The vehicle won the Canadian Car of the Year Award category for the third time in four years, beating other finalists, including the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. It also won the 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in the Small Car / 4-door sedan line-up.

Speaking about the award, David Klan, President & CEO of Mazda Canada, said the company was grateful for the recognition from the AJAC members who evaluated many vehicles throughout the year to reach their conclusion. The Mazda 3, he continued, reflected the company’s dedication to creating beautiful, fun-to-drive, and high-quality vehicles that enrich people’s lives. Mazda also had finalists in the Small Utility Vehicle category (CX-30) and Sports Performance Car category (MX-5).

Mazda 3 Design and Overview

Mazda builds the 2023 Mazda 3 on its Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture, a comprehensive vehicle design philosophy that responds intuitively to every input, enhancing the driving experience and safety. AJAC journalists and reviewers were impressed by the vehicle’s superior handling and premium feel, which built on previous years’ designs. In 2020 and 2021, the vehicle was the first of any car to achieve consecutive victories in AJAC’s history.

Mazda offers the 3 in a choice of hatchback or sedan models in various styles and trims to suit drivers’ preferences. GX cars include Mazda’s suite of Connected Services, 16-inch silver metallic alloy wheels, G-Vectoring Control Plus, and Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring (ABSM). Upgrading to the feature-packed GT trim brings leather upholstery, a 10-way power driver’s seat, windshield-projected colour Active Driving Display (ADD) and a 360° View Monitor.

Performance

Engine options include Skyactiv-G 2.0L, 2.5L naturally aspirated engines, and Mazda’s 2.5L Turbo, with manual or automatic transmission (on select models). The automaker’s i-Activ all-wheel drive system is also available on some sedans and hatchbacks, making it the only finalist in this year’s Small Car category to offer all-wheel-drive. For those looking for superior performance, the optional Skyactiv-G 2.5L Turbo engine delivers up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque and has full AWD capability.

The AJAC Canadian Car and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards are renowned in the Canadian automotive industry. Competition results reflect the opinion of the country’s top auto experts who base their rankings on an array of metrics, including comfort, fuel economy, value, and quality. Vehicles must excel in all these categories to win their respective category.

If you’d like to experience the new Mazda 3 for yourself, start by clicking on the button below and booking a test drive.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications at any time without notice.