Mazda2 2015 review

Mazda has been running hot in Australia for several years, often topping the overall sales list with its midrange Mazda 3. The '3 is being offered in an ever increasing number of models to suit more and more buyers, the most recent being the addition of a high-performance diesel to the import list.

Now an all-new Mazda2 has joined it big brother, and is an impressive small car that feels a size larger than it really is.

Design

With their big flat radiator grilles, swooping front and rear guards and tall tails, the Mazdas are like a matching set of upmarket luggage.

The interior has a modern look that features a smallish instrument binnacle with a single round dial centre and twin squared-off displays beside it. These electronic displays can be configured in different ways by the driver, even more so in the top-line Genki models.

One of our favourite options is a colourful interior by courtesy of the Mazda2 'Colour Pack'. Aimed at those who can get away from the conservative norm, the colour packed cars have red seats - which makes a lovely change from the seemingly endless black in most current vehicles - high-gloss red finishes on the sides of the centre console, the front-door armrest side, the highlight panel on the dash and, finally, the ventilation surrounds.

All this red stands out all the more as it's complemented by high-gloss white details.

We love the Mazda2 Colour Pack, and can't believe it only adds $250 to the price. Go on - have a go at it yourself!

Value

It looks to us as though Mazda was keen to strip the price of the Neo down to an impressively low $14,990 (plus on-roads) with the intention of selling buyers up to the higher grade models following their personal road tests. Fair enough, that's standard marketing on just about all products.

Prices of the Mazda2 Neo begin at $14,990, $16,990 for the Maxx and $19,990 for the top-line Genki.

Engines / Transmissions

Unusually, the Mazda2 is offered with two engines that appear almost identical on paper, but vary significantly in performance. Both are four-cylinder units displacing 1.5-litres, but the one used in the entry level Mazda2 Neo has a lower compression ratio (12:1), resulting in less power and torque (79kW / 139Nm) than the powerplant in the midrange Mazda2 Maxx and top-spec Genki, which have a compression ratio of 13:1 and 81kW and 141Nm.

The 81kW version available on launch has a sense of sprightliness in its nature. It is no sports machine, but it will suit most people.

As always try for yourself, but we suggest finding some hilly roads to see what you think of engine performance.

Driving

Our road test was done on some pretty demanding surfaces at times, chiefly in the hills behind the striking beaches of Byron Bay. We were most impressed by the rigidity of the body. While there is some pitter-patter on poorly patched bitumen the overall feel was that of a car from the next price range upwards. That's impressive.

Incidentally, one reason for the low cost of these new Mazdas is that they're built in Thailand rather than Japan. Build quality looks alright to us, and we are well aware of how seriously Japanese quality inspectors take their work when it's moved to factories outside Japan.