Nothing is as exciting as shopping for your first car. You have your license, and freedom is on your doorstep, but your budget may be limited. Is Mazda the right brand for you, then?
Mazda was founded in 1920, (originally as a cork maker!), and over the years has evolved to become one of the most respected names in the industry. Mazdas used to be much more affordable but have become rather trendy of late. I mean, who doesn't want to own an attractive, safe, fuel-efficient, fun-to-drive vehicle? Depreciation is also on the low side (model-dependent, of course), so it's no surprise that their price tags have become quite steep. The Mazda CX-3, the brand's smallest crossover, is a model that is proving to keep its value especially well.
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Are Mazdas safe?
New drivers need safer cars because they lack real-world driving experience, and Mazdas perform at the highest calibre in safety crash tests such as EuroNCAP, ASEAN NCAP, and LATIN NCAP. New Mazdas feature the latest and greatest in safety technology.
Are Mazdas reliable cars?
Mazda owners rate their cars as being very reliable (soma Mazdas have up to 400 000 - 500 000 km on the clock and still run smoothly). The brand is on par with the automotive giants like Lexus/Toyota, but bear in mind that their dealer footprint isn't nearly as large - Mazda is a small company compared to Toyota, Hyundai and Volkswagen.
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When it comes to Mazda parts, they're not quite as affordable as those belonging to Toyota, Nissan, Renault, and Ford, according to 2020's AA Kinsey report. If you plan to buy an older, more obscure Mazda, you may have a harder time finding parts.
Verdict
Mazdas make excellent first cars for new drivers but you should always put some money away if things should go wrong - investing in a good service/maintenance plan is recommended. If you can't afford a new Mazda2, Mazda3, or Mazda CX-3, why not opt for an older, previous-generation model instead? Search for these specific used Mazda vehicles with up to 100 000 km here.
Related: Everything you need to know about the Mazda CX-3
Looking for something a little bigger? Another Mazda which comes highly recommended by its owners is the Mazda CX-5. Imagine our surprise when we found second-generation models with under 80 000 km for around R250 000 - 285 000! Search for pre-loved Mazda CX-5 models (with less than 100 000 km) on AutoTrader, here.
Did you know?
The Mazda CX-3 was is on our list of the Top 3 Cheapest SUVs to Service and Maintain.
