"Best New Economy Car" Award

[TJL]

From Mazda.ca:

Mazda3 has just won a Canadian Car of the Year Award for "Best New Economy Car" presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

[TJL]

And...
Mazda 3 Sport has just won a Canadian Car of the Year Award for "Best New Sports Coupe or Sedan <$35,000" presented by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

[conjur]

But Car and Driver somehow managed to choose the Ford (out-of)Focus for their Top 10 list instead of the Mazda 3.

Are they turning into another Motor Trend??

[apexjr]

The Mazda 3 may not have been considered because of the release date. If not, C&D smoke more crack then a junkie.

[Shayaan]

The Mazda3 was on the list to be considered.. it didn't make the cut but I don't know why that is.

[apexjr]

Probably because it puts to shame everything out there. I can not find a single reason other then speculativly good reliability versus definative relibility why a person would choose a Honda Civic, or other car over the Mz3 or 6.

And Conjur, I've also always taken what C&D has had to say with a grain of salt. You want real honest answers, try it yourself or from someone you trust. Magazines tend to have to much vested interest in giving favorable reviews to the people giving the most money to the magazine.

[Cowtown]

I can say on the reliability topic that given how solid my 2002 Pro5 has been that I expect nothing but good out of this new one. All I did was swap wipers a few times, clay bar it and change the oil/lube for a couple years and it's been great.

The Protege has enjoyed the most popularity in Canada oddly enough, there are a wack of these cars all over the place up here. Honda Civic and the Cavalier are extremely popular so I guess the Mazda perks must be luring those drivers over.