s just as the Association said: “Seeing a 20-year-old Miata with pop-up headlights is sure to make you smile. Mazda had a winner with the Miata right from Day 1 and has kept the celebration going.”
To be fair, it is smiling at you
NEMPA followed this by awarding the CX-3 with the title of “Best-in-Class Sub-Compact SUV/Crossover” in the Winter Vehicles Award category, an especially important category for the slippery, snowy New England states. The Association commented, “Any all-wheel-drive version of the CX-3 gives New Englanders an outstanding choice for economical winter driving.”
This is high praise for the Zoom Zoom brand’s smallest crossover, especially when the CX-3 isn’t exactly the crossover that Mazda wants you to think of for snow driving—this past winter, Mazda made a point of showing off the CX-5 in the snow compared to some of the best snow wheels available (although this was also a showcase of Mazda’s i-ACTIV all-wheel drive system, which is also available on the CX-3).
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