Local Mazda distributor Bermaz is aiming to price the upcoming 2015 Mazda 2 below RM90,000, according to a recent investor's report from RHB Research.

The company was previously said to be unable to push the price of the Thai-built new supermini – which is expected to arrive early next year – below the RM100,000 mark due to the expensive SkyActiv technology the 2 now employs, which would put the car above virtually all its competitors.

The new target price will undoubtedly be more palatable for buyers and put the car firmly in contention with class mainstays such as the Ford Fiesta and Honda Jazz – the former tops out at RM93,888 for the 1.0 EcoBoost model, the latter at RM85,314 for the 1.5 V.

Mazda3_Leather_Malaysia_003

Despite this development (and presumably due to the still-ongoing nature of the discussions), RHB Research is estimating a conservative 2016 sales figure of just 5,000 units for the new 2.

Early-2015 is also when the locally-assembled Mazda 3 is slated to arrive, delayed from its previously expected debut next month. RHB Research predicts a sub-RM120,000 price tag for the CKD model, a significant reduction from the current Japanese-built 2.0 litre model which retails at RM138,159. A 1.5 litre model, previously reported to come in at under RM90k, was not mentioned in the report.

mazda minagi 1A rendering of the Mazda Minagi concept that eventually became the CX-5

Pricing the 2.0 litre model at under RM120,000 would undercut rivals such as the RM131,608 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI, the RM133,230 Honda Civic 2.0 Navi and the RM136,098 Toyota Corolla Altis 2.0 V (with the Additional Safety Package).

The same report also mentioned that the yet-to-be-launched Mazda CX-3 will arrive by the end of next year, taking the fight to the Ford EcoSport, the Peugeot 2008 and the soon-to-arrive Honda HR-V/Vezel. Looks like the burgeoning local B-segment crossover market is set to be the one to watch!