Press and Praise on 2008 Mazda models
Feb. o6, 2009 From http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=insideMazdaPress&bhcp=1
Mazda builds the soul of a sports car in every vehicle. Read how the industry’s most knowledgeable critics agree, it all comes back to Zoom-Zoom.
Select a model from the menu below to view Mazda reviews, press and praise.
Pick a color, any color. They’re all green. Whether it be the 2009 MAZDA3 4-Door, MAZDA3 5-Door, MAZDA5, all-new MAZDA6, B-Series B2300 Regular Cab, Tribute or Tribute Hybrid, each received the U.S. EPA’s SmartWay certification mark making them among the cleanest on the road.* 
Vehicle rating system and SmartWay certified cars
“Possessing impressive performance capabilities as well as plenty of daily-use utility, the 2009 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 is our favorite sport compact.”— Edmunds.com
1ST PLACE MAZDA3 s GRAND TOURING
“Still looks fresh, still dances like a sport sedan, still a steal, still the best.”
— MotorTrend 04.2008 (Comparison: 2008 Honda Civic vs. 2008 Mazda 3 vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza vs. 2009 Toyota Corolla)
“Mazda’s DISI 2.3L turbocharged DOHC I-4 is a whole lotta power, a whole lotta technology and a whole lotta fun at a fantastic price – a formula for success that makes Mazda one of the best little powertrain developers in the world.”
— WardsAuto.com (2008 Ward’s 10 Best Engines)
“Looking for a sports-car acceleration for economy-car bucks? Here’s a hot hatch that-literally-has “speed” for its middle name. The $23,090 MAZDASPEED3 is a 263-hp, turbo-charged and intercooled, direct-injected beast disguised as a handsome hatchback; a tire-shredding rocket that blasts its way to 60 in 5.8 seconds.”
— AUTOMOBILE Magazine (August, 2008)
Most Fun for $25,000“The MX-5 Miata, on the other hand, exists purely for the joy of driving. Sure, it has a reasonable trunk—and pricier models can be had with a folding hardtop—but at its core, the Miata is a driver’s car. It’s wonderfully balanced, with an engine that’s willing but not overpowering, a gearbox that’s one of the best in the business, and handling that makes running an errand an enjoyable experience. There are certainly faster cars, but few are as satisfying.”
— CarandDriver
“In the purest sense of a sports car, the rear-drive RX-8 is the most satisfying through corners. I felt like it was a glove on my hand. I could put it right where I wanted. Extremely well balanced, easy to drift, unfettered by weight.”— MotorTrend 09.2008 (America’s Best Handling Car: Track Testing)
“With the unique hum of the rotary engine, 50:50 even weight distribution and adequate seating for four adults, Mazda’s RX-8 combines the fun of driving a true sports car and the practicality needed to travel with more than one passenger.”
— Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
“The idea of a four-door sports car has been bandied about for decades, but Mazda’s efforts are likely to set a new benchmark in this area.”
— Edmunds.com
“The MAZDA6 has, indeed, found that sweet spot between the well-designed, highly competent and yet somewhat generic Honda Accord and the more highly strung yet modestly priced Nissan Altima. The MAZDA6 combines both sense and sensibility, and it does so with a style that inspires comparison to cars further up the evolutionary scale like the Acura TSX or Nissan Maxima.”— Edmunds Inside Line (Comparison Test: 2009 MAZDA6 vs. 2008 Honda Accord vs. 2008 Nissan Altima)
“Combine the back road prowess, however with gorgeous styling, high quality materials, and loads of interior and trunk space, and suddenly you have a zoom-zoom winner.”
— AUTOMOBILE Magazine 06.2008
”Growing Gains: Not only is the 2009 MAZDA6 bigger, it’s quicker, quieter, sleeker, and smarter as well.”
