Mazda sticks with 10,000km service intervals

Mazda has defended its short 10,000km service intervals as much of the Australian auto industry stretches to 15,000km and beyond.

While in line with an increasing number of rivals by stipulating scheduled servicing be carried out every 12 months rather than six months, Mazda’s existing 10,000km interval is significantly shorter than much of the industry.

Some, like Renault, which offer 30,000km intervals, have also gone well beyond 15,000km.

But Mazda argues the focus is on annual servicing because its private customer base averages about 10,000km of travel per year.

The only Mazda model with more than a 10,000km interval is the BT-50 utility, which is serviced every 12 months or 15,000km.

“We’ve got 12 months because our private customers, their kilometres yearly average is not that high,” explained Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi.

The fact remains, if you’re an owner of a Mazda SUV or passenger car and drive above its defined average kilometres, over the years you’ll be in the dealer more often for scheduled servicing than rival brands.

“It’s not an issue for our customers,” said Bhindi. “You are trying to get us to say something based on what someone else is doing, but it’s not an issue for us.

“Maybe it’s an issue for them.”

Arguably, service intervals could become the next focus of customer care now that most mainstream brands have moved from three- to a five-year – or longer – warranty.

However, Mazda is determinedly playing down the issue.

“It’s not an issue from our customer point of view, 12 months seems to be okay,” said Bhindi.

Service intervals became a discussion point at the launch of the new CX-30 SUV this week, where Mazda also announced or promoted several new customer relations initiatives.

It’s unsurprising Mazda took that tack, as it is currently defending an action brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in the Federal court. Mazda is accused of unconscionable conduct and making false or misleading representation in its dealings with 10 buyers of seven new vehicles between 2013 and 2017. The next court date is scheduled for this month.

The brand has also recently been hit by two recalls for the latest Mazda3 while 2019 sales dipped below 100,000 per annum for the first time since 2011.

Sales were down 12.3 per cent against an industry-wide average of 7.8 per cent.

The big ticket item hyped at the CX-30 launch was the guaranteed future value offer Mazda first outlined last October.

Dubbed Mazda Assured, it falls within the umbrella of Mazda Finance, which was introduced in 2019 and has been embraced by more than half of all Mazda dealers nationwide.

Mazda says the new offer allows its customers to better tailor their vehicle choice based on current lifestyle requirements.

A customer can select a Mazda Assured vehicle with a guaranteed future value for a repayment term of up to four years. When the term expires they can trade the vehicle for another Mazda, keep it and pay the outstanding GFV amount or return the vehicle and be paid out.

Through Mazda Finance each customer receives a “personalised” interest rate calculated based on their “individual circumstances”, Mazda said.

Mazda has also introduced a couple of service initiatives, which it hyped at CX-30.

‘Mazda Quick Smart’ has two technicians work on one car allowing for a scheduled service to be completed in one hour – barring unforeseen issues.

Mazda Vision provides customers with a detailed walk-around video of their vehicle during a service, providing visual updates of tyre wear, brake condition and the vehicle overall.

“Mazda is focused on providing customers with a pleasant experience both at the point of purchase and at services. Mazda Vision and Quick Smart are two offerings that sets Mazda apart in servicing,” said Bhindi.

Now read the new Mazda CX-30 review