Topic: AJAC TestFest Category Winners Announced, Mazda Pulls Off Hat Trick

[Autos_Editor]

Mazda sweeps categories with new Mazda3, Mazda6

Read More...

[wing]

Called the sweep!

[MarkStevenson]

Official press release has been added. Images of the event are on the way.

Called the sweep!

Same. It was a no-brainer!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Picking the Mazda 3 Sport over the Fiesta ST? 

[Fobroader]

Picking the Mazda 3 Sport over the Fiesta ST? 

That makes no sense.....or the Sorento over the Jeep Grand Cherokee......

[Solstice2006]

Official press release has been added. Images of the event are on the way.

Called the sweep!

Same. It was a no-brainer!

 

way to go Mazda! Now lets see you address the Mazda2, and Mazda5!

[Snowman]

Picking the Mazda 3 Sport over the Fiesta ST? 

  The MazdaSpeed 3 right 

[MarkStevenson]

Picking the Mazda 3 Sport over the Fiesta ST? 

  The MazdaSpeed 3 right 

So, here is what I think happened in that category...

Price is taken into consideration when the accounting is done. It instantly gives less expensive options in a particular class a bit of an edge. And, if I remember correctly, the Fiesta ST was the most expensive in that category.

Also, with respect to scoring, there was a huge conversation a few of us had regarding why the Jaguar F-Type didn't make it to the final three in its class. A few other oddities were discussed as well.

Basically, it comes down to this, and I hope Justin Pritchard can weigh in here at some point: a rough ride is a rough ride, cabin noise is cabin noise, etc. no matter what car you're scoring.

So, for example, the Fiesta ST has a sport suspension, making for a rougher ride. Also, value for money may not be there as much as the Mazda3 Sport. In my opinion, the interior in the Mazda3 Sport is better than the Fiesta ST as well. The Fiesta ST should have been in a sports class but it had no competitors and Ford decided they still wanted to enter it.

Another example, the F-Type, is a convertible and kind of loud inside the car, even with the top up and the exhaust note squelched a bit. It has some interior bits that rattle and other perceived quality issues (which are different than real quality issues, I think we can all agree). On the other side, the Corvette is much, much less expensive than the F-Type and is incredibly value for money in the class, which is why it's at the top.

[Solstice2006]

not to mention other things like fuel economy, rear seat room, and cargo space affect the scoring, and the Fiesta is a sub compact, so it won't do as well as a compact...

[Snowman]

More evidence that the classification and scoring system at AJAC is in desperate need of repair. Fack.

[Noto]

I think there were some errors in your article (and AJAC's releases):
Best New SUV/CUV Under $35,000: Jeep Cherokee (over the Forester or Rav4)
Best New SUV/CUV Between $35,000 and $60,000: Kia Sorento (over the GLK250?!)

Please amend, asap.

I concur with the hawtdawg in face gif and any previous comment to which it referred.  Tah tah, AJAC credibility.

[my2cents]

I hope to see some "truth in advertising"

[MarkStevenson]

I think there were some errors in your article (and AJAC's releases):
Best New SUV/CUV Under $35,000: Jeep Cherokee (over the Forester or Rav4)
Best New SUV/CUV Between $35,000 and $60,000: Kia Sorento (over the GLK250?!)

Please amend, asap.

I concur with the hawtdawg in face gif and any previous comment to which it referred.  Tah tah, AJAC credibility.

Personal opinion: the RAV4 was easily the worst of the bunch in 'Under $35'. I agree, Forester was my favourite. And the GLK is good, but the Sorento ride quality is better. On the other side, the diesel in the GLK is lightyears ahead of the one in the Cayenne Diesel in a higher category.

[Solstice2006]

I agree with the Forester, not sure about the Sorento or GLK, never drove them.  I asked in the Q5 thread, but got no answer, how is the real world cargo capacity of the GLK vs the Q5?

[MarkStevenson]

I agree with the Forester, not sure about the Sorento or GLK, never drove them.  I asked in the Q5 thread, but got no answer, how is the real world cargo capacity of the GLK vs the Q5?

Not sure. I don't drive Audi's fleet.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I think there were some errors in your article (and AJAC's releases):
Best New SUV/CUV Under $35,000: Jeep Cherokee (over the Forester or Rav4)
Best New SUV/CUV Between $35,000 and $60,000: Kia Sorento (over the GLK250?!)

Please amend, asap.

I concur with the hawtdawg in face gif and any previous comment to which it referred.  Tah tah, AJAC credibility.

Those were the only two that stuck out for me too. Especially the Cherokee, which was far from my pick in that company. The Sorento is passable, though I ranked the GLK 250 BlueTEC and Santa Fe XL higher.

I too was perplexed the F-TYPE wasn't a finalist, but must admit to loving the 435i and pricing on Cayman is far less so with weighting what it is the result is not all that surprising.

Big congrats to Mazda. I haven't looked at the scoring yet but bet Accord Hybrid gave the 6 a long run for it.

[KD]

More evidence that the classification and scoring system at AJAC is in desperate need of repair. Fack.

 

[MR2Pritch]

It's an all-out package folks. That's what wins. Not horsepower. Not styling. Not price. Not fuel efficiency. But the weighted-out combination of the above, based on driving impressions and quantitative data, weighted for relevance in each category.

Scoring will be on ajac.ca if anyone's interested in seeing how things panned out. Some surprises, yes. But its all in the numbers. This is the culmination of voting by a panel of the top auto experts in Canada, with the (extensive) math validated / audited by KPMG ahead of the scores being released.

Though some vocal enthusiasts may not agree with the outcome, it doesn't mean the system is flawed. Or that it lacks credibility. Any information to back up these offensive comments?

[Snowman]

We are not debating the vote counting and accounting methods. It's how the cars are compared to each other and the cross contamination of segments and model packages that muds up the water.

[rrocket]

We are not debating the vote counting and accounting methods. It's how the cars are compared to each other and the cross contamination of segments and model packages that muds up the water.

This.