Mazda2 2005 review

A little purple Mazda2 Maxx, that is. Mazda describes the colour as Iris Blue but purple is as purple does and so their week was perfect.

They wanted to travel in the purple car, pat the purple car and own the purple car. Me? I just delighted in something that was compact yet spacious, easy to park, could fit all the shopping and, I admit it, was purple.

Even the men of the house had to admit that the Mazda2 packs plenty into its little frame. And talking of small, the Maxx model manages to put an in-dash six-CD player, alloy wheels and a sporty rear roof spoiler in a car costing just $20,875 for the automatic.

Even the next model up, the Genki, will set you back only about $22,000. My long-legged other half kept trying to tell me it was a perfect "girls' car". You know, the sort just perfect for a quick shopping fix, zipping around the city and avoiding other vehicles in tight car parks. Sounds perfect really and I noticed he was more than keen to take that little delight everywhere.

The deceptively spacious design meant he had plenty of headroom and the back-seat drivers had plenty of space even behind his seat.

And when they haven't come for the ride and you need extra space in the back, those back seats fold flat and move around – quite a snazzy little trick in a little baby built to please.

But small doesn't mean lack of power. Mazda's long experience in building quality cars that just keep going has been put to good use. The Mazda2 comes with a 1500cc engine and is available as a manual or a four-speed activematic. Whatever that means. What it does mean is that even with a full load of passengers and picnic basket and Esky in the boot, we zipped up the Southern Expressway leaving bigger cars in our wake. Zoom-zoom goes the catchy tune and zoom-zoom we could.

And popping in some fuel was a delightful surprise. Not many dollars pushed the fuel gauge on the 45-litre tank well up – and with economy on the automatic rated at about seven litres/100km, you can just keep driving that adorable little machine on and on and on.

Love it leave it

Mazda2 Maxx automatic

Love it

Compact outside, but spacious inside

Zippy engine

Great choices of colours

Leave it

Little bit of engine noise

Family daytrips OK but no room for a weekend away

Slightly boxy look that could date quickly