Less And More For Mazda2
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday May 10, 2008
THE strength of the Aussie dollar has delivered a bonus for car buyers - Japanese brands are getting cheaper.
Mazda this week launched a cut-price, three-door version of its popular Mazda2 that the maker claims undercuts its main Japanese rival by more than $1000.Mazda says the new 1.5-litre Mazda2, which starts from $15,750, is $1240 or 7 per cent cheaper than the 1.5-litre version of Toyota's top-selling three-door Yaris. Toyota has a cheaper version of the Yaris for $15,190, although it has a less powerful 1.3-litre engine.The Mazda2 is the latest in a line of sharply priced Japanese imports. Nissan has the five-door Micra selling for just $14,990, while Suzuki's five-door Swift is just $15,990 and Mitsubishi has cut $1000 from the Colt's $15,990 launch price.Two years ago, the Australian dollar bought just Y86 but over the past 12 months the rate has been as high as Y106. Subaru recently cited the strength of the dollar when it brought out an all-new Forester soft-roader that was cheaper and better equipped than the model it replaced. Mazda also recently added extra features and reduced prices on its Mazda3 range.Mazda hasn't had a three-door light car for almost three decades but believes the option will appeal to younger buyers attracted to the sportier lines of a three-door. It expects almost one in three buyers to be under the age of 30. The three-door is $750 less than the five-door version.The three-door comes standard with dual front airbags and optional stability control with an extra four airbags, something which is not available in any other Japanese light car.There are two models in the Mazda2 three-door range, the Neo and Maxx. The more expensive Maxx costs $17,690 and adds a six-stack CD player, alloy wheels and a rear spoiler. Mazda expects two-thirds of buyers to choose the cheaper Neo.
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald