The $17K-$25K bracket the covers the middle and upper ranges of Australia’s light-car segment.
It’s for buyers looking for more creature comforts rather than settling for the bare-bones specification, and the additional investment can prove to be worthwhile through slightly superior resale value.
If you’re keen to know which are the three best cars in the class for overall value, WhichCar’s sister brand Wheels got busy calculating key ownership factors and costs.
Wheels’ Gold Star Car awards scored cars out of 100. Real costs comprising three-year depreciation and a year’s insurance and fuel expenses accounted for 80 per cent of the score, with 10 per cent each for servicing costs and warranty.
The upshot was victory for one of the most popular light cars – the Mazda 2, here in mid-range Maxx guise.
It asks another $2700 over the base-model Neo, though counters with a marginally better retained value after three years (52 versus 51 per cent).
There are also more goodies on board, plus the Maxx adopts a different tune of the Mazda 2’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. There’s a little extra power (up 2kW to 81kW), while fuel consumption improves from 5.4 to 5.2 litres per 100km.
That efficiency can’t be matched by either of the other two podium-sitters here, the Suzuki Swift GL Navigator (5.5L/100km) and now superseded 2016 Kia Rio S Premium (5.7L/100km).
The Navigator trim grade adds $1500 to the regular Swift GL, though brings desirable additions including foglights, a touchscreen display and, as the name suggests, satellite navigation.
Servicing intervals fall three months short of the 12-month industry average, though the Suzuki boasts the strongest resale among our trio – an impressive 55 per cent.
A new-generation Suzuki Swift will be released in June 2017.
The Kia Rio S’s case for a higher placing was hurt by a desire to gulp more unleaded petrol than its closest rivals here when comparing manual gearboxes, as well as the lowest resale value (46 per cent).
However, the Rio is cheap to insure and owners benefit from Kia’s brilliant seven-year factory warranty.
The S Premium model has since been discontinued with the introduction this year of an all-new Kia Rio model. The new Rio has sharper Euro-styling and more premium interior but slightly higher fuel consumption and is priced from $16,990, with S, Si and SLi trim grades.
The Mazda 2 is one of those rare light cars that provide a mix of good value and driver enjoyment. It looks good and has a premium feel inside while delivering plenty of power, and it is equipped with smart city braking as standard. Prices start at $14,990 and it’s available in four variants with five-door hatch and sedan body styles all powered by a 1.5-litre engine coupled with either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.
Variants
The Mazda 2 comes in four model grades; the Neo, Maxx, GT and Genki (compare these specs here). The entry-level Neo provides excellent value and while it’s missing a few features, including a display screen and reversing camera, it does come with automatic city braking.
The Maxx introduces a more powerful 87kW/141Nm version of the 1.5-litre engine, DAB+ digital radio and infotainment apps displayed on a 7.0-inch floating screen with reverse camera and 15-inch alloy wheels. The steering wheel and gear-lever handle are trimmed in leather, and your music comes from six speakers rather than four.
The Genki adds leather interior, satellite navigation, dusk-sensing LED headlamps, daytime running lights, auto windscreen wipers, climate-control air conditioning, 16-inch alloys inches, blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert.
The range-topping GT is essentially a Genki with white seat and cabin trim. It comes in hatch and sedan body styles with just the six-speed manual gearbox.
- Neo hatch/sedan, manual – $14,990
- Neo hatch/sedan, auto – $16,990
- Maxx hatch/sedan, manual – $17,690
- Maxx hatch/sedan, auto – $19,690
- Genki hatch, manual – $20,690
- Genki hatch, auto – $22,690
- GT hatch/sedan, manual – $21,680
The Maxx is an excellent choice with plenty of features for the sub-$20,000 price. The perky manual transmission feels sporty and makes the 2 one of the most enjoyable cars to drive for its size and price. That said, if you are clutch adverse, the six-speed automatic transmission is pretty good too if not as fun. The interior has a premium feel with quality fabric seats that don’t make you yearn for the leather in the upper-spec models. The sedan’s boot holds 440-litres compared to the hatchback’s 250-litres and is arguably the better looking of the two.
