The 2014 Mazda 3 is one of the finalists for the North American Car of the Year Award and has already earned the top honor for the year from the website AutoGuide.com . Mazda is a unique manufacturer that has always tried to stay ahead of the curve with innovative designs, creating its own following among car enthusiasts.
The 2014 Mazda 3, which has been awarded three-stars, is available in a compact sedan and hatchback design and has several attractive features, depending on the model.
The low end 2014 Mazda 3 sedan starts at $16,945 and comes with a 155-horsepower (hp), 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission. If you favor the automatic transmission, the sticker price comes up to $17,995. The 2014 Mazda 3, 184-hp, 2.5-liter engine with the automatic transmission starts at $25,495.
The hatchback models start at $18,945 for the 2.0 liter engine and manual transmission while the 2014 Mazda 3 with the 2.5 liter and automatic transmission start at $25,095. The manufacturer also offers a 2014 Mazda 3 Grand Touring hatchback with high-end features that include navigation, Bluetooth, and MP3 compatibility, Bose audio system, and a sunroof for $28,390.
Even though the price is steep for this car size, Mazda is one of the few who offers safety features such as lane departure warning and automatic braking to avoid low-speed collisions.
Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) said in a statement.
“We truly put our best foot forward with the all-new 2014 Mazda 3, not only to be competitive within its class but to be the vehicle that consumers have asked for.”
The winner of Car of the Year will be chosen by a panel of 48 automotive journalists from the US and Canada. The 2014 Mazda 3 competes with the Cadillac CTS and Corvette Stingray in the car category while the Chevrolet Silverado, Jeep Cherokee, and Acura MDX were announced the finalists in the truck group.
The @MazdaUSA 3 and @Ford Focus fight for the compact-car crown—find out the winner: http://t.co/a5F1Zfq4DD pic.twitter.com/hf31LmD37u
— Car and Driver (@CARandDRIVER) December 9, 2013
Colum Wood, editorial director of AutoGuide.com explained what made the 2014 Mazda 3 the site’s top choice:
“Combining attractive styling inside and out, with impressive features in versatile packaging, the 2014 Mazda3 is also efficient and fun to drive. It’s not that the Mazda3 is a great compact car; it’s simply a great car, period.”
The finalists competed with luxury brands including Infinity, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz.
We will find out if the 2014 Mazda 3 is good enough to earn the prestigious Car of the Year Award on January 13, 2014 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
