By: IOL Motoring Staff
Mazda has now officially separated from Ford in South Africa and is ready to make its mark on the local market with a mostly fresh range of products.
While the Japanese brand may have seemed a bit neglected in recent years, the new local operation - headed by Australian David Hughes - believes it can return Mazda to prominence in the local market.
Mazdas will be sold through a network of 50 dealers around the country and the imported passenger car range comes with a rather bold unlimited-distance warranty and service plan, both of which are valid for three years.
The outfit is also looking after previous Mazda customers and promises 95 percent parts availability on all post-2003 Mazda models. The BT-50 will continue to be built in South Africa and is sold with a four-year/120 000km warranty.
The big product news from the outset is the all-new Mazda3 and Mazda6 models, which are available immediately, alongside an expanded CX-5 range.
Volumes should be boosted significantly early next year when Mazda re-enters the B-segment with its new Mazda2 and later in the year we'll see the new MX-5 roadster .
MAZDA3
The boldly-styled Mazda3 is built on Mazda's new Skyactiv chassis and reaches South Africa offering a choice between hatch and sedan body styles and seven derivatives.
With Mazda refusing to go the turbo route, the two petrol engines on offer are normally aspirated and comprise a 77kW/144Nm 1.6 that's carried over from the previous range and a new 121kW/210Nm 2-litre. The former engine is mated to six-speed manual and auto boxes while the smaller engine is offered with either a five-speed manual or four-speed auto.
There is a wide range of specification options starting with the more basic Original and Active models and moving all the way up to the range-topping Astina, which brings back an old name but packs ultra-modern gadgetry like blind spot monitoring and a Bose infotainment system that can read your text messages to you, among other niceties.
MAZDA6
With its elegant new design, the latest Mazda6 has its sights set on saloons like the Honda Accord, VW Passat and Hyundai Sonata.
Its three-strong engine range includes a gusty 129kW/420Nm 2.2-litre turbodiesel as an alternative to the two normally aspirated petrol engines - these being a 114kW/200Nm 2-litre and 138kW/250Nm 2.5. All are mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, although the 2.0 can also be had with a six-speed manual.
As with its smaller sibling, there is a wide range of specification options and the range toppers get nice toys like lane departure warning and a reverse camera.
MAZDA CX-5
The CX-5 was first launched in 2012 and enters the new era with an expanded range that sees two new engines joining the existing 114kW/200Nm 2-litre petrol and all-wheel drive is now available too.
Mirroring its natural rival, the Toyota Rav4, CX-5 is now also available with a 2.5-litre petrol motor that's good for 138kW/250Nm and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel that's offered in two output levels. The front-wheel driver delivers 110kW/380Nm while the AWD is credited with 129kW/420Nm.
See the full story and driving impressions in the motoring supplement of The Star, Mercury or Cape Times on Thursday 25 September.
RANGE & PRICES:
Mazda3
1.6 Original - R232 900
1.6 Active - R242 900
1.6 Dynamic - R253 100
1.6 Dynamic auto - R256 400
2.0 Individual - R293 600
2.0 Individual auto - R299 600
2.0 Astina - R326 300
Mazda6
2.0 Active - R342 000
2.0 Active auto - R358 000
2.5 Dynamic auto - R373 000
2.5 Individual auto - R399 500
2.2 DE Dynamic auto - R404 000
2.2 DE Atenza auto - R430 500
Mazda CX-5
2.0 Active FWD - R316 600
2.0 Active FWD auto - R326 600
2.0 Dynamic FWD - R326 600
2.2 DE Active FWD auto - R375 400
2.5 Individual FWD auto - R398 600
2.2 DE Akera AWD auto - R456 100