Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

94 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

T

his is the third generation of
Mazda’s popualr small car.
The Mazda2 hatch is offered
with a choice of two 1.5-litre/
four-cylinder naturally aspirated,
direct-injection petrol engines
across four spec levels: Neo,
Maxx, Genki and GT.
Pricing starts at a super-
aggressive $15,320 for the Neo
manual. Maxx is $18,080, Genki is
$21,140 and GT is $22,150. A six-
speed auto adds $2000.
Neo, Maxx and GT are also
available as a sedan, at the same
prices and specifi cation.
All models are well equipped.
Neo gets low speed (from
speeds up to 30km/h) automatic
emergency braking, Bluetooth
and rear parking sensors, but
no reversing camera.
From Maxx grade up, auto
emergency braking in reverse is
standard. Genki and GT grades
add blind spot monitoring and rear
cross traffi c alert, giving them the
the best standard equipment driver
assistance safety specifi cation in
the small car class.

Both engines benefi t from

Mazda’s Skyactiv engine-effi ciency

technology, the standard (V-P5)

version producing 79kW/139Nm,

and the high-spec (F-P5)

delivering 81kW/141Nm.

The cabin features excellent

fi t and fi nish quality, clean,

minimalist styling and a

sophisticated, high-tech feel.

Attention to detail befi ts a more

expensive car, from the precise,

tactile controls to clear, concise

instruments, a sporty, leather-

wrapped steering wheel and

retro-look spherical air vents.

While most Japanese and

Korean brands use touchscreen-

only infotainment, Mazda

adds the much safer, more

effi cient rotary controller/

cursor interface favoured by

German makers. Moving across

and within menus is intuitive,

complemented by calling/email/

message Bluetooth functions,

voice control that works with

phone, audio and navigation, and

a head-up display that shows

speed, speed limits (with 100

percent accuracy on test) and

navigation prompts.

Back seat space is predictably

tight for tall passengers, but

four average sized adults will fi t

comfortably in the Mazda. A huge

boot in the sedan – 440 litres,

compared with 250 in the hatch

• can be extended with the 60/40
  split fold rear seat back.
  Mazda’s 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G
  engine/six-speed automatic
  delivers best in class fuel
  effi ciency in town. Our car
  averaged 6-7L/100km on regular
  unleaded, complemented by an
  unusual automatic stop/start
  system that requires an additional
  fi rm press on the brake, after you
  come to a stop, to kill the engine.
  You then need to give the
  accelerator a similarly decisive
  poke to get the plot rolling again,
  because like other naturally-
  aspirated petrol fours torque is in
  short supply at low revs.

One of the quietest small cars

at highway speeds, the 2 cruises

effortlesly at 100km/h with the 1.5

ticking over at 2250rpm in sixth

gear, returning a super frugal

4-5L/100km. It makes easy work

of hills, again due to responsive,

sophisticated drivetrain software

that picks the right gear at the

right time and prevents hunting.

Open road dynamics are

sporty in fl avour, with accurate,

reasonably talkative steering,

disciplined body control, great

front end grip and secure

roadholding. The ride is pretty

fi rm though, especially around

town at low speeds.

The Mazda2 is good value

because you get much more

than just a cheap shopping

trolley. It’s a premium quality,

well-equipped, precision-

engineered little machine with

best in class standard safety and

a big fun to drive factor.

Test drive it back to back with

VW’s Polo, the other front runner

in this class, plus the Skoda Fabia,

the Kia Rio and Honda Jazz.

MAZDA 2 FROM $15,320 S

THINGS WE LIKE

 Outstanding quality and reliability

 Great resale values

 Passenger and cargo space

 Stellar fuel effi ciency

 Simple, classy dash layout

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Not a lot of grunt in either engine

Rear headroom is just OK

SPEX (Maxx auto)

Made in Thailand

1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol/six-

speed automatic/front-wheel drive

81kW of power at 6000rpm/

141Nm of torque at 4000rpm

0–100km/h in 10.5 seconds

(estimated)

4.2L/100km highway; 6.1L/100km

city, 91 octane; CO 2 emissions are

114g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Neo includes stability

control, six airbags, auto emergency

braking, Bluetooth, rear parking

sensors, 15-inch steel wheels. Maxx

adds digital radio, camera, 15-inch

alloys, leather-trimmed steering

wheel/gear-shift/handbrake.

Genki and GT 16-inch alloys, front

fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers,

automatic air, seven-inch display

screen and navigation.

Redbook future values: 3yr: 57%;

5yr: 43%

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

compare with ...

Honda Jazz, Hyundai Accent, Kia

Rio, Toyota Yaris, VW Polo

STARS