For the second consecutive year, the Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD has scored top spot as the Best Family SUV in the 2017 Drive Car of the Year Awards.

Since its July 2016 debut and following a suite of upgrades in August 2017, the CX-9 has maintained strong momentum as a class-leader, winning critical acclaim for its style, comfort and dynamics.

Editor in Chief of the Drive Network, Andrew Maclean, praised the CX-9 as a superior and comprehensive offering for families.

"The Mazda CX-9 is perfectly tailored to growing Australian families with its flexible, spacious seven-seat cabin that is well presented and has all the latest conveniences while its on-road manners are refined and Mazda's first new-generation turbo charged engine is efficient in the city yet strong out on the open road," said Mr Maclean.

Mazda Australia Managing Director, Vinesh Bhindi, said the consecutive win is an honour for Mazda.

"Mazda is incredibly proud of the CX-9, which continues to go from strength to strength, cementing its place as a favourite among car experts, enthusiasts and families alike," said Mr Bhindi.

"We're delighted to receive this esteemed award, and thrilled to see two of our models honoured in this year's Drive Car of the Year Awards."

The Mazda CX-9 joins the Mazda2 and Mazda's SKYACTIV-X engine as a winner in this year's awards, securing Mazda first place in three categories in the highly contested awards.

The Mazda2 Maxx Auto was crowned Best City Car for the fourth consecutive year in the 2017 Drive Car of the Year Awards.
Offering style, comfort, safety and performance, Drive's judging panel praised the compact five seater for its class-leading quality and versatility.

"The Mazda2 Maxx continues to impress Drive's Car of the Year judging panel with its great dynamics, the presentation and comfort of its cabin and the recent initiative to include autonomous emergency braking as standard equipment across the range makes it a standout in the city car segment," said Mr Maclean.

While still under development and due for release in 2019, Mazda's SKYACTIV-X engine was awarded Green Innovator in the 2017 Drive Car of the Year Awards.

The revolutionary engine makes possible a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions, with a revolutionary compression ignition technology.

Introducing Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI), SKYACTIV-X offers a leaner burn and improves engine efficiency by up to 20-30 per cent. The new combustion method also delivers unprecedented engine response and increases torque by 10-30 per cent compared to the current SKYACTIV-G engine.

"SKYACTIV-X is Mazda's next step toward offering more sustainable driving, taking into account real word circumstances and infrastructure," said Mr Bhindi.

"It's an honour to have the technology recognised as a Drive's Green Innovator in 2017 before it's even hit our roads. We look forward to introducing SKYACTIV-X to Australians in 2019."

To test drive the award-winning CX-9 or Mazda2, find your local dealer here, and more information on SKYACTIV-X here.