MAZDA EARNS MULTIPLE 'BEST VALUE AWARDS' FROM KIPLINGER'S PERSONAL FINANCE

The 2014 Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 today were named the best values in their respective classes by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. As further proof that the brand's SKYACTIV®1 TECHNOLOGY engineering produces real-world results, this Mazda triple threat includes recently redesigned models that comprised more than 80 percent of the brand's 2013 vehicle sales. Offering dynamic performance, some of the best fuel economies and leading-edge technology on both safety and in-car connectivity, the best is yet to come.

"The Mazda brand is large on offering luxury – meaning best-in-class fuel economy, superior materials, forward-thinking technologies, award-winning design and unbeatable performance – at an affordable price," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO). "Value also is of utter importance, and is something we proudly offer consumers. Premium craftsmanship and advanced materials should no longer be reserved only for those with deep pockets."

The Best Value Awards are part of Kiplinger's Annual Car Buyer's Guide, which sorts vehicles by price and segment, ranking each one on performance, safety and value-minded qualities including residual pricing and fuel economy. Best New Models have to be new or redesigned while Best in Class need to have a track record of a year or more, or have a substantially unchanged powertrain compared to prior years. In addition to the Best Value Awards for Best In Class and Best New models, Kiplinger's also names the Most Fuel-Efficient and Best Resale Value winners in each category.

Of the 13 categories, a Mazda topped the list for Best New Car Under $20,000 (2014 Mazda3 i Sport), Best New Car $20,000-$25,000 (2014 Mazda6 i Sport) and Best in Class – Small Crossover (2014 CX-5 Touring).

"Mazda had a really strong showing this year," said Jessica Anderson, associate editor, Kiplinger's. "Both the Mazda3 and Mazda6 redesigns are fantastic examples of what a carmaker can (and should) do with a mainstream model – they're engagingly designed, far more upscale than you'd think from their price tags and a blast to drive. And the CX-5 is without a doubt the most fun in the crossover segment. It packs all the safety and space you look for in an SUV but has the soul of a sports car. Zoom-Zoom, indeed."

All-new from the ground up for the 2014 model year, the Mazda3 compact car and Mazda6 mid-size sedan both feature an exceptional level of standard equipment and also offer unexpected features within their segments with all-new safety and in-car technologies. This includes the capacitor-based regenerative engine braking system known as i-ELOOP and MAZDA CONNECT™, a next-generation driving-focused in-vehicle connectivity system that also features an innovative Active Driving Display. While MAZDA CONNECT is currently only available on the Mazda3, i-ELOOP is a segment-exclusive technology for both the Mazda3 and Mazda6.

Available in two body styles, pricing for this third-generation Mazda3 starts at $16,9452 MSRP for four-door models and $18,945 MSRP for five-doors. Featuring a standard SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine (155 horsepower, 150 lb-ft of torque) or optional SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter (184 horsepower, 185 lb-ft of torque), 2.0L models can be configured with either a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or a SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic. Models with the 2.5L are currently only available with the automatic. The manual transmission has been confirmed to be offered on 2.5L models at a later date. Both engine displacements are available for either body style. Mazda3 also offers an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of up to 41 mpg, one of the best in the segment.

Also in its third iteration, the 2014 Mazda6 starts at $20,990 MSRP and is currently equipped with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5L engine, and can be paired with either the manual or automatic transmission. Similar to its fuel-efficient smaller sibling, Mazda6 offers best-in-class highway fuel economy with an EPA estimate of up to 40 mpg3. And along with the 2014 CX-5, Mazda6 became one of the first Mazda vehicles to be equipped with Smart City Brake Support, a pre-crash avoidance safety feature.

A new-to-market model starting with the 2013 model year, CX-5 was the first Mazda to feature the full suite of SKYACTIV technologies and the all-new design language known as KODO "Soul of Motion". Starting at $21,395 MSRP, CX-5 also offers an EPA-rated best-in-class highway fuel economy of 35 mpg compared to its non-hybrid competitors. The 2014 CX-5 is available with either the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L or 2.5L engine and can be equipped with either transmission.

2014 Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 vehicles feature a suite of active-safety pre-crash detection systems collectively known as i-ACTIVSENSE. These technologies use sensing devices such as milliwave radars, lasers and cameras to support the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions and minimizing damage should accidents occur. While these systems will not eliminate accidents, their intent is to minimize them and reduce the severity of a crash.

