A number of factors look set to make the new Mazda3 a fleet winner, according to industry influencers.

Due on sale in the UK in January 2014, Mazda invited a number of influencers from organisations responsible for compiling whole life cost and residual value data as well as contract hire and leasing company representatives to the model’s world premiere at Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year.

The all-new Mazda3 will be available in two body styles - hatchback and Fastback (saloon) - with both sharing the longest wheelbase of any car in the C-segment.

The model will be the third car in the Mazda range, following the Mazda CX-5 and new Mazda6, to feature the manufacturer’s breakthrough SKYACTIV technology.

Andy Cutler, UK forecasting editor for cars at Glass’s Information Services, said: “The new Mazda6 launched earlier this year is an excellent car and all-new Mazda3 promises to be every inch as good.

“The all-new Mazda3 is spacious, performance is strong, the image is appealing and build quality and specification are good. The entry-level SE trim level features alloy wheels, air conditioning, power-folding heated mirrors and a leather steering wheel along with trip computer, radio/CD with six speaker audio system, 7-inch TFT colour touch screen, USB/iPod connectivity and Bluetooth® hands-free system so has ‘touchy-feely’ features that company car drivers view as important and that gives the new Mazda3 more corporate appeal than the outgoing model.”

“The Mazda3 Fastback is a medium-sized saloon and looks a cracking car. Some of the UK’s best-selling company cars are saloons - the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen Passat. With company car drivers downsizing and the Mazda3 being a large car in the C-segment the model has the potential to prove popular.”

He added: “The new Mazda3 impresses and I am sure that it will follow on from the CX-5 and the new Mazda6 and be a very good car to drive. If Mazda can put ‘bums on seats’ and encourage fleet managers and company car drivers to test the car they will find there is not much in the segment with the same combination of performance and price.”

Mazda head of fleet Steve Tomlinson said: “We are delighted at the hugely positive reaction the all-new Mazda3 has received. The car’s exciting styling and the fact that it features our breakthrough SKYACTIV technology to deliver a class-leading combination of performance, CO2 emissions and fuel economy will, we anticipate, ensure significant fleet appeal.”

 

 

More articles on: