Mazda CX-5 edges out Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 twin in home market’s Car of the Year honors
MAZDA’S compact crossover SUV, the CX-5, has been named the 2012-2013 Car of the Year (COTY) Japan, the model getting 363 votes among the awards’ committee members to pull an upset against favorites Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ.

The CX-5 pulled away from the jointly developed sports car to triumph by 45 votes.

While the Toyota/Subaru sports car picked up 318 votes for its combination of excellent rear-wheel drive handling, new boxer engine and reasonable price, majority of judges gave the nod to the CX-5 for its Skyactiv technology.

The CX-5 is the fourth Mazda to win as COTY Japan.

It is also Mazda’s first model to use the company’s Skyactiv engine, transmission, body and chassis, as well as the first to sport its present “Kodo – Soul of Motion” design theme.

“We are thrilled to have the CX-5 receive such a coveted award and we appreciate the warm support and encouragement of our fans,” said Mazda Motor Corp. Executive Officer Kiyoshi Fujiwara. “We will continue to dedicate ourselves to the task of crafting cars that only Mazda can in order to continue winning the support of our fans and customers in the future.”

Offered in the CX-5 is Mazda’s new-generation Skyactiv-D clean diesel engine that the company said is as powerful as a 4.0-liter V8 gasoline engine because of its 420-Newton-meter torque rating. The company said the model’s front-wheel drive variant also tops SUVs with a fuel economy result of 18.6 kpl (as measured in Japan’s test-cycle mode).

Skyactiv refers to a series of new body, chassis, engine and transmission technologies that increase fuel efficiency, reduce weight and emissions while improving the car’s handling and ride quality, according to Mazda. Skyactiv does not include hybrid systems.

Mazda said that in about nine months since it started selling the CX-5 in February, it had received 37,000 orders, or equivalent to more than three years of sales. All passenger vehicles with an expected annual sales volume of more than 500 units, announced or launched in Japan between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012, were eligible for this year’s COTY Japan award. The last Mazda to be named Japan’s COTY was the MX-5 (known as Roadster in Japan), in 2005.

For their part, the 86/BRZ twin received COTY Japan’s Special Award, a recognition given to the car that has made an exceptional impact during its debut year. The BMW 3 Series—with 282 votes—snatched the Import COTY award from a strong-finishing Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, which secured 218 votes.