ALL-NEW 2014 MAZDA3 RECEIVES 2014 ALG 'RESIDUAL VALUE AWARD'

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The all-new 2014 Mazda3 was today awarded a 2014 Residual Value Award for the Compact Car Segment by ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data.  The Mazda brand held steady with its overall industry ranking by again placing fifth among all brands for predicted resale value.

"We are honored to be recognized by ALG with a distinction that speaks volumes not only to the quality, dependability, reliability and value of the 2014 Mazda3 but also to the overall strength of the Mazda brand," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO).  "With a slew of new products in the pipeline to follow the success of our all-new SKYACTIV®^[1] offerings the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5, we're excited for what the future holds."

The annual ALG Residual Value Awards recognize automakers' outstanding achievements for vehicles that are predicted to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a conventional three-year period.  Awards are given in 24 vehicle categories and also for the two brands with the highest overall predicted residual values among all mainstream and all premium vehicles.  This year's awards are based on 2014 model year vehicles.

"The Mazda3's combination of style, technology, fuel economy and fun-to-drive attitude makes it one of the most complete vehicles in the segment," said Eric Lyman, Vice President of Editorial, ALG.  "With modest price increases, it's poised to have the level of success that gave the first generation such incredible retention."

Award winners are determined through careful study of the competition in each segment, historical vehicle performance and industry trends.  Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand as well as pricing and marketing strategies present key factors that impact ALG's residual value forecast.

Previous ALG Residual Value Awards winners for Mazda were the 2012 Mazdaspeed3 (Sporty Car), 2011 CX-9 (Mid-Size Utility) and 2010 Mazda3 (Compact Car).

On sale since September, the 2014 Mazda3 starts at $16,945^[2] MSRP and is offered with two engine choices, two transmissions, two body styles (four- and five-door) and a cornucopia of features and options not expected of the compact car segment, which will keep consumers (and their pocketbooks) happily impressed. 

Completely redesigned, the 2014 Mazda3 features the full suite SKYACTIV technologies – an umbrella term for Mazda's proprietary engineering of performance-oriented, fuel-saving engine, transmission, body and chassis components.  The brand's best-selling vehicle worldwide with more than 3.5 million units sold, this third-generation model continues to defy convention with an EPA-rated 41 MPG, one of the best in the segment, as well as all-new technology with i-ACTIVSENSE safety-oriented segment-first features, the energy-conserving regenerative engine braking i-ELOOP and a savvy HMI/infotainment MAZDA CONNECT™ system.

The standard engine on i-designated trims (SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring) is the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine, which produces 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 150 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.  For s-designated trims, the larger SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine will be standard equipment and boasts 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm.

Fuel economy for all four-door models featuring the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 29 city/41 highway/33 combined mpg (6MT) and 30 city/41 highway/34 combined mpg (6AT).  Five-door models are EPA-rated at 29 city/40 highway/33 combined mpg with a manual transmission and 30 city/40 highway/33 combined mpg when equipped with an automatic. 

The SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine is reserved for s models, which are available only in Touring and Grand Touring trims.  At launch, the SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission will be the only transmission available, but the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual is confirmed to be offered at a later date. 

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the s sedans is 28 city/39 highway/32 combined mpg.  Five-doors are estimated to achieve 27 city/37 highway/31 combined mpg, or 28 city/38 highway/32 combined mpg with i-ELOOP.  All i and s Mazda3 vehicles deliver their fuel economies equipped with standard temporary spare tire. 

About ALG
Headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif., with an office in Toronto, Ontario, ALG is a leading provider of insights and consulting services to the automotive industry.  ALG is the benchmark for residual value projections in North America, publishing residual values for all vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.  ALG has been forecasting automotive residual values for nearly 50 years in both the U.S. and Canadian markets.  For more information, visit www.alg.com.  

About Mazda North American Operations
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.  For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. 

[1] SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation (MC).

[2] Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations