| New derivative | Mazda2 three-door |
Mazda has launched the three-door version of its 2 supermini with prices set £500 lower than equivalent five-door versions. The Mazda2 three-door is on sale immediately with prices starting at £7,999 for the TS 1.3 model.
To begin with, the three-door is on sale with the 1.3-litre petrol and 1.4-litre turbodiesel engine, with the 1.5-litre petrol version due to follow in July. Mazda reckons the three-door range will account for half of all Mazda2 sales in the UK.
The only major difference between the three- and five door models - other than the rear doors - is that the five-door body has an extra 25mm of shoulder space for back seat passengers. Tilt and slide front seats allow access to the rear of the three-door.
Mazda has redesigned the doors of the new model to give extra crash protection and they feature side impact bars that are 25% thicker. They, along with a repositioned B-pillar, also help give the three-door more body stiffness.
In line with Mazda's current thinking, the three-door Mazda2 is very light. It's between 5 - 10kg lighter than the five-door, depending on model, and the entry-level 1.3-litre model tips the scales at just 950kg. Trim levels for the three-door are the same as for the five-door.
The lightweight construction helps the Mazda2 three-door return excellent claimed fuel economy of 52.3mpg for the 1.3 and up to 65.7mpg for the turbodiesel model. Carbon dioxide emissions are also very impressive with the 1.3-litre engine emitting 129g/km, while the diesel produces only 114g/km of CO2.
Alisdair Suttie - 14 May 2008