Mazda 2 review
By Motor Match • 06/12/2023
The Mazda2 has been an integral part of this Japanese firm’s line-up for some time. It serves as the entry point to the Mazda range, and has always offered a good mix of value for money combined with good road manners.
What’s new?
This current generation of Mazda 2 has been on sale since 2015, so it’s now the oldest supermini of its type. Mazda is offering a separate ‘2 Hybrid’ that is essentially a rebadged Toyota Yaris, but this standard ‘2’ we’re reviewing here continues to serve those wanting an entry-level petrol option.
It has had regular updates, though, and for 2023 gets a smarter exterior design courtesy of new bumpers front and rear that give this Mazda a fresher look. There’s a new range of colours, while the trim levels have been changed around as well.
With cars such as the Ford Fiesta recently being discontinued, it gives you even further motive to consider a car like this Mazda, but is it worth choosing?
What’s under the bonnet?
Nothing has changed about what’s under the Mazda 2’s bonnet, as this supermini continues to be available with a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine. The range starts with a 74bhp output, which can still reach 0-60mph in 11.1 seconds.
In the middle is a 89bhp model, which you can have with a manual gearbox or an automatic, though the latter considerably saps the performance on offer and consumes a lot more fuel. The manual can manage 0-60mph in 9.6 seconds. At the top of the range sits a 113bhp model, which can take the Mazda to 60mph in 8.9 seconds.
Skip the automatic model and this is a very efficient small car, with Mazda claiming up to 60.1mpg and 107g/km CO2 emissions.
What’s it like to drive?
There are some areas where the Mazda2 excels and others where it just feels a bit behind the times.
Starting with positives, and that’s this Mazda’s lightweight. At around 1.1 tonnes, this is very featherweight by modern car standards, and helps this supermini to feel particularly nimble and agile to drive. It’s quite old-school in the fact you’ve got to rev out the engine with a brilliant manual gearbox, though this can get a bit tiresome in day-to-day driving.
It lags behind the best when it comes to refinement and comfort, however, and just feels a bit old in that respect – no surprise, given this generation of Mazda is quickly approaching a decade old.
How does it look?
This is really the most significant visual update that the Mazda2 has had since it first launched back in 2015. It has helped to modernise and freshen this supermini in equal parts, with the new grille, which can be colour-coded to the rest of the car being quite distinctive.
There’s a smart range of alloy wheels on offer too, while the two new colours – Aero Grey and Air Stream Blue – are refreshingly different as well
What’s it like inside?
There are small changes made to the Mazda2’s interior trim and detailing, but largely the cabin remains unchanged. In some ways, that’s a good thing, as there’s a lot to say for the Mazda’s easy-to-use cabin where all the buttons and dials are perfectly placed. But again, it is just starting to feel a bit old, with the small screen lagging behind competitors and the material quality quite cheap in places.
It’s not the roomiest of small cars, however, with a 255-litre boot offering less room than most of its rivals, though there’s a decent amount of space in the rear seats.
What’s the spec like?
One area where it’s hard to fault the Mazda 2 is on the equipment front. The standard Centre-Line trim features 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, electric mirrors, climate control and a colour monitor with Wireless smartphone mirroring.
Next up is the Exclusive-Line, which brings 16-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera and keyless entry, while the flagship Homura Aka features heated seats, a 360-degree camera monitor, head-up display and adaptive LED headlights.
Verdict
The Mazda2 is a car that has some real strengths – not least its enjoyable driving experience and generous equipment levels. Despite its age, it still looks the part too, particularly in this latest update.
But the unrefined ride and low-rent interior are just now a bit behind the times next to newer rivals like the Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen Polo.
You may also like…