By Ian Strachan.
The Mazda2 is one of those small cars that thinks it’s a lot bigger than it is. And to complete the illusion it comes equipped with all the equipment you would expect to find in a much bigger vehicle.
The Mazda2 sits in the supermini sector, but a clever use of available space makes it feel larger. Big windows all round give the car an open, airy feel, belying its true size when you sit inside.
In the latest 2022 version of the Mazda2 you get a high specification compared to many of its rivals, particularly in the GT version which I tested. It has bags of technology and is a very pleasant car to drive.
The Mazda2 is a good looking car, with streamlined soft curves and a steeply sloping waistline down to distinctive, sporty headlights and 16-inch alloy wheels. But it’s the interior where it really scores.
The cabin makes use of high quality trim materials and has simple, well-placed instruments and dials. Standard equipment on the GT Sport specification which I tested includes cruise control, remote central locking, all-round electric windows, a good DAB radio with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth, satellite navigation with a seven-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, steering wheel-mounted controls, climate control air conditioning, heated front seats and steering wheel, and electric exterior mirrors. You also get lane control, rain-sensing wipers and automatic stop/start.
Head room and leg room is generous for a small car and with all that glass, visibility is superb.
Luggage room, at 280 litres, is excellent – among the most capacious in its class – and can be increased 950 litres by folding the 60-40 split rear seats down
The 1.5 petrol engine with hybrid assistance is flexible and lively. Power from the 90 bhp unit is more than adequate – in fact it’s surprisingly brisk, with a 0-60 time of not much more than nine seconds. The gearshift for the manual six-speed box is smooth, with economical movement between changes and a comfortably long gear lever which falls easily to hand.
It’s a frugal engine too, returning an impressive 60.1 miles to the gallon in mixed driving.
Price for the Mazda2 GT Sport 1.5 90ps is a competitive £19,325 on the road.
