20 June 2008

Mazda has scooped the coveted honour of ‘Best Carmaker’ at the second annual Which? Awards, which recognise the companies and individuals that best serve the interests of consumers. In the closely-fought battle for the prestigious Best Carmaker award, Mazda edged out the previous winner, Toyota, as well as other runners-up Audi, BMW, Honda, and Lexus.

Racing legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE presented the Best Carmaker award to Mazda’s delighted managing director Rob Lindley at the Which? Awards ceremony, held yesterday at the British Museum. Hosted by broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan, the event was attended by leading figures from manufacturing, retail and service industries, along with representatives of the Government, trade bodies and regulators.

In a highly complimentary Awards summation, Which? praised Mazda for its: “…blend of excellent value for money, reliability and innovation. A major advantage is that nearly all Mazda offerings are interesting to drive. There’s something for everyone in the Mazda range.

“The Mazda3 (medium cars) and Mazda MX-5 (sports cars) are comfortable Best Buys – the good‑looking Mazda3 stands out from humdrum medium cars. It still looks fresh and stylish, despite being older than many popular rivals.

“For many, the evergreen Mazda MX-5 is the cheapest way into an entertaining sporty runner. Introduced in 1990, this motoring gem is the world’s bestselling sports car. The latest version lives up to its billing, with engaging handling, powerful refined engines, and a folding hard-top roof option.

“It’s been a good year for new launches, too – the all-new Mazda2 supermini and Mazda6 family car have impressed us and are sure to become firm favourites with drivers. Each would be a strong contender on a shortlist. The Mazda2 and Mazda6 do well in our road tests and safety-wise, they represent a major step forward for the Japanese carmaker. The Mazda2 scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and we expect the Mazda6 to do the same.
“Here at Which? we dig deep to look at trends that are shaping the future of mass motoring. Mazda’s focus on small innovations that make owners’ lives easier is to be commended. A great example is Mazda’s use of lightweight components on the new Mazda2 and Mazda6 ranges, which help to save petrol or diesel and offset high fuel prices.

“This bucks the trend seen in most new models, which are often significantly heavier than their predecessors because of higher demand for equipment and features. Easier to spot – but just as useful – is the clever and easy to use ‘Karakuri’ seat-folding mechanism.

“The company ranks highly for reliability and is well ahead of the popular European marques in our latest owners’ survey. Mazda dealers also score above average for customer care for both sales and servicing or repairs in the 2008 Which? Car survey. Increased choice makes buying a new car harder than ever – there are more than 300 new car models on the market, and the competition is tough. Buyers rightly expect a lot from a new car and a Mazda rarely disappoints.”

Managing Director for Mazda UK Rob Lindley was thrilled to collect the Which? Best Carmaker Award: “Winning this influential accolade is testimony to the achievements of the entire Mazda team – from designers and product developers to dealers and service personnel.

“We achieved record sales volumes in the UK last year, and the arrival of several exciting new models means we now have the strength and breadth in our range to build on that success. In a highly competitive market, the Which? award underlines the progress we have made in creating a brand and product range that consumers can trust.”

Speaking at the Awards ceremony, Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, said: “Getting a good deal for consumers is what Which? exists for, so it’s a pleasure to celebrate the businesses and individuals that are delivering that ideal - today’s award winners truly represent the best of the best in UK products and services.”

This year’s 12 categories reflect the breadth of Which? magazine’s research, ranging from domestic appliances and financial products, to cars and broadband providers.