Mazda2 revamped, rationalised and re-priced

One of the oddest and most memorable car badges to appear in Australia has been at least temporarily retired, as part of a revamped Mazda2 light-car range that is on sale now.

The Genki name has gone and the starting price of the Mazda2 line-up has gone beyond $20,000.

Mazda Australia has elected to push the Mazda2 hatch and sedan upmarket, with the cheapest model more than $5000 more expensive than the old entry point.

There are now seven Mazda2 variants – down from 14 previously – and a manual gearbox is now limited to the entry model.

The third-generation Mazda2 range has been on sale since 2014. This update pushes entry pricing to $20,990 plus on-road costs, compared to $15,570 previously. Pricing tops out at $25,990.

“The 2020 update to Mazda2 adds some premium safety technology never before seen in vehicles at this price point in Australia,” said Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak.

“We added a 360-degree camera in addition to a suite of active safety features, giving customers of our smallest vehicle greater peace of mind and confidence while driving.”

Those safety features include Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) and pedestrian detection for Smart City Brake Support (SCBS).

Evolve and GT get traffic sign recognition and the GT alone picks up a 360-degree View Monitor and adaptive cruise control.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto become standard across the range.

The Genki badge has been around as far back as 2002 when the first Mazda2 replaced the 121 Metro. It debuted at the same time as the slightly less odd Neo and Maxx badges

A report of the time noted Mazda executives were “shifting in their chairs at yesterday's press launch somewhat uncomfortably” while explaining the names were “capturing the youthful spirit they want the cars to project”.

Genki, the journos were told, translated from Japanese as “spirit and joy”.

Mazda2 hatches and sedans are now identified as Pure and GT while the hatch alone adds a mid-spec Evolve model. These badges are spreading across other Australian models, such as the new Mazda3 small sedan and CX-30 small SUV as it seeks to reign in its proliferation of identifiers.

“We are consolidating. We do intend to be more consistent across the range,” confirmed Doak.

“Some of the names were getting a bit tired so we just thought we would introduce newer ones, names that are more consistent with the positioning of the brand.”

All Mazda2 models also get the G15 nomenclature, meaning they are powered by a 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine. The six-speed manual is now only offered with the Pure and the six-speed auto is a $2000 option. Evolve and GT variants get the auto as standard.

Updated intake ports, piston rings and skirts and a new coolant control system are claimed to quicken engine response, reduce harmful substances in exhaust emissions, and improve power and torque output. Power is boosted from 79kW to 82kW, while pulling power increases from 139Nm to 144Nm.

Mazda claims the Mazda2 consumes 5.4L/100km as a manual and 5.3L/100km as an auto.

Other changes include a new seating structure, the addition of the G-Vectoring Control Plus handling and stability support system and minor suspension retuning.

The updated Mazda2 can be picked out by extra facial chrome, a reflecting grille mesh borrowed from the Mazda6, a new bumper and LED headlights with a large cylindrical lighting element that integrates the foglights. Alloy wheel designs are new too.

Inside, there are new colours, while Pure and Evolve variants are trimmed in cloth and GT in a ‘Gran Luxe’ synthetic suede.

The Mazda2 continues with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five-year roadside assistance as standard.

Mazda forecasts the Pure will account for 77 per cent of sales, the hatch body style will be preferred by 85 per cent of buyers and 94 per cent will opt for an automatic transmission.

The Mazda2 is the third most popular light-car on sale in Australia behind the soon-to-be-axed Hyundai Accent and soon-to-be-replaced Toyota Yaris. Its market share has dropped 16.8 per cent in 2019, versus a segment fall of 14.2 per cent.

More than 60,000 current-generation Mazda2s have been sold and more than 196,000 examples since the original Mazda2 – and the Genki badge – debuted.

2020 Mazda2 equipment by grade:

G15 Pure features:
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• 7.0-inch full colour touch-screen display (MZD Connect)
• Advanced keyless push-button engine start
• Airbags SRS: front (driver and passenger), side (front) and curtain (front and rear)
• Air-conditioning
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Audio system with AM/FM tuner, DAB+ digital radio and six speakers
• Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability
• Cruise control
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
• Front seats with: height adjustment (driver) and seat back pocket (passenger)
• G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC-Plus)
• Headlamps (LED)
• Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane-keep Assist System (LAS)
• Leather-wrapped gear shift knob, handbrake handle and steering wheel
• Multi-function commander control
• Parking sensors (rear)
• Power mirrors (body coloured, electric folding)
• Power windows
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Rear seats with: 60/40 split fold backrest
• Reverse camera
• Seat trim: Brown cloth
• Smart City Brake Support - Forward/Reverse (SCBS-F/R)
• Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
• Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel
• Trip computer
• USB-audio input port (iPod compatible)
• Vanity mirrors (front)
• Wipers (front) two-speed with variable intermittent function

G15 Evolve features, in addition to G15 Pure:
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Active Driving Display
• Air-conditioning (climate control)
• Daytime running lamps (LED)
• Exhaust extension (chrome)
• Headlamps auto on/off function
• Power mirrors (body coloured, auto folding)
• Satellite navigation
• Seat trim: Navy cloth
• Shark fin antenna
• Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
• Wipers (front) two-speed with rain-sensing function

G15 GT features, in addition to G15 Evolve:
• 360-degree View Monitor
• Advanced keyless entry
• Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)
• Parking sensors (front)
• Seat trim: Blue Grey leather with grey Grand Luxe®
synthetic suede

G15 GT (sedan) features, in addition to G15 Pure:
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• 360-degree View Monitor
• Active Driving Display
• Advanced keyless entry
• Air-conditioning (climate control)
• Daytime running lamps (LED)
• Exhaust extension (chrome)
• Headlamps auto on/off function
• Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)
• Parking sensors (front)
• Power mirrors (body coloured, auto folding)
• Satellite navigation
• Seat trim: Blue Grey leather with grey Grand Luxe synthetic suede
• Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
• Wipers (front) two-speed with rain-sensing function

How much does the 2020 Mazda2 cost?
G15 Pure sedan (m) – $20,990
G15 Pure sedan (a) – $22,990
G15 Pure hatchback (m) – $20,990
G15 Pure hatchback (a) – $22,990
G15 Evolve hatchback (a) – $24,490
G15 GT sedan (a) – $25,990
G15 GT hatchback (a) – $25,990
* Prices exclude on-road costs