KUALA LUMPUR: The Thai Automotive Journalists Association has awarded the new Mazda 3 as the 2019 Thailand Car of the Year. It is the second time when the carmaker has won an award this month. The first one is the 2019 Women’s World Car of the Year award, which has been claimed last week.

The Thailand Car of the Year is in the fifth year and its judges are from different Thai media outlets. Each of them should have at least three years of experience in testing. Mazda 3 has got a tough fight with the six other finalists. The judges’ panel containing 60 automotive journalists has ranked the car as the topper. The other six finalists were BMW X3, MG HS, Honda Accord, Subaru Forester, Toyota Corolla Altis and Toyota Camry.

All the participating cars launched in Thailand between October 1st, 2018, and September 30th, 2019, and they are assembled in ASEAN countries. It is the second time that the Japanese multinational automaker, Mazda has claimed the prize. The first time it was awarded in 2016 with the Mazda CX-3. While last year the Toyota CH-R got the crown.

To recall, the new Mazda 3 has been launched in Malaysia during July 2019. It is available in three different variants including 1.5, 2.0 High and 2.0 High Plus. There are two different naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine options available in Malaysia.

The first one is 1.5-litre mill, which can make a maximum power of 118 hp at 6,000 rpm, while the peak torque is 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm. On the other hand, there is a 2.0-litre powerplant, which pushes out a maximum power of 162 hp at 6,000 rpm and the peak torque of 213 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Both the engines are paired with a SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission and are equipped with front-wheel drive.

Also read: Mazda CX-30’s pricing and specs are out, price starts at RM 143k