2023 Mazda 2 Reviews

Mazda hasn’t forgotten the little things.Most carmakers are moving away from little hatchbacks as sales dwindle as buyers jump into SUVs instead.Mazda has stayed true to its roots by refreshing its ageing Mazda2 instead of tossing it into the too hard basket, giving new and urban drivers a quality choice of wheels.The 2 is no longer the sub-$20,000 proposition it once was with the base Evolve grade tested here starting at $27,290 (before on-road costs). The better-equipped GT grade adds $1200 to the price, and you can get the GT in sedan form for the same price.That makes it about $2000 cheaper than the most affordable Toyota Yaris, which has the added benefit of hybrid power, and about $3000 thriftier than the Volkswagen Polo.A new wave of Chinese machines undercut it, with the MG3 about $7000 cheaper, while even BYD’s electric Atto 1 costs about $5000 less.Relying on purely petrol power the Mazda2 shows its age without any form of electrification in an era when hybrid is king and electric is the wannabe usurper.It uses a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that makes 81kW and 142Nm, matched to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.Mazda claims it drinks just 5.0 litres of the cheapest petrol per 100km.Rival hybrids slash at least 1.0L/100km off that figure and deliver more zip from the petrol-electric combo.The 2 is a handsome machine, and has its competitors beat for design. It wears Mazda’s trademark features with an elegance long gone from small cars.Buyers can expect 16-inch black alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto on and off feature, auto folding black side mirrors, chrome exhaust and a little body coloured garnish in the front grille.Step inside and you’re greeted by a cabin that hasn’t been corrupted by modern distractions.A 7.0-inch multimedia display is small by modern standards, but that’s probably a good thing for young drivers.It is controlled via the touchscreen or rotary dial in the centre console when stationary, with touchscreen controls taken away when moving. The idea being you keep your eyes on the road more.The rotary dial is a bit of overkill as the screen controls so few functions that a touchscreen would suffice.It comes with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, digital radio and in-built sat nav.The driver’s instruments are analogue with just an old school digital readout that gives Casio watch vibes for some functions.A head-up display is one of the most useful features in modern cars, and a must for new and experienced drivers alike.Mazda’s head-up display uses a little folding clear screen to project vital information such as travelling speed, posted speed limit and some safety warnings in front of the driver in an easy to view and read spot.Passengers are greeted by black cloth-wrapped seats with red contrast stitching that are well cushioned and comfortable enough for long drives. The GT grade ups the ante with synthetic leather and suede upholstery.A leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear shifter and hand brake give it a more premium feel.Well placed and easy to read steering wheel buttons for volume, multimedia, cruise control and answering the phone are a win for users.There are physical dials for climate functions that are easy to use on the go and a pair of USB-A ports up front so modern phone users beware you’ll need a different charging cord or adapter.A physical handbrake means storage options in the centre console don’t go much further than two cupholders and very small storage bin. This is a little car, so storage options in general are limited.This extends to the rear seat, which is cramped and best suited for only two adults and long-legged humans might struggle on longer trips.Front facing child seats can fit easily but rear facing or capsule seats will severely restrict front-seat passengers.The boot is mini at just 250 litres, so think moderate weekly shop or a few overnight bags. If you need more the sedan ups it to a substantial 440 litres. You can fold down the back seat in both to liberate more space.It does have a space-saver spare tyre under the boot floor, which is a positive.The Mazda2 is one of the most compact machines you can buy at 4085mm long, 1695mm wide, 1495mm tall and with a wheelbase - the distance between the front and rear axles - of 2570mm.You’ll feel tiny on the road, with dual-cab utes and large SUVs towering over you, but in urban environments, tight city streets and underground carparks, the size difference pays off with easy commuting and access to parking spots others just drive right by.It is a commendable city driver that feels most at home in traffic and city streets, as it feels a little breathless and lightweight on motorways.The small engine is perfect for urban driving but you’ll need to work it hard to get up to speed with power delivered very high in the rev range. This means you’ll hear the engine revving to the sky when you accelerate.It feels asthmatic when travelling up steep hills with the car noticeably struggling on the sizeable inclines in and around Sydney. In flatter cities such as Melbourne or Adelaide you’d barely notice it running out of puff.It is a great little car to steer, with great feedback, well balanced, direct and responsive steering.It is light, so you’ll feel bumps and lumps along the way but it does a great job of ironing out the road imperfections for a little machine.Road noise is intrusive at higher speeds and on coarse chips roads, but mostly it is composed and refined.Mazda’s driver’s side mirror is magnified, which takes some getting used to and the jury is still out if it is absolutely necessary.All driver aids work as advertised.The car automatically applying the brakes if it detects a potential collision, it’ll warn you if something is in your blind spot or if a car is approaching from the side as you reverse and an array of sensors will help keep you centred in your lane.Mazda backs it cars with a five year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which is par for the course these days and quickly becoming a subpar package as more brands switch to seven, eight or ten-year guarantees.Seven years of capped price servicing will cost $3286, which is pricey compared to the rival Toyota Yaris. Owners need to visit the workshop every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

The GT is the top of the range for the Mazda2 hatchback line-up, with its updated version starting from $27,610 before on-roads and adding some extra interior touches and comfort features.

