IF your business needs a new compact MPV then it ought to have a look at the latest Mazda5.
The new Mazda5, which has recently been updated with the addition of a 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine, has been described by the residual value guide experts as business car motoring’s ‘best kept secret’.
Deliveries of the new seven-seat Mazda5 1.6 Diesel begin this month (January). The 1.6-litre 115ps 138g/km turbo diesel unit, which is available in TS2 or Sport trim, completes the Mazda5 line-up following the launch of 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engine derivatives in autumn 2010.
Residual value experts at CAP have described the Mazda5 as a ‘best kept secret’ in comparison with rivals such as the Citroën C4 Grand Picasso, Ford Grand C-MAX, Peugeot 5008, Renault Grand Scenic and Vauxhall Zafira.
Jeff Knight, monitor editor at CAP, said: “The New Mazda5 is the latest model in the range to receive Mazda’s new design language treatment. The vehicle also boasts a versatile seating system which givies the option of a seventh seat or a storage compartment. Additionally, both trim levels have key items of enhanced specification in comparison to the previous model range.”
Mr Knight added: “All of that should prove popular in the fleet market when combined with the new 1.6D 115ps engine that emits 138g/km of CO2 as it makes the vehicle highly competitive within the medium MPV sector.”
CAP says that the 1.6D Sport will retain 32% of its value at the three-year/60,000-mile benchmark giving the model a value of £7,000, while the TS2 will retain 31% of its value over the same period giving a value of £6,375. Pence per mile operating costs, according to CAP, are 36.55p for the Sport and 35.38p for the TS2.
Meanwhile, Steve Paterson, head of data and whole life costs at International Decision Systems, said: “Mazda has given the ‘5’ a complete makeover changing both the inside and out.”
Mr Paterson added: “The model is available with new engines, sliding doors, seven seats with the second and third row seats stowing flat and easily pulled back up and plenty of legroom. The drive and comfort for all is first class and probably much more important than performance.”
International Decision Systems has predicted that both the 1.6D TS2 and Sport will have a three-year/60,000-mile residual value forecast of 36% with pence per mile operating costs of 34.15p and 35.86p respectively.
Standard equipment for the Mazda5 includes: six airbags, anti-skid Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), air-conditioning, cruise control, a six-speaker CD audio unit and alloy wheels. Mazda says the 112-litre loadbay in seven-seat mode can be enlarged to 426-litres in four-seat configuration, while folding all five rear seats flat creates a vast floor to ceiling loadbay of 1,485-litres.
Mazda fleet and remarketing director Peter Allibon added: “Once again the experts are forecasting strong residual value and competitive wholelife cost figures for another Mazda model. Added to a CO2 figure of below 140g/km we anticipate the new 1.6D will prove popular with fleet operators and company car drivers.”
Compact Mazda MPV given residual value thumbs up
