The Mazda 2 five door hatchback is now available with a choice of three petrol powertrains and three equipment levels (TS, TS2 and Sport) priced from just £8,499 (on-the-road), undercutting rivals and still boasting excellent standard equipment that is either unavailable or optional on competitor cars.
November 2007 data from used car valuation experts at CAP Motor Research reveals that after three years/60,000 miles the entry level 1.3 litre, 75ps Mazda 2 TS will retain an unbeatable 40 per cent of its £8,334 list price putting it comfortably ahead of rivals including the Volkswagen Polo, Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris.
Move up to the 1.3 litre, 86ps Mazda 2 TS2 and, with an unbeatable £9,834 list price among its chief rivals, the model depreciates by a class-leading £6,034 over three years/60,000 miles. That compares with depreciation of £6,302 on the Honda Jazz 1.4 SE and a whopping £8,070 on the significantly more expensive £11,645 Renault Clio 1.4 Dynamique.
Finally, the range-topping £11,634 1.5 litre 103ps Mazda 2 Sport will retain 37 per cent of its new price after the benchmark three-years/60,000 miles. With depreciation of only £7,359, the Mazda is significantly better value for fleets than a range of rivals including the Polo, Yaris, Peugeot 207 and Vauxhall Corsa. Both 1.3 litre models return 52.3mpg on the combined cycle and generate a modest 129g/km of CO2, while the 1.5 litre Sport records a commendable 47.9mpg and has a CO2 rating of 140g/km.
Mazda’s national contract hire and rental manager Steve Tomlinson said: “The fantastic residual value predictions for the all-new Mazda 2 build on the class-leading RVs our other models have achieved starting with the Mazda6, which put the brand on the fleet map.”
Jeff Knight, forecast manager for CAP, said: “Future used buyers will be attracted by the vibrant exterior styling, good specification and overall running costs in comparison with its competitors.
“The interior quality, fit and finish is as good as some cars costing substantially more. Mazda seem to have put much thought into this small car, which will appeal to current Mazda drivers, but more importantly drivers who have traditionally looked to other marques will for the first time consider a small Mazda. Additionally, Mazda’s policy of maintaining a competitive list price ensures that its contract hire customers will be comfortable with the car’s percentage residual value retention. The Mazda 2 is therefore well placed for success in the corporate and used car markets.”
Standard equipment includes: 15 inch steel wheels, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, driver and front passenger airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, CD radio with AUX jack and two speakers, multi-function glovebox with magazine rack, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser and electric door mirrors.
For more information on the Mazda 2 call our sales teams at Darlington on 0845 112 5008 or at Durham on 0845 112 5009.