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Peter Lyon18 Jul 2014
REVIEW

Mazda2 2014 Review

Totally new Mazda2 offers fresh engines, a bigger, sexier new body and loads of features to challenge European and Asian rivals

Mazda2
Pre-production drive
Shuzenji, Japan

Mazda has a lot riding on its all-new 2. So no wonder the revisions are so comprehensive. Boasting brand-new SKYACTIV technologies that encompass the chassis, powertrains, body and suspension, the totally redesigned 2 is an advanced good looker. The attention to detail follows the car inside too, with four trim levels, improved materials quality and refinement to make European and Asian rivals stand up and take notice. But could niggling ride and handling issues cause a few hiccups?

With the arrival of the all-new Mazda2, the Hiroshima-based company has finally solidified its four core SKYACTIV models, adding the new 2 to the CX-5, Mazda3 and Mazda6.

The outgoing Mazda2 captured the World Car of the Year prize back in 2008, so the new model has a lot to live up to.

And from our brief test of a pre-production model (albeit an undisguised one built later than the first new Mazda2 we drove last month) at the Shuzenji proving ground two hours south of Tokyo, first impressions are stellar for a hatchback that has to lock horns with the likes of the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i20.

The fourth all-SKYACTIV Mazda model is totally new. By that, we mean the 2 gets an all-new platform, all-new powertrains, a redesigned interior, improved driver comfort, enhanced on-road dynamics and a stylish new body.

Bigger all-round, the Mazda2 gains 160 mm in length to 4060mm, picks up 25mm in height to 1500 mm, while its wheelbase stretches 80mm to 2570mm. Width remains unchanged. And when you consider the new 2 is a bigger car with significantly more new technologies, a kerb weight gain of just 40kg for the base Japanese version (up from 990 to 1030kg) is more than acceptable.

The bigger body delivers more leg and head room, as well as all-round visibility, thanks to a larger windscreen and A-pillars that shift 100mm further forward.

Employing Mazda’s new signature ‘Kodo’ design language, the 2 inherits a similar grille and flowing lines as seen on the 3 and 6. However, we would argue that the 2’s overall proportions, contours and angles offer the best example of Mazda’s new design philosophy thus far. The 2 is a dang good looking car.

Powering the new compact Mazda in overseas markets will be new 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-D turbo-diesel and 1.3-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engines.

Generating 77kW at 4000rpm and 220Nm at 1400-3200rpm (auto: 250Nm at 1500-2500rpm), the 1.5-litre diesel will be the main engine for Europe and delivers beefy response from as low as 1500rpm and all the way up to 5000rpm.

While the six-speed manual is well matched to the 1.5 diesel, the gearing of the new six-speed automatic extracted the best performance, especially at low revs.

The 1.3-litre petrol variant we drove in Japan produces 68kW at 6000rpm and 121Nm at 4000rpm, and comes with a choice of five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions. Mazda tells us that European-spec models will get a different, slightly less powerful petrol model.

Australia's entry-level 1.5-litre petrol-powered Mazda2 will deliver 79kW/139Nm (up from 55kW/135Nm in Europe's base model), which is up only slightly from the current Mazda2's 1.5 (76kW/135Nm).

Australian-spec models were not available at our test drive. Performance figures for a second, more powerful 1.5 petrol engine -- which will also be sold in Australia -- are yet to be revealed, but Mazda has hinted that a four-two-one exhaust, instead of the four-into-one exhaust used by both low-output engines, will deliver more power, torque and efficiency.

On the road, the Mazda2 picks up where the 3 and 6 left off. Mazda2 chief engineer Ayumu Doi says that higher trailing arm mounts for the torsion-bar rear-end improve ride comfort and low to medium-speed stability.

In addition, caster angle has been laid back 1.7 degrees to improve straight-line stability. That, in combination with the longer wheelbase, reduces pitching under braking and gives the new 2 greatly enhanced 'self-steering' properties.

However, the new 2 generates as much bodyroll as its well-regarded predecessor, if not more. Harshness at low to mid-range speeds was also prevalent as the car struggled to absorb ruts and road cracks.

Mazda tells us that minor adjustments will be made to the production model to improve ride quality and that Australian vehicles will come with a specific chassis tune, but there's no doubt the new 2 is a big step up in terms of body rigidity, quietness and overall refinement.

The old Mazda2 offered good, sharp steering with plenty of feedback. The new 2 follows in those footsteps, turning in well at speed, but it does steer more slowly and lacks the feel of the old 2.

Perhaps the lack of feel and feedback was due to Mazda’s choice of Yokohama Blue Earth eco tyres, which deliver good mileage but may not realise the full dynamic potential of the car in terms of steering grip and communication.

The lower grip levels probably contributed to the car's tendency to understeer when pushed, and left us wondering how much better it would corner with stickier rubber. In fact, we asked whether we could test the car with different tyres but none were available, so we don't know how much they would have improved the 2's cornering personality.

Doi told us that one of his team’s top priorities was to find the optimum driving position and enhance driver comfort. To that end, pedals were moved 20mm to the right and an organ-style accelerator pedal was added, while the longer cabin liberates more legroom and there's plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment.

Other ergonomic upgrades include larger front seats that were given more back support and can now handle drivers between 150 and 190cm tall, while the Mazda2’s footwell will now accommodate shoe sizes up to 33cm!

Boasting four different interior trim combinations (including at least three for Australia), the car’s cabin is a much nicer place to be. Apart from the entry-level variant's bland grey cloth trim, the new 2 offers class-leading interior trim levels, with the top-of-the-range model's three-tone (cream, red and black) leather seat upholstery taking the smallest Mazda more upmarket than ever before.

The stylish, soft-touch dashboard takes a leaf out of the Mazda3 and 6 book with a high-mounted central colour touch-screen operated via a console controller, and safety features have been significantly enhanced too. Advanced driver aids available for the first time will include blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, radar cruise control, head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic high-beam.

Mazda has put a lot of effort into lifting the 2’s design, quality, refinement and safety levels to bring it in line with Europe’s class-leaders. With an elegant and high-tech interior, a full suite of latest safety technologies and a vast reduction in noise, vibration and harshness levels, all wrapped in a bigger, classier and more masculine body, Mazda has placed it in the same playing field as the sophisticated Polo.

Whether the latest 2's new-found maturity comes at the expense of its predecessors' accomplished handling dynamics remains to be seen on home turf. Regardless, if the new and expanded range lands here at the right price, Mazda's 2 is sure to remain one of Australia's top-selling light cars.

2014 Mazda2 pricing and specifications:

Price: $TBA
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 79kW/139Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual and auto
Fuel: TBA
Safety rating: TBA

What we liked:
>> Larger, stiffer, quieter and more stylish body 
>> Classy interior and sexy three-tone seat trim
>> Advanced driver aids and efficient engines 

Not so much:
>> Ride quality and body roll
>> Eco tyres that lacked grip
>> Cheap and nasty entry-level trim

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Written byPeter Lyon
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Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Expert rating
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Engine, Drivetrain & Chassis
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Price, Packaging & Practicality
18/20
Safety & Technology
18/20
Behind the Wheel
15/20
X-Factor
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