Review- Mazda 2

The Mazda 2 goes up against cars like the Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, Volkswagen Polo, Kia Rio and the MG MG3, which means it’s got some stiff competition to win over buyers. 

Just how does the latest Mazda 2 fare against its rivals and what is the strongest value proposition on offer in the Mazda 2? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $21,390

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Mazda 2 (G15 PURE) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Mazda 2 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Mazda 2 lineup kicks off from $21,390 for the entry-level G15 Pure manual hatchback, while the automatic hatch and sedan are priced at $23,390. Stepping up to the Mazda 2 G15 Pure SP automatic brings the price to $24,990, while the G15 Evolve hatch is priced at $24,990. 

Finally, Mazda’s range-topping Mazda 2 G15 GT hatch and sedan are priced at $26,490. 

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What Features Does the Mazda 2 Have?

The entry-level Mada 2 G15 Pure comes riding on 15-inch alloy wheels, and receives LED headlights, cruise control, keyless start, air conditioning, adjustable steering wheel, power-folding mirrors, reversing camera with rear-mounted parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alerts and blind spot monitoring atop the 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

Moving up the range to the G15 Pure SP adds 16-inch alloys, black exterior elements, chrome exhaust tips and a black upholstery finish with red contrast stitching, while the G15 Evolve receives climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, as well as satellite navigation. 

Finally, the range-topping G15 GT receives a mix of leather and suede upholstery, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera with front parking sensors and keyless entry. 

Range Features:

• 15-inch alloys

• LED headlights 

• Cruise control 

• Air conditioning 

• Reversing camera 

• Rear-mounted parking sensors

• Rear cross-traffic alerts

• Blind-spot monitoring 

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 16-inch alloys (Pure SP) 

• Chrome exhaust tips (Pure SP) 

• Black upholstery with red contrast stitching (Pure SP) 

• Climate control (Evolve) 

• Satellite navigation (Evolve) 

• Leather/suede upholstery (GT) 

• Adaptive cruise control (GT) 

• Surround-view camera (GT) 

• Front parking sensors (GT) 

• Keyless entry (GT) 

Mazda 2 Colours

The Mazda 2 is available in a choice of eight colours, including Sonic Silver, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, Platinum Quartz Metallic, Snowflake White, Soul Red Crystal, Polymetal Grey and Machine Grey. 

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

While cars like the Mazda 2 don’t have much power on offer, their lightweight platform and short wheelbase often translates to some zippy acceleration and agile handling that make for a great commuter in the city. 

The latest generation Mazda 2 range is no different, with power supplied by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol across the range producing 82kW of power and 144Nm of torque, with the option of six-speed manual and automatic transmissions across the lineup. 

While it’s not hugely powerful, the light kerb weight means that getting up to speed isn’t an issue, while retaining a surprisingly sporty driving dynamic that lends itself perfectly to an urban commuter. 

The Mazda 2 is a surprisingly fun little car to pilot, but keep in mind that this has also translated to some stiff springs in the suspension that makes it quite firm on certain surfaces. The majority of the time, the Mazda 2 is happy to bumble around without a problem, but on rougher surfaces it’s fun-loving and somewhat sporty platform tends to transmit bumps into the cabin. 

Overall, though, the compact proportions and lightweight steering rack make the Mazda 2 particularly user-friendly around town, and meet the design brief for this type of car perfectly. 

Is it Practical and Spacious?

From the outside, you might think that the Mazda 2 range is quite limited in terms of interior space and practicality, but thanks to some clever designers and an updated platform, there’s an impressive amount of space in the front of the cabin. 

Tall drivers won’t have an issue getting comfortable in the driver’s seat, which features a heap of head and shoulder room and an adjustable steering wheel to find your preferred driving position. 

The interior design is minimalist but sleek thanks to Mazda’s impressive attention to detail in their cabins, which positions the climate controls lower down, with the 7.0-inch infotainment system standing tall atop the dashboard in an ergonomic and user-friendly position. 

Practical elements include storage in the door bins either side of the cabin, a sizable storage area for loose items and smartphones behind the gear lever, a pair of cupholders and a small storage tray where you’d normally find a folding armrest. 

Things get considerably more cramped when you move to the rear of the cabin which features a bench seat that is more suited to children and teenagers than full-grown adults, however there is enough legroom for short journeys, although headroom is cramped for tall rear passengers.

Thankfully, the Mazda 2 features ISOFIX anchors on each of the seats in the rear of the cabin, as well as top tether mounts to accommodate forward and rear-facing child seats, making it perfect for a couple with young kids. 

In terms of cargo space, the Mazda 2 has a boot that can swallow up 250L of luggage, school bags and supermarket runs in the hatchback variant, while the sedan offers a tonne more space with its 450L boot; if practicality is a key concern of yours, ensure that you’re opting for the sedan variant. 

Is it Safe?

The Mazda 2 range has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five-star safety rating, scoring 15.69 out of 16 for front impact and 15.66 out 16 for side impact protection, returning an overall score of 36.35 out of 37.

Mazda packages the 2 with an impressive amount of safety equipment as standard, which means you’ll find reverse autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep and lane-departure alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, a reversing camera with parking sensors and six airbags around the cabin.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Mazda 2 range is impressive when it comes to fuel economy, with manual variants rated at 5.4L per 100km on a combined cycle, which drops to 5.3L per 100km in automatic variants. 

Our Verdict: Is the Mazda 2 Worth it?

After decades on the market, the Mazda 2 remains one of the leading options within the light car segment, offering buyers a safe, well-equipped and stylish package at a reasonable price. 

While the ride quality can be quite firm on certain surfaces, on the whole, the user-friendly nature and frugal petrol engine makes it a perfect option for buyers looking for a personable and reliable commuter. 

As a result, we can’t help but recommend you add the Mazda 2 to your shortlist if you’re comparing your options within the light car segment. On that note, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty 

2. 12-month/10,000km service intervals 

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. First five services are capped-price

5. 250L boot space in hatchback; 440L in sedan variant 

Pros

• Fun-loving handling 

• User-friendly platform perfect for urban commutes 

• Stylish interior for the price 

• Generous safety equipment list 

Cons

• Short service intervals 

• Firm suspension 

• Limited space and cargo storage in hatchback variant 

OnlineAuto Rating: 8.5/10

Mazda 2 Competition