Save Gas Money In Eight Simple Steps

With gas prices skyrocketing and living wages stagnating, it's only logical that we would try to stretch every dollar a little further. That includes certain habits to get the most out of each tank of gas when we fill up. But have you heard about these lesser-known yet expert tips to help maximize each tank for longer periods of time? Check out these eight steps below:

Step 1. It's ok, enjoy your air conditioner on the highway. Consumer Reports says that AC's gas-guzzling reputation is undeserved. And, at higher speeds, opening the windows or sunroof can hurt on gas miles by increasing drag.

Step 2. Don't fill up your tank until you're practically on empty; the less fuel you're toting, the lighter your car, and the more you will save on gas.

Step 3. After filling up your car, turn the nozzle upside down before you remove it from your tank. You'll get another half a cup of gas that's stuck in the hose that will save on gas.

Step 4. Tighten your gas cap after filling up so you don't let any precious fuel evaporate. Try to park in the shade. This will also help save on gas by preventing evaporation.

Step 5. Put your car in overdrive for highway driving. It lowers your RPM, or revolutions per minute, which saves you gas money. Check your owner's manual for the recommended speed at which you may use overdrive. If you're due for new tires, get radials; they improve gas miles by two or three percent saving you gas money.

Step 6. Stay in one lane as much as possible; weaving uses up more gas miles.

Step 7. Use cruise control when you're on a flat highway, where it can increase gas miles by 7%. But don't use it on uneven roads, where it's not efficient.

Step 8. Turn off all electronics and climate controls before you cut the engine. With the extras off, your engine won't have to strain so hard to restart, leading to better gas miles.

Millennials skip showroom, use social media for car-buying

When 20- and 30-somethings go car shopping, they’re likely to ask their friends for help – their Facebook friends, that is. The youngest generation of car buyers is far more likely to turn to social media for advice than head for the showroom, according to an eBay Motors study.

More than nine of 10 so-called millennials -- "Generation Y" babies born between 1980 and 2000 -- turn to the Internet when shopping for a new car or truck, according to the eBay research.

They aren’t alone. A separate study found that the majority of buyers now go online to begin the car buying process – and more than half will be strongly influenced by what their friends have to say on Facebook.

94 percent of millennial car buyers gather information online;

More than a third use mobile devices to do that research, compared to 19 percent of older car shoppers;

Only 13 percent of millennials view visiting a dealership as their preferred method of shopping, while 25 percent of older buyers prefer to go to a showroom.

The study, based on responses from over 1,000 U.S. adults, also found that millennials are more comfortable using portable devices than older drivers when researching a possible purchase. One of five of these young motorists reported that they would be open to going through the entire purchase on a mobile device, according to eBay Motors.

Millennials aren’t alone. The survey found that two of three older motorists say technology is changing how they shop for a car.

That’s supported by the Automotive Social Media and Reputation Trend Study which finds 81 percent of buyers read reviews to narrow down the right car or truck, a figure that has grown substantially in the past six months. The study, by research firm Digital Air Strike, named Cars.com, Edmunds.com and Yahoo! among the most influential sources of reviews. It also noted social media outlets Facebook, Yelp and Google Plus.

Twenty-four percent of those surveyed indicated online reviews are the single “most helpful” factor in the final choice of a vehicle. According to the study by Digital Air Strike, “There is a 59 percent probability that a consumer will trust a review from a Facebook friend more than reviews on other sites.”

Meanwhile, the survey of 2,000 shoppers found that 43 percent said they would use Facebook to search for a local dealership.

While there has been a lot of debate about the effectiveness of Facebook advertising, the Automotive Social Media study found that clicks on dealership ads jumped to 39 percent from 16 percent between October 2012 and April 2013.

Mazda Receives Multiple 'Top Safety Pick+' Distinctions From Insurance Institute For Highway Safety

Recently redesigned and featuring the Mazda-developed SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY, the 2014 Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 today earned a "Top Safety Pick+" distinction from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  Only 22 vehicles earned a Top Safety Pick+ award, with the Mazda brand garnering the second-highest number of safety honors.

"A redesign is not simply a matter of changing a vehicle's sheet metal draping but involves dramatically altering its insides, outsides and everything in between to make that vehicle not only look great but be more efficient, more powerful and, most importantly, safer," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).  "With our new fleet of SKYACTIV vehicles, the 2014 Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 were created to be the best in their segments from fuel economy and safety to dynamics and performance, and having earned Top Safety Pick+ distinctions is further proof to their success." 

New criteria were administered by the IIHS this year.  A Top Safety Pick award requires a "Good" performance in the Institute's moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests and, for the first time, requires "Good" or "Acceptable" performance in the small overlap front test that was introduced in 2012.  The same level of performance in those tests, along with at least a "Basic" rating for front crash prevention, is required for the highest accolade of Top Safety Pick+.

