MX-5 is Car Of The Year

Australia’s most prestigious motoring award – Car Of The Year – has gone to Mazda’s dynamic MX-5.

It is the second time Mazda’s giant-killing sports car has won the coveted award – the first MX-5 was crowned COTY in 1989. Yet the 10-strong judging team proclaimed the third-generation MX-5 a worthy repeat winner.

The judges described the MX-5 as a demonstrably better car than both its illustrious predecessor and the 21 other models assembled for this year’s intensive, week-long judging process.

In  February Car Of The Year issue deputy editor John Carey says: “The MX-5 is so perfectly balanced, so intuitively agile, so thoroughly thrilling, that it cannot fail to make the spirit soar.” Carey also describes the MX-5’s value for money equation as “unrivalled”.

Established in January 1964, COTY is the longest continuously-run award of its type in the world. Awarded annually, COTY has become a keystone in the local marketplace.

This year's award is the 43th including the years in which COTY was withheld (1972, '79 and '86).

The Mazda defeated a field which included: (in alphabetical order):

BMW 3 Series
Chrysler 300C
Citroën C4
Ford Focus
Hyundai Sonata
Holden Tigra
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Rover Discovery 3
Lexus IS
Lexus GS
Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Mercedes-Benz CLS
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Mitsubishi 380
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Nissan Murano
Renault Scenic
Porsche Boxster
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Yaris