VEHICLE reliability and strong residual values have resulted in Mazda business with Britain's leading contract hire and leasing companies reaching record levels.

The all-new Mazda3 range is finding its way on to fleet choice of lists as the popularity of Mazda models escalates. The Mazda3 line-up gives fleets a choice of fuel-efficient 1.4, 1.6 or 2.0-lite petrol engines of a frugal 1.6 -litre 109ps diesel powerplant.

In the first seven months of 2004, Mazda fleet sales in the UK reached a record 8,344 units - a whopping 43.3 per cent increase on the same period last year. The success is largely due to the ever-increasing fleet popularity of Mazda6, demand from company car user choosers for the Mazda RX-8 and the unstoppable success of the Mazdz MX-5.