New Mazda offered ‘a means for freedom and escape’

For nearly a decade, Paula Perri’s 2005 Honda Civic did her family proud. Fondly named Betty, the two-door chariot was passed back and forth between Perri and her brother as they each evolved in their respective careers.

By the time the car was retired in late 2019, Perri had gone from burgeoning businesswoman to being a vice president at a thriving Toronto-based event agency. Her calendar was jammed full of festivals, galas and conferences. That was until COVID-19 hit, and everything slowed down for Perri.

With time on her hands, she went ahead and purchased a 2020 Mazda CX3 GS, in hopes the event industry would rebound. Instead, she said her new SUV helped her in ways she didn’t expect. Here is what Perri loves about her vehicle.

“I ended up buying the car in July at Mazda of Toronto in North York,” said Perri, explaining the Mazda CX3 caught her eye because of its affordability, design and ample cargo space. “I suppose it was a kind of a hope-for-the-future type purchase.

“Prior to COVID I was always doing site visits and would have to lug decor or flowers or safety kits to different venues. I needed a car to be able to do those things efficiently for my business – whenever business happened to come back. Since that time many of our company’s in-person events have gone virtual — and obviously, the on-site work and driving around hasn’t really been necessary.

“Because of that, the car has kind of taken on a new meaning to me. Instead of it all being about work, it’s surprisingly become more about relaxation and play. Between lockdowns I’ve been able to go hiking quite a bit and get out of the city. I’ve been able to visit with my grandmother more often in Hamilton and it’s just given me more comfort knowing that I’m a drive away from my family members in Niagara.

“To be honest, there have been times I’ve felt really confined and overwhelmed with the situation and I’ve jumped into my car and had a little drive around the city with the windows down — just to kill time and to clear my mind. In-person events will come back, but in the meantime the car has really become a means of freedom and escape for me. That’s been important.”