— MotorTrend
“In a class currently dominated by blasé styling, the MAZDA6 has always been a breath of fresh air. Now with all of these improvements, this sedan will give the others a run for their money. Going bigger and heavier didn’t affect this car’s zip or nimble driving characteristics one bit. It remains closer to a sport sedan than any of its competitors.”
— popularmechanics.com
There’s plenty of midrange torque and a smooth, refined feel near the 6,200-rpm redline. For anyone but the truly power-hungry, the 2.5 is plenty of motor for day-to-day driving.
— Edmunds Inside Line (May 2008)
“This MAZDA5 is a very logical and practical, especially given our national interest in fuel economy. Here’s a vehicle that will seat six people and still let you bring along some belongings, but it won’t suck down a barrel of oil every hour at cruising speeds and it’s incredibly easy to maneuver through parking lots and city traffic.”— AUTOMOBILE Magazine
Consumers’ Top Rated award in the Minivan/ Van category 2008 Mazda MAZDA5
— Edmunds.com
“But the many clever packaging features, like sliding middle-row seats with under-cushion storage, sports-sedan handling, and the promise of 27-mph highway fuel economy made us feel like Mazda’s starting a party that’ll soon be rockin’.”
— MotorTrend
“Handling is respectable, with the SUV remaining flat through corners and composed in quick transitions.”— Edmunds.com
“Ride quality is relatively smooth, making this SUV a suitable choice for commuting or hauling the family around.”
— Edmunds.com
“Mazda’s five-place crossover surprises us with nimble rally-car impersonation.” “Indeed, the CX-7 is a sweet driving SUV that proves reliable and inexpensive to own.”— CarandDriver (CX-7 Long-Term Test) 04.2008
“Mazda takes a third Ward’s 10 Best Engines award for its power-packed, direct-injected 4-cyl.”
— WardsAuto.com (2008 Ward’s 10 Best Engines)
“Combined with car-like handling and striking looks, the CX-7 offers not only adequate ‘Zoom’ worthy of the company motto, but room to boot.”
— AUTOWEEK
“If Mazda keeps this up, it may just become my favorite car company. The Mazda 5 nano-van was already proof of intelligent life on the planet. The CX-7 now threatens every other pseudo-ute wagon. It has arrestingly original lines with Lambo-like windshield rake and tapered roofline. It turns rings around a Toyota Highlander with slop-free steering and stout body control. It cruises freeways without choppy ride of a Nissan Murano. The inside is spacious in the two-row class, and the turbo four makes speed smoothly and with surprisingly low-end wallop.”
— CarandDriver
1st Place: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring“Uncommon levels of style and athleticism distinguish the 2008 Mazda CX-9 from every other $40K crossover SUV on the road. The CX-9′s victory in this comparison test proves these aren’t just marketing gimmicks, and indeed, we like the way this 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring drives. But it takes the win here because it’s roomy, comfortable and an overall pleasant vehicle for daily family use.”
— Edmunds.com 07.2008 (Comparison Test: 2008-’09 Crossover SUVs 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2009 Honda Pilot, 2008 Toyota Highlander)
5Best Trucks 2008 Winner, 2008 MAZDA CX-9 (Category: Large Sport-Utility Vehicle)
“The result: a roomy three-row cargo and people hauler with the option of all-wheel drive, the usual family peacekeeping options, airbags galore, high-quality materials and assembly, slick styling, excellent driver sightlines, high chassis rigidity, and—consistent with Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom ethic—best-in-class agility.”
— CarandDriver 04.2008
“THREE ROWS: THAT’S ZOOM-ZOOM-ZOOM”
Best Buy: “This could be the best mid sized-crossover SUV for the sporty driver needing room for seven passengers.”
— MotorTrend
IntelliChoice Excellent Value and Best in Class Award WinnerB-Series Truck (Regular Cab 2WD)
Lowest Fuel Costs in Class
Lowest Operating Costs in Class
SmartChoice – Maintenance Cost
— IntelliChoice.com 02.2008
