In the petrol vs diesel debate, it’s tempting for a fleet manager to automatically plump for the diesel option.

Ever since company car tax changed to an emissions-based system in 2002, diesel has increasingly been the fuel of choice for fleets.

But our Mazda2 long termer, with a 1.3-litre petrol engine, provides food for thought. We could have opted to test the 1.4-litre diesel, but the petrol is a viable option.

The running costs tool on our website (www.fleetnews.co.uk/runningcosts) throws up some interesting statistics.

Based on an operating cycle of four years/80,000 miles, they are closely matched, with the diesel at 21.29ppm and the petrol 21.32ppm, so the diesel saves just £24 over the four years.

When it comes to drivers and benefit-in-kind tax, the story is the same.

The petrol Mazda2 falls into the 15% tax band and will cost a lower rate tax payer £314 per annum in company car tax, while the diesel falls into the 13% band and costs £313 a year.

However, there is one significant plus for companies considering the diesel option – you pay less in VED (£35 compared to £120 for the petrol).

Whether you choose the petrol or the diesel Mazda2, you will be in exclusive company judging by recent sales figures. Year-to-date fleet sales figures stand at 2,300 units.

Not in the same league as the Ford Fiesta, of course, but Peter Allibon, Mazda’s fleet and remarketing director, is happy with the performance so far.

He said: “With the demand for supermini vehicles in fleet being higher than ever before, the Mazda2 is a critical component to the Mazda fleet product range.”