All year round, automotive award shows are held to highlight the best vehicle in the market or a certain category. This year, with the Coronavirus pandemic silencing many social gatherings, there haven’t been any award “shows”, but the publications and organizations that host these award shows, conduct these studies, or put together their “Best of” lists are still working, judging, reviewing, and scoring vehicles. There are many, but a “Best of” list sought after by all automakers is the Car and Driver 10 Best. For those unaware, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 recently landed on a Car and Driver 10Best list, and was actually named a winner. That’s the fourth consecutive year that Mazda’s compact crossover SUV has received such a prestigious award.

“The Mazda CX-5 is the crossover we recommend to friends who are shopping for crossovers...It is polished enough to compete with more upscale brands, and its effortless steering and controlled suspension make it fun to drive. It has the right combination of good looks, price and handling and has become a regular on our 10Best list.” - Sharon Silke Carty, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver

Amongst those in the auto industry, Car and Driver is a very well-known and respected publication. Automakers and car enthusiasts look towards Car and Driver for the truth about what’s good in the industry. Over the years, the editorial team at Car and Driver has shown integrity, engineering insights, and high standards for reviewing vehicles. To make it onto a Car and Driver list, a car had to truly be one of the best. Without a doubt the leading online source for car buying information, Car and Driver holds the largest audience of any monthly automotive magazine. Every year, the automotive industry eagerly awaits the 10Best lists.

What is a 10Best lists? A 10Best list is a collection of winning vehicles from various car model segments (compact, SUV, truck, etc). Each vehicle on the list is selected by Car and Driver based on its value, driving dynamics, and mission fulfillment. In total, there are several 10Best lists that Car and Driver put together every year but when it comes to the Mazda CX-5, we’re looking at the 10Best Trucks and SUVs awards list. Included in this list are the following vehicle segments: subcompact SUV, subcompact luxury SUV, compact SUV, compact luxury SUV, mid-size SUV, mid-size luxury SUV, large SUV, mid-size pickup, full-size pickup, and van. To be eligible, a vehicle must be all-new or significantly updated since the previous model year.

It’s no wonder the Mazda’s CX-5 landed on the list, having had its best sales month ever in October 2020. The 2021 model offers many premium features standard, such as Mazda’s suite of i-Activsense safety features, a new 10.25-inch center display, the largest screen ever in CX-5, Mazda Connected Services and an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with seamless smartphone integration. The standard powertrain for the Mazda CX-5 is a four-cylinder Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine capable of generating 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. For more power, drivers can get the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine on the upper trim for the 2021 CX-5, able to deliver 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular 87 octane fuel and a small boost to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium 93 octane fuel.

You can find the Car and Driver 10Best Mazda CX-5 and other award-winning vehicles when you shop for a car online with NowCar.

Photo Source/Copyright: Mazda