Available options
Equipment you may want to add to up-spec the Maxx include:
- Metallic paint – $300
- Front parking sensors – $635
- Satellite navigation – $701.84
- Welcome illumination in the foot well – $259.06
- Alloy pedal covers – $306.38 (auto)/$337.72 (manual)
The Maxx is well-appointed enough to not require further bling. One thing all Mazdas lack is Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, which makes the satellite navigation pack a worthy addition while still keeping your purchase price around $3200 less than the GT sedan.
The Mazda 2 is consistently one of the bestselling cars in its segment, which includes compelling rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo. The little Japanese hatch or sedan proves that driving a city car doesn’t have to be boring, and has funky good looks to boot.
If you are looking to add one to your garage, here is everything you need to know about the price, standard features, pros and cons, and which version we would recommend.
Price and Features
Every Mazda 2 comes with cruise control, power windows and an AM/FM radio with a single-disc CD player and USB input. Audio controls on the steering wheel and hands-free Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, push-button keyless start, and a tilt and reach adjustable steering column, along with rear parking sensors, and six airbags. An option available on all Mazda 2s for around $400 is Smart City Brake Support, a form of automatic emergency braking that operates at speeds below 30km/h. Every Mazda 2 carries a three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
Pricing starts from $14,990 for the entry-level Neo with a manual gearbox, $17,690 for the Maxx, and $20,690 for the top of the line Genki. Choosing an automatic gearbox adds $2000.
Pros and cons
The Mazda 2 looks good, feels nice inside, and is more fun to drive than most city cars. Its 1.5-litre engine is very easy on fuel and delivers plenty of power. Strong retained values and a 12-month service interval help make it a smart choice.
The list of cons for this car is rather short given Mazda added cruise control to the least costly models. Perhaps squinting at the tiny tachometer in less expensive models (upper spec grades have a different instrument design) could be annoying if you want to know what the engine is doing. The spare tyre is a space saver, and its 80km/h recommended top speed could bother you if you get a flat far from home. But for a car intended mainly for city use, it’s a defensible choice because it frees up some boot space.
The one to get
The Mazda 2 Maxx, in either hatch or sedan, is our pick of the line-up. Both bring desirable features such as alloy wheels, a reversing camera and a 7.0-inch touchscreen loaded with the Pandora, Stitcher and Aha internet radio apps. Its steering wheel and gear-lever handle are trimmed in leather. Wheels are made from aluminium alloy and look nicer than the plastic-trimmed steel wheels on the least costly model, the Mazda 2 Neo. However, the Neo is an appealing base model that represents very good value.
QUESTION – BRUCE: I drive about 1000km per month, mostly in the suburbs. I am considering a Mazda 2 Maxx or an equivalent Hyundai.
Ideally, I would like a full-size spare tyre.
BUDGET: $20000
ANSWER – BYRON: As you did not specify which Hyundai model you meant when comparing it to the Mazda 2 Maxx, we have taken the liberty of assuming you meant the Accent, since that competes in the same class.
From $14,990 (manual) or $16,990 (auto), the Hyundai Accent Active 1.4-litre has quite a lot of things going for it compared to the Mazda 2 Maxx 1.5L – a lower starting price, more interior space, a larger boot, a five-year (instead of three-year) warranty, and a full-sized spare wheel (instead of a temporary space-saver spare wheel). Please note that the Accent is also available as an Active SR from $16,990 (auto: $18,990) with a powerful 1.6L engine. This too is cheaper than the Mazda.
But the Mazda 2 Maxx (from $17,690 for the manual or $19,690 for the automatic) is more fuel efficient, agile, comfortable, refined, modern, and fun to drive, and should have superior resale value compared to the Hyundai. And it is more powerful than the Accent Active 1.4. And, reflecting the fact that it is a newer model on the market, only the Mazda offers the added safety and security of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB – or Smart City Brake Support) as a $400 option. Overall, then, this would make it our pick.
Additionally, there is also the more basic Mazda 2 Neo from $14,990, which closes the price gap between it and the base Accent altogether, yet loses none of the appeal of the more upmarket Maxx.
Please do keep in mind that the manufacturers’ recommended retail prices are not set in stone, and that many do advertise lower priced specials on a regular basis. And we do recommend that you drive each car as to find out which one you prefer, as each does offer a different experience from behind the wheel.