Ratings for the five crash impact tests are Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor.  Ratings for crash prevention are Superior, Advanced, Basic and NA (not applicable).  The 2014 Mazda3 and CX-5 both earned a Good rating for all crash impact tests and an Advanced rating for front crash prevention.  The 2014 Mazda6 also received an Advanced rating for front crash prevention and a rating of Good for all crash impact tests while earning a grade of Acceptable in the small overlap test.  For more information on these ratings, visit www.iihs.org.

All-new from the ground up for the 2014 model year, the Mazda3 compact car and Mazda6 mid-size sedan both feature an exceptional level of standard equipment and also offer unexpected features within their segments with all-new safety and in-car technologies.  This includes the capacitor-based regenerative engine braking system known as i-ELOOP and MAZDA CONNECT™, a next-generation driving-focused in-vehicle connectivity system that also features an innovative Active Driving Display.  While MAZDA CONNECT is currently only available on the Mazda3, i-ELOOP is a segment-exclusive technology for both the Mazda3 and Mazda6.

Available in two body styles, pricing for Mazda3 starts at $16,945 MSRP for four-door models and $18,945 MSRP for five-doors.  Featuring a standard SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine (155 horsepower, 150 lb-ft of torque) or optional SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter (184 horsepower, 185 lb-ft of torque), 2.0L models can be configured with either a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or a SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic.  Models with the 2.5L are currently only available with the automatic.  The manual transmission has been confirmed to be offered on 2.5L models at a later date.  Both engine displacements are available for either body style.  Mazda3 also offers an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of up to 41 mpg, one of the best in the segment.
The 2014 Mazda6 starts at $20,990 MSRP and is currently equipped with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5L engine, and can be paired with either the manual or automatic transmission.  Similar to its fuel-efficient smaller sibling, Mazda6 offers best-in-class highway fuel economy with an EPA estimate of up to 40 mpg. 

Redesigned for the 2013 model year, CX-5 was the first Mazda to feature the full suite of SKYACTIV technologies and the all-new design language known as KODO "Soul of Motion".  Starting at $21,395 MSRP, the CX-5 also offers an EPA-rated best-in-class highway fuel economy amongst its non-hybrid competitors.  CX-5 is available with either the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L or 2.5L engine and can be had equipped with either transmissions.

All vehicles feature a suite of active-safety pre-crash detection systems collectively known as i-ACTIVSENSE.  These technologies use sensing devices such as milliwave radars and cameras to support the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions and minimizing damage should accidents occur.  While these systems will not eliminate accidents, their intent is to minimize them and reduce the severity of a crash.

The features available under i-ACTIVSENSE for North America are:

• High Beam Control – The system automatically switches the headlamps between high and low beams.
• Blind Spot Monitoring – This safety confirmation system detects objects located in blind-spot areas to the sides and rear of the vehicle and issues a visual alert within the outside mirrors for the driver to see.  Should the turn signal be on for the direction in which the "blind" object is located, audible beeps will alert the driver.
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert – Using the same sensor as Blind Spot Monitoring, this system detects and informs the driver of any vehicle approaching from the side while the driver is reversing out of a parking space.
• Lane Departure Warning System – This system monitors the lane markings on the road and issues a warning to the driver when it predicts that the vehicle is going to depart from its lane unintentionally.
• Forward Obstruction Warning – This system monitors the road ahead and issues both audible and visual alerts to help the driver take evasive action when it determines a high risk of collision to exist.  FOW operates when traveling between speeds of 9 and 92 mph.
• Smart City Brake Support – When traveling at speeds of less than 19 mph, SCBS helps prevent or minimize a collision with a vehicle.  Should the imbedded laser sensor detect an object, and the system calculates there may be a high risk for collision, the brake pedal travel is reduced in order to hasten braking.  Should the driver fail to perform an avoidance maneuver, the system will activate an automatic braking function.
• Mazda Radar Cruise Control – The system determines the difference in speed and distance to the vehicle in front and will automatically adjust the cruising speed in order to maintain a safe distance. (Not available on CX-5.)
• Adaptive Front-lighting System – Optimizes distribution of light from the headlights in accordance to driving circumstances.  Depending on vehicle speed and steering input, AFS turns the low-beam headlights up to 15 degrees into the direction the driver intends to travel.

Come test drive a Mazda today at Liberty Mazda and be sure to check us out on Facebook and Twitter for further news and updates.