Mazda Wins Big In 2019's AJAC Car Of The Year Awards

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's annual Car Of The Year Awards resulted in numerous victories for Mazda Canada vehicles in 2019.

Mazda took home victories in the Sports - Performance Car (with the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata); Midsize Utility Vehicle (Mazda CX-5), and in the Large Utility Vehicle (Mazda CX-9) categories, earning more victories than any other brand. 

Scoring an AJAC Car Of The Year award is no mean feat. Automobile journalists from across Canada meet every October for TestFest, an arduous procedure for any vehicle. Testing is completed on road and on track. Every vehicle is measured in a wide variety of areas, including cargo capacity. Off-road capability is taken into account for pertinent vehicles, as well.

In the end, AJAC names winners in 12 categories. In 2019, one-quarter of the winners were Mazdas.

For 2019, the MX-5 Miata is upgraded with a meaningful horsepower increase that will take the already quick MX-5 and turn it into a real rocket. The 2019 Mazda CX-5, meanwhile, is now available in a hi-lux Signature level, and the CX-9's turbocharged 2.5-liter engine is available in both CX-5 GT and CX-5 Signature trims. Mazda's CX-9 continues to enjoy increased popularity in Canada thanks in part to continuous improvement. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration will be standard in 2019 CX-9s, for instance, and the GT model gains a 360° camera.

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada is by no means the only organization handing out numerous awards to Mazda. This is now common practice.  In fact, Car And Driver recently named its 10 Best Trucks for 2019 - in which the CX-5 was named Best Compact SUV and the CX-9 was named Best Midsize SUV - weeks after the Mazda MX-5 appeared on Car And Driver's 10 Best Cars list. It was the Miata's 18th year in Car And Driver's 10 Best.