MAZDA MAZDA2 HATCHBACK

1.5 Skyactiv G GT Sport 5dr Auto

Review from Cars & Driving

Performance
6
Handling
7
Comfort
7
Space
7
Styling
7
Build
8
Value
7
Equipment
8
Economy
7
Depreciation
7
Insurance
7

Will It Suit Me?

There's no doubt that the Mazda brand is going places. The sporty MX-5 roadster has always been a personal favourite, but the Mazda6, the Mazda3 and the second generation Mazda2 we feature here are also well worth consideration. The '2' is Mazda's attempt to inject a bit of pizzazz into its supermini offering, something much needed given the strength of competition in the Fiesta segment. Does it deliver? I wanted to find out.

Practicalities

First impressions are good: it's a car that under fifties would be happy to be seen in. That's thanks to a flowing blend of curves, lots of shape in the flanks and a gaping front grille. The interior's probably the biggest surprise. To be honest, I expected the cabin to be boldly-styled but built out of some shiny plastics and with ergonomics that were a bit hit and miss. It's anything but. In fact, the design is relatively clean and conservative, but the colour combinations that Mazda offers are a knockout and the materials quality is genuinely surprising. It's spacious too. By stretching the wheelbase by 80mm, Mazda has delivered a decently-sized passenger cell for a five-supermini. I had no trouble getting childseats in and out and the boot's deep and boasts 280-litres of room with the seats in place - or 960-litres when they're folded, which is just a few litres off that of the latest Fiesta. There's decent storage space for the paraphernalia of family life in the cabin too, with a big glove box and door pockets that can hold large bottles.

Behind the Wheel

There's no shortage of room behind the wheel, and it's easy to achieve a comfortable driving position. All round visibility is a Mazda2 strong point, the designers concentrating on reducing the amount of blind spots. The turning circle is commendably tight which means that seven point turns in the road become a thing of the past. Having tested this car straight after a Citroen Berlingo, a car with a turning circle visible from space, the Mazda2's manoeuvrability was a welcome plus. Buyers get to choose between either a 1.5-litre petrol engine or a 1.5-litre diesel in a variety of different guises. The petrol motor is offered in 75, 90 or 115PS outputs, while the diesel cranks out a healthy 105PS. It's easily the pick of the bunch. The suspension has been set up to be Volkswagen-firm which you'll feel on poor surfaces but the flipside of this is that the Mazda2 offers reassuring body control in corners. The steering is an electrically-assisted system, so don't expect bucketloads of feedback, but you can count on clean response and perfect accuracy. With a sporty feel and easy manoeuvrability, the Mazda2 is more than just a city scoot. It's got a welcome element of long distance versatility too.

Value For Money

Prices range in the £12,000 to £17,500 bracket common to superminis in this segment. There's a five-level grade structure - SE, SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport and Sport Nav. Here are three 1.5-litre petrol units with 75, 90 or 115ps on tap, plus a 105ps 1.5-litre diesel. Mazda claims that the range sets new standards for infotainment, in-car connectivity and equipment levels in the segment with the 90ps SE-L Nav models featuring a 7-inch colour touch-screen, a rotary Multimedia Commander infotainment control, MZD Connect, DAB radio, and a satellite navigation system as standard, whilst Sport Nav models also benefit from the addition of 16-inch alloy wheels, smart keyless entry and climate control air-conditioning. In terms of running costs, Mazda's 1.5-litre normally-aspirated SKYACTIV-G petrol engines get between 57.6 and 62.7mpg, which certainly isn't bad, but I'd be willing to wager that in typical real world conditions, they'll fare better than Ford's 1.0-litre Ecoboost unit, the one that's found in a Fiesta. Emissions translate to between 110 and 115g/km. The diesel looks to have made all the right moves. Mazda claims 83.1mpg and 89g/km for the SKYACTIV-D engine, which is bound to be popular with UK buyers. The lightweight SKYACTIV chassis helps keep weight down, with the entry-level petrol models tipping the scales at just 970kg.

Could I Live With One?

The Mazda brand has made huge advances within the past couple of years. I remember visiting the Motor Show at the NEC a while back and walking straight past the Mazda stand, seduced instead by the promise of a decent cup of coffee and a Danish from Ford. Fortunately that wouldn't happen these days. Mazda have turned themselves around and if this MK2 model Mazda2 is anything to go by, they're still gaining momentum. Could I live with a Mazda2? Certainly. Would I buy a Mazda2? A definite maybe.

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Mike Lowe

"Have to give the whole team at Silverstone a massive 5 stars ( my wife would have given them 6 stars for having to deal with me :-) ) From start to finish a truly professional service for the three cars that myself and my colleges chose for company cars, working with Tom and Michelle has been a pleasure, speed of response to questions has been quick and precise. Thank you and would defiantly recommend Silverstone for your leasing partner."

Lewis Higginson

"First time using Silverstone Fleet Management & would recommend them to everyone. Tom & Michelle were excellent. Both were incredibly helpful and efficient, always responding to emails and phone calls and so friendly and easy to talk to. Always keeping me up to date & nothing was too much of an ask. Couldn't be happier with my car & look forward to using Silverstone Fleet Management in the future."

"Couldn’t recommend Silverstone leasing enough after looking for a replacement lease car. I got a Cupra Formentor which got delayed time and time again and at one stage. Tom, Ryan, Michelle and the team helped me look for alternative vehicles. Smooth easy process. Kept up to date throughout. It may have taken over 11 months for a car but finally got the car I wanted. So happy with it. Always friendly and professional. Thanks guys"

Karen Byrne

"Customer service, communication and updates about my car have been fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble and whilst my car was delayed due to manufacturing issues, I was updated constantly and had a great car inbetween. Worth the wait, I finally have my A250e AMG!!!!! Thanks Silverstone, highly recommended."

Anthony Day

"Tom was extremely helpful in helping me choose the right car at the most competitive price. His expertise and responsiveness to my questions was excellent. I’ve also received great support so far from the customer service team. Really happy with my new car. Highly recommend Silverstone Leasing!"