Mazda celebrates double award success at 2021 Scottish Car of the Year Awards

Mazda is celebrating a double winning performance at the 2021 Scottish Car of the Year Awards, claiming both the overall Used Car of the Year title with the Mazda CX-5 and the Best EV under £35,000 accolade with the Mazda MX-30.

Launched in March, Mazda’s first battery electric production car – the Mazda MX-30 is a stylish and versatile crossover EV with an AC synchronous electric motor and a 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers a range of 124miles. Having clearly made an impression on the ASMW, the MX-30’s styling reflects a unique expression of Kodo design that emphasises the cars beauty as a solid mass, while the freestyle doors and framed glasshouse hint at the open spaciousness of the cabin. The front doors open forward to an angle of 82 degrees, while the rear doors open backwards to an angle of 80 degrees to reveal the stylish and driver focused interior.

The MX-30’s distinctive, stylish and sustainable cabin features high-quality materials and a driver focused interior. The lower console incorporates a 7-inch colour touch-screen air conditioning control panel, and in a nod to Mazda’s founding as the Toyo Kogyo Cork Company in 1920, the Mazda MX-30 features cork lined centre console trays and inner side door handles. Harvested from the bark of trees without felling, the use of cork and door trim materials that incorporate fibres from recycled plastic bottles, are perfectly suited to Mazda’s first pure electric production car. Benefiting passengers and drivers alike, the sense of space is enhanced with a floating centre console that sits independently from the dashboard, while the use of environmentally-friendly materials has been carefully matched to meticulous quality and finish.

Staying true to the ‘Jinbai Ittai – car and driver as one’ ethos found across Mazda’s combustion engine range, the Mazda MX-30 has been designed to deliver the intuitive responses, natural feedback and involving handling you’d expect of a Mazda. Electric G-Vectoring Control Plus (e-GVC Plus) enhances chassis performance by using motor torque to optimise the front-rear load shift for improved stability and the MX-30’s Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture is specifically tailored to complement the smooth power delivery of the e-Skyactiv drivetrain. The dynamic focus also extends to a throttle pedal that delivers a seamless transition between linear power delivery and smooth regeneration on lift off, equally, the braking system offers a seamless transfer between energy regeneration and hydraulic brake action.

Commenting on the MX-30, ASMW President Jack McKeown said: “Mazda’s MX-30 is not only among the most stylish electric cars, but also one of the most fun to drive. It weighs less than its rivals, which contributes to class leading handling. A superb interior and extremely competitive price tag are the final ingredients in a hugely impressive package. If electric cars are the future I hope more of them are like the Mazda MX-30.

Available across all of Mazda’s 12 Scottish dealers, the Mazda MX-30 is offered in three generously equipped model grades – SE-L Lux, Sport Lux and GT Sport Tech, all of which cost less than £35,000. Standard equipment on all UK MX-30s includes LED headlights with daytime running lights, reversing camera, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Intelligent Speed Assist, navigation and head-up display. Each MX-30 comes as standard with a Type 2 AC charging cable and a socket for DC rapid charging, which can in just 36 minutes* deliver up to 80 per cent battery charge.

Commenting on the Mazda MX-30’s recognition in the Scottish Car of the Year Awards, Managing Director, Mazda Motors UK, Jeremy Thomson said: “our first all-electric Mazda heralded an exciting start to Mazda’s second century in business. Winning an award in Scotland for the MX-30 is fantastic and we’re delighted that the SGMW share our passion for the MX-30’s style, design and quality”.

The 2021 Scottish Car of the Year Awards also saw the ever popular Mazda CX-5 named Used Car of the Year. Commenting on the CX-5’s title ASMW President Jack McKeown said: “Used car buyers have higher expectations than ever and don’t expect to sacrifice quality just because their vehicle has a few miles on the clock. With the Mazda CX-5 they don’t have to. It’s a spacious and stylish SUV that beats its rivals when it comes to practicality and refinement. Strong engines, a premium interior and Mazda’s legendary reliability are among the many other reasons our members voted for the CX-5 as their Used Car of the Year.”

Since the launch of the first generation Mazda CX-5 in 2012, over 70,000 CX-5s have been sold in the UK and today it accounts for around 25 per cent of UK sales. Across both generations of the CX-5 successive updates and refinements to every aspect of this ever-popular SUV have ensured it has remained a class-leading contender in this competitive segment. A regular feature in Auto Trader’s top ten fastest selling used car ranking, the CX-5’s popularity in the used market delivers strong residual values. With petrol and diesel engines equipped with both manual or automatic gearboxes, plus the option to go for front or all-wheel drive, there’s lots of choice for used buyers looking for a Mazda CX-5.  

Customers buying a Mazda CX-5 via the Mazda Approved Used Cars scheme benefit from the reassurance of a multipoint inspection, independent mileage check, a one-year unlimited mileage warranty, one-year roadside assistance and MOT protection to name just a few of the advantages.

Commenting on the CX-5’s Used Car of the Year title, Mazda Motors UK, Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson said: “the Mazda CX-5 is an incredibly important car in Mazda’s history. From the launch of the original car in 2012 it has been a hugely popular choice for UK SUV buyers, who have loved its style, quality and driver engagement. It’s the car that established Mazda as a maker of genuinely sporty SUVs, which deliver class leading quality, high levels of standard equipment, plus are great to drive and capable of luring customers from premium badged rivals”.

Adding, “and while this award recognises the CX-5’s continued popularity in the used market, I’m really excited that early next year our dealers in Scotland and across the rest of the UK will see the arrival of the updated 2022 Mazda CX-5”.

Forthcoming 2022 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 features a bold new look with an evolution of its award-winning Kodo Design. Revised front and rear bumper designs combine with new headlight and taillight clusters to give the 2022 CX-5 a distinctly more modern and sharper look. At the front a more three-dimensional and powerful grille design is combined with a new signature wing trim that no longer heads into the lamp cluster, while at the rear the new bumper shape and stronger taillight design sharpens the rear styling. 

With a model line-up, the 2022 Mazda CX-5 features five trim levels: SE-L, Newground, Sport, Sport Black and GT Sport. For the first time, individual model grades feature subtle styling differentiation to give customers the option of choosing a CX-5 with a unique character and focus. The three stand out trim grades: Newground, Sport Black and GT Sport each have a distinct personality to ensure the CX-5 range offers more choice than ever before.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 joins Mazda’s SUV line-up alongside the Mazda M Hybrid mild-hybrid system equipped 2022 Mazda CX-30, which now features the updated e-Skyactiv X engine, and the Scottish Car of the Year recognised Mazda MX-30, ensuring whether new or used, Mazda has a SUV range that offers customers a wide choice depending on their motoring needs.

* 36 minutes charging time is based on an ambient temperature of 20°C.

The exact charging time depends on various conditions at the time of charging, e.g. the type of charger, battery condition, charging patterns, as well as the battery temperature and ambient temperature. In cold conditions, both battery and ambient temperature will impact the charging time required and, in certain situations, this may lead to a significant increase in the charging time.