► Mazda 2 review: Japanese mini on test
► We drive the 1.5 90ps Exclusive-Line
► Recently facelifted, still talented
This third generation of Mazda 2 has, rather incredibly, been with us since 2014 and was heavily refreshed in 2019 and again earlier in 2023 to provide more showroom appeal. That’s a long innings and this summer’s facelift is designed to pep up the supermini for a few more years to come.
It’s a reflection of a tough and diminishing market. As small cars become harder to justify on economic grounds (witness Ford pulling the plug on the evergreen Fiesta, pushing people into the Puma crossover instead), the business case for superminis is under the microscope like never before.
A flurry of improvements has been rolled out across the Mazda 2 range to keep it competitive: this is a predominantly cosmetic facelift, with fresh styling inside and out, and adjusted specs to keep the model competitive against its best supermini peers. It’s on sale now, priced from £18,615.
Pros: Decent value for money, well equipped, fun and zesty to drive
Cons: Quite an old car, ageing infotainment, low- and mid-power cars are slow
What’s new on the Mazda 2?
The 2023 facelift leaves the mechanics well alone: there is a single choice of 1.5 petrol driving the front wheels, available in 75, 90 or 115 horsepower states of tune. Confusingly, there is also the Mazda 2 Hybrid, which is a rebodied Toyota Yaris that’s been to Mazda finishing school.
What is new is the styling: up front you can’t fail to notice the blanked-over grille design, which now bleeds into the headlamps and is mostly taken up by a body-coloured panel. It almost makes the 2 look like an electric car (EVs need less cooling than combustion cars, remember). Another telltale is the coloured tabs visible on the front and rear bumpers, signalling which trim of Mazda 2 you are looking at.
The interior is also pepped up by the arrival of a new coloured plinth running across the dashboard and the eagle-eyed among you may have spotted two new colour options: Aero Grey and Air Stream Blue paint.
What are the specs?
The 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine is badged e-Skyactiv G, signalling that mild hybrid tech is standard on the petrol Mazda 2. The engine automatically shuts down at a standstill to save petrol and has a modest 24-volt battery to harvest energy during deceleration to reduce fuel consumption.
Your budget and need for speed will dictate which power output to pick: just beware that the least powerful output does not necessarily mean the lowest emissions or insurance group ratings: the entry-level 75ps model emits 109g/km of CO2 and falls into group 16E, while the more powerful 90ps Mazda 2 is rated at 107g/km and 14E when equipped with the auto transmission. You have been warned…
Key Mazda 2 specs are:
- 75ps manual 1.5 Skyactiv-G 11.3sec 0-62mph, 106mph, 58.9mpg combined,109g/km CO2
- 90ps manual 1.5 Skyactiv-G 9.8sec 0-62mph, 114mph, 60.1mpg combined, 107g/km CO2
- 90ps automatic 1.5 Skyactiv-G 12.1sec 0-62mph, 110mph, 52.3mpg combined, 122g/km CO2
- 115ps manual 1.5 Skyactiv-G 9.1sec 0-62mph, 124mph, 56.5mpg combined, 113g/km CO2
We tested the mid-ranking Mazda 2 1.5 90ps Exclusive-Line with the manual gearbox.
How does the Mazda 2 drive?
The Mazda 2 we tested was quietly accomplished: a thoroughly talented, well executed five-door supermini that didn’t betray its advanced years one jot.
Here is a simple small car that’s been honed into a well resolved package over the years it’s been on sale. It’s right-sized, for starters. At 4085mm long and 1695mm wide, the 2 is the perfect size for whizzing around city streets and nipping into tight parking spaces. Those standard rear doors make getting in and out of the back seats easy, too.
Thumb the start button and the four-cylinder wakes to a quiet idle. You have to work the 1.5 quite hard, even in mid-ranking 90ps trim, yet it never sounds thrashy or loud. It’s refined at a motorway cruise, assisted by very tall gearing. You’ll certainly have to drop out of sixth if you want to accelerate up a hill at 70mph.
The suspension tuning is well judged, too: the Mazda 2 rides well, with a pleasing pliancy to the chassis soaking up lumps and bumps in the road, yet it doesn’t all go to pot in the corners. It can be hustled along your favourite back road with some composure, aided by the sweet, simple gearchange which encourages you to keep the 1.5 on the boil.
What about the interior?
There’s a good view out from inside the cabin: visibility is unobstructed in every direction and most versions even come with a rear parking camera – something of a luxury in such a small car.
Instrumentation is simple and clear and there’s a decent smattering of standard equipment. Even the most basic model gets navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air-con and electric windows. Everything is well built and finished, without feeling too premium and costly. It feels like a smart, well engineered purchase from inside the cabin.
Perhaps the biggest giveaway that this is an old car is the ageing Mazda Multimedia Controller, the rotary control that operates a bit like a simpler, less sophisticated version of BMW’s iDrive. The eight-inch screen is operated by the dial and the user experience of navigating the menus is a bit creaky, especially if you’re trying to control your synced smartphone.
If its digital touchpoints are feeling their age, you can thank this more analogue character for a welcome simplicity. The large rotary heating controls (below) work well and remind us why we hate everything being packaged into touchscreens. You can turn the lane keep assist off and it stays off. Bravo!
The Mazda 2 has a comfortable, simple and well resolved interior, with impressive seats for such a small car. Even after four-hour stints at the wheel, we emerged feeling fresh and without aches and pains. The boot is a decent size for a supermini, too: 255 litres with easy access and a deep floor.
Before you buy: trims and rivals
The problem with Japanese cars is that the oscillating yen exchange rate can make prices something of a rollercoaster. The starter price has leaped by around £1k already in the past year, to £18,615. That’s not bad value, when you consider the competition (a VW Polo starts at £20,070 at time of writing and even the usually competitive Hyundai i20 costs from £20,770).
Choose from Centre-Line, Homura, Exclusive-Line and Homura Aka trim levels; the two Homura trims are sportier specs and are distinguished by red tags instead of yellow flashes on the nose and rump.
Our test car was the Mazda 2 1.5 90ps Exclusive-Line and felt like the sweet spot in the range. Even the mid-ranking power output can feel breathless on the motorway, but if you’re happy to stir the gearbox down to a lower cog, its performance is sufficient. We’re not sure we would recommend the lower-powered 75ps model on this basis.
We averaged a decent 49mpg in a week of mixed driving.
Verdict: Mazda 2
In an age where many manufacturers are turning their backs on superminis, we’d say the Mazda 2 is a small car to celebrate. If you’re looking for a hatchback for pottering around town or for young motorists to own early in their motoring CVs, it’s a really smart choice.
We rate it for its strong equipment levels, the quality of its build and the fact that it’s a really great drive. It’s not fizzing with hot-hatch levels of steering feel and chuckability, like the recently departed Fiesta was, but it’s a sweet drive in a sensible package. Highly recommended.