The Evolve is the most popular badge in the Mazda2 hatchback line-up, with its updated version starting from $25,910 before on-roads and including plenty of extra kit over lower variants.

The Mazda2 Pure SP is a step up from the entry point into the Mazda Australia line-up, starting from $25,210 before on-roads and adding a host of styling extras over the base model Pure..It comes with the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels as the rest of the range, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.Its outputs and efficiency has been tuned compared to the pre-facelift, though at the cost of a tiny amount of power and torque - it makes 81kW and 142Nm, using 5.0L/100km of fuel, which is 0.3L/100km less than before. The Mazda2 can run on 91RON or E10.Standard features for the range include a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, a six-speaker sound system, plus new auto headlights and windscreen wipers. The Pure SP adds to this with a decorative front panel replacing most of the mesh grill at the front, coloured to suit the body paint, as well as a similar styling panel across the dash in a more striking colour, and a carbon fibre-style roof with shark-fin antenna.Pure SP scores a set of black 16-inch alloy wheel, unique to this variant and larger than the 15s found on the base model Pure..The dimensions of the Pure SP are the same as the rest of the range, with the hatch coming in at 4085mm long, 1695mm wide, 1504mm tall, and with a 2570mm wheelbase.The Pure SP score the brand's standard suite of 'i-Activsense' safety tech, which includes 'Smart City Brake Support' for operating forward and reverse, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.It has six SRS airbags as well as ISOFIX anchor points and top tethers for child seats in the rear.The Pure SP is covered by Mazda’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

The Mazda2 Pure is the entry point into the Mazda Australia line-up, with its manual hatchback version starting from $22,410 before on-roads and claiming its place as Mazda’s cheapest car.It’s also available with a six-speed automatic transmission, the same number of gears as the manual, and with the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels.The automatic version is slightly more expensive at $24,410 before on-roads, and can also be had in a sedan body style.Its outputs and efficiency differ for each though, with the manual slightly more powerful at 82kW and 144Nm, using 5.4L/100km of fuel. The Mazda2 can run on 91RON.The auto has been tuned for more efficiency, though at the cost of a tiny amount of power and torque - it makes 81kW and 142Nm, using 5.0L/100km of fuel, which is 0.3L/100km less than before.Standard features for the Pure variant include a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, a six-speaker sound system, plus new auto headlights and windscreen wipers. New seat designs and a decorative panel is also found in the Mazda2 Pure, as with the rest of the range.Where the rest of the range gets 16-inch wheels, the Pure has a set of 15-inch alloy wheels finished in silver.The dimensions of the Pure are the same as the rest of the range, with the hatch coming in at 4085mm long, 1695mm wide, 1504mm tall, and with a 2570mm wheelbase.For the slightly longer (but less tall) sedan, those measurements are 4360mm long, also 1695mm wide, 1479mm tall, and with the same 2570mm wheelbase.The updated Mazda2 Pure is equipped with the brand's suite of 'i-Activsense' safety tech, which includes 'Smart City Brake Support' for operating forward and reverse, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.It has six SRS airbags as well as ISOFIX anchor points and top tethers for child seats in the rear.The Pure is covered by Mazda’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

The entry-point into one of Australia's most popular brands has been around in its current guise for almost 10 years, but the Mazda2 has had a refresh.Possibly for the last time in the current generation's lifespan, the small hatchback gets a facelift and Mazda hopes it's enough to maintain the small hatch's appeal to first new car buyers.

The Mazda2 has been around a while, but successive updates have helped it stay in touch with its compact urban competitors, and keep its head above water as the SUV wave continues to swamp the Aussie new car market. Does the recently introduced Pure SP grade put more air in this long time favourite's Floaties?

Mazda's excellent small car, the 2, has gone a bit upmarket. Now available in three versions instead of four, the GT is the top of the range and pushes well into the kind of price territory that could buy you a bigger car.

The Mazda2 sedan is officially the last man standing in the compact three-box segment. There is no natural rival to it in this size bracket anymore, but should you buy this, or step up to a slightly larger sedan?

How cheap is too cheap? The Mazda 2 Neo dares to find out.