Mazda is introducing three-door versions of its all-new Mazda2 small car this month, with a starting price of just £7,999 on-the-road – making the Mazda2 TS 3dr 1.3 petrol one of the most price-competitive small cars in the UK.
This is the first time that Mazda has offered a three-door variant in its popular Mazda2 model range. The newcomer features all the technology and attributes of the five-door hatchback, while delivering the same sporty feel to its dynamic drive at an even more affordable price. Since launch, the new Mazda2 has attracted almost 7,000 buyers and raised Mazda's share of the small car market in 2008 to 2.4 per cent.
The Mazda2 5dr, which was introduced in September 2007, broke the industry trend for increasing weight and size with each successive replacement model.
New Mazda2 is 100kg lighter than the previous model, thanks to Mazda's 'gram strategy' diet, and the use of lightweight ultra-high tensile steels and new technology – leading to excellent fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions.
Mazda anticipates that up to 50 per cent of new Mazda2 buyers will choose the three-door body style and that a large number will opt for the highly specified 'Sport' version.
The unique Crystal White Pearlescent exterior paint is also expected to be a popular choice.
Both the three-door and five-door versions of new Mazda2 share common exterior and interior dimensions.
The only difference between the two body styles is the rear seat shoulder room, which is 25mm larger in the five-door model.
The exceptionally generous standard equipment on the new Mazda2 3dr model parallels the Mazda2 5dr specification closely with only four differences.
Standard equipment on the Mazda2 TS 3dr (from £7,999) includes: driver and passenger front airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, 'tilt-and-slide' front seats, CD radio with auxiliary jack, multi-function glovebox with magazine rack and a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser.
The new Mazda2 TS2 3dr (from £9,509) has 12 additional equipment items.
Topping the three-door range is the new Mazda2 Sport 3dr (from £11,399). This model also gains 12 extra items of equipment.
The Mazda2 5dr achieved a 5-Star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating last year and the new three-door Mazda2 benefits from the same level of safety design, engineering and equipment. The front doors of the three-door model are 163mm longer than those on the five?door and the B-Pillar has been moved back by a similar amount.
Consequently, the three-door's structure has been redesigned to provide extra resistance to side impacts. Inside the front doors, the lower side impact bars are made of 25 percent thicker material and also have a 17 per cent thicker cross section. The repositioned B?pillars are shaped differently from those of the five-door, giving extra strength to the bodyshell at the beltline.
Recently, new Mazda2 5dr was declared winner of the 2008 World Car of the Year (WCOTY) title. The Mazda2 beat off 39 other new cars, including the short-listed Ford Mondeo and Mercedes C-Class, to claim the 'world's best car' crown.
Ultimately, the Mazda2 3dr will be offered with the same choice of three petrol engines, and one turbo-diesel engine, as the Mazda2 5dr – each mated to a five-speed manual transmission. At launch, customers can choose from the 1.3-litre petrol engine in two power outputs (75 and 86ps), and a 1.4-litre 68ps diesel. The 1.5-litre 103ps petrol engine will be available from the end of July.
