There Is 1 Used Mazda Hatchback With Ultra-Low Running Costs
Are you thinking about getting a used car that can take you from point A to B without issue? Do you not care about having a fancy touchscreen or a booming premium audio system? Do you want a car with low maintenance costs? If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, then we suggest buying one Mazda hatchback you likely have never thought of.
Which used Mazda hatchback is cheap to own?
Although you could make use of an older Mazda3, we suggest looking into a Mazda2 hatchback. The Mazda2 was produced in the U.S. market from 2011 to 2014 and was only around for one generation.
In case you have never heard of it, the Mazda2 was a small four-door hatchback that was large enough to fit four adults in relative comfort. It came out at a time when subcompact cars were still somewhat popular; however, it ended up being overshadowed by stalwarts in the segment like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris. Those two competitors have since been discontinued as well.
One of the main advantages of owning a Mazda2 is the affordable ownership experience. Engine Patrol notes that it can cost an average of $449 per year to maintain a Mazda2, which is lower than the average cost of $456 for most subcompact cars.
The car is relatively cheap to fill up as it has a small gas tank, but it should be able to reach up to around 339 miles with a full tank. It achieves this with a tiny 100-hp, 1.5-liter engine that can achieve up to 28 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.
Which Mazda2 trim level is right for you?
To make the used car shopping experience even easier, the Mazda2 was only offered in two trim levels – Sport and Touring. According to Cars Direct, the Sport trim is equipped with electric power steering, anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control, power door locks with remote entry, and air conditioning.
The Touring trim level added a six-speaker audio system, a rear spoiler, alloy wheels, cruise control, and fog lights.
Current Mazda2 owners love their cars
In case you’re wondering how anyone could love a small, bare-bones hatchback in the age of large infotainment systems, heated armrests, and massagers, there are plenty of Mazda2 owners that speak highly of the car.
There are plenty of owner reviews on Cars.com, which give the car a 4 out of 5-star rating. Many of the reviews attest to the car’s durability and fun-to-drive nature, while others focus on easy it is to maintain.
One reviewer stated, “Owned the car for 7 years and only changed the tires! Very reliable and cheap to run.” Another review claims that the Mazda2 is “basic, simple transportation, yet so enjoyable to use.”
That’s a lot of praise for a car that only has the bare essentials and is nearly 10 years old. Case in point, if you’re in need of basic transportation without all of the fancy tech features or high ownership costs, don’t sleep on the Mazda2. It could surprisingly be one of the best cars you’ll own.
