Miata Named Japan’s Car of the Year

Mazda Motor Corp.’s MX-5 Miata roadster has been named Japan’s Car of the Year by a panel of 60 automotive journalists.

The redesigned Miata edged out Honda’s S660 sporty minicar by a score of 442 to 401 to win the award. Earning 177 points, the BMW 2 Series small car finished third overall and was named Import Car of the Year.

Vehicles are judged on a combination of performance, styling and technical features. Jurors award 10 points to their top selection and can allot another 15 points among three other vehicles.

This is the fifth time a Mazda vehicle has won the award since its inception 35 years ago. The company also won last year for the Mazda2/Demio small car.