The Mazda MX-5 has been declared the winner of the World Car of the Year award.
At a ceremony held at the New York motor show, the Mazda MX-5 was announced as the international jury’s favourite new car for 2016, beating competition from a list of 23 new cars, including fellow finalists, the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
The car came third in the recently announced European Car of the Year Awards, with the top gong awarded to the Vauxhall Astra. However, the six UK jurors in the awards, announced at Geneva motor show, would have had the MX-5 ahead by a significant margin.
Commenting on the MX-5’s victory, Mazda President and CEO, North American Operations, Masahiro Moro, said: “As our iconic MX-5 roadster approaches one million units of production, this award is proof that it is as young, vibrant, fun and relevant as ever. While I accept this award on behalf of the company, I do so representing every Mazda employee, retail partner and customer around the world who has ever felt the joy of driving a pure roadster. We say ‘Driving Matters’ in our advertising, and we prove it in our cars.”
The World Car of the Year jury consists of 73 motoring journalists from 23 countries. Each juror votes from a list of eligible cars chosen by a steering committee. To be eligible, the cars must be on sale on at least two continents. Points are awarded in a range of varying disciplines, and the votes are tabulated by international accounting firm, KPMG. Victory for the MX-5 provides Mazda with its second overall World Car of the Year award.
Previous winners include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2015), Audi A3 (2014), Volkswagen Golf (2013), Volkswagen Up (2012), Nissan Leaf (2011), Volkswagen Polo (2010), Volkswagen Golf (2009), Mazda 2 (2008), Lexus LS460 (2007), BMW 3 Series (2006) and Audi A6 (2005).
In other World Car of the Year category awards announced today, the Toyota Mirai beat the Toyota Prius Plug-In and Chevrolet Volt to the title of 2016 World Green Car award.
The BMW 7 Series took out the 2016 World Luxury Car ahead of the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90.
On the performance car front, the Audi R8 Coupe headed the Mercedes-Benz C 63 Coupe and Honda Civic Type R in the 2016 World Performance Car award.
The Mazda MX-5 was also declared the 2016 World Car Design of the Year, beating the Jaguar XE and Mazda CX-3.
Greg Kable (Autocar UK)