2015 Mazda2 first drive review

The Japanese brand wants to shatter the perception of what a city car can be.

Stephen Ottley

10:5428 October 2014

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2015 Mazda2 first drive review

Mazda has set the bar high for its all-new Mazda2, claiming it wants to "shatter all notions of the subcompact class" with it's latest city car.

A very brief initial test drive of the new Mazda2 in Japan in June gave only gave a small indication of what the car has to offer. But our first extended test on Australian roads was a chance to find out if the new model can live up to that bold goal.

After more than three hours behind the wheel and from the passenger seat it was clear that this new model is a lot more grown up than the car it replaces. The new Mazda2 is more comfortable and sophisticated thanks to its ground up reinvention.

As explained in our previous test the new model is 'all-new' in the truest sense of the word. It has new Skyactiv underpinnings (shared with the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5), a new Skyactiv engine, more technology and new design inside and out.

The new model is longer (both overall and within the wheelbase) and taller than the old model so it feels bigger on the road.

Inside, though, there is slightly less headroom front and rear, and less legroom in the rear too, despite the larger external dimensions. While the front still feels spacious enough the rear is cramped for adults.

The interior design is a big step up from the old model. Our original Japanese drive was in a pre-production model without a finished interior.

The final article is impressive, looking like a scaled down Mazda3 with an easy to use layout and a simple but stylish design.

We drove the mid-level Maxx model with the optional $250 Colour Pack which adds glossy red and white trim highlights which elevated the look and feel of the cabin.

That option isn't available on the top-of-the-range Genki we also sampled, but the black trim and seven-inch infotainment touchscreen perched on the dashboard gives the new 2 a sense of being a bigger, more expensive car.

As explained in our detailed pricing and specification story the Australian range will get two different variations of the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol Skyactiv engine.

The entry-level Neo gets a 79kW/139Nm version but the Maxx and Genki we drove had a more powerful, and yet more fuel efficient, 81kW/141Nm version.

There is adequate power for a city car but Mazda's insistence of going with naturally-aspirated engines means peak power doesn't kick in until 6000rpm and maximum torque until 4000rpm, which means plenty of revs is required - and noise generated - to access its best performance. The 2's turbocharged rivals offer more low rev range shove which is more desirable in stop-start city traffic.

But the ace up its sleeve is the engine runs on a diet of regular unleaded petrol, rather than more expensive premium petrol, which will help keep running costs down.

Our Australian test drive was also the first chance to sample the new six-speed Skyactiv automatic transmission. Mazda has shunned the modern trend for dual-clutch gearboxes and it has resulted in a smooth shifting unit both in traffic and on the move.

But the biggest difference from our Japanese test and Australian drive was the suspension set-up in the car. The car we sampled in Japan exhibited noticeable lean in the corners, suggesting softer, more compliant ride.

But the suspension in the Australian cars is significantly firmer with far less lean in bends and a firmer ride over bumps. It's not a plush ride but it can't be called harsh either, however it can be busy at times, transmitting repeated smaller road imperfections and hitting speed bumps with a thump rather than easy compliance.

Mazda claims a 15 per cent improvement in NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Certainly road noise has been reduced but there was noticeable wind noise at speeds above 80km/h.

So does it "shatter the notions of the class"? Not quite. The city car game has become incredibly competitive with both value packed models at one end of the market and far more sophisticated examples at the other end.

The new Mazda2 manages to achieve a bit of both. It offers good value but is also a more polished offering than many of its rivals.