Mazda 2, The Little Japanese Is Renewed

Born in 2015, the Mazda 2 enters to compete in the most ferocious segment of all: the utility vehicles, also called segment B.

The Japanese brand provides characteristics to its utility that none of its competitors do, which have been left to possess by the growing downsizing : small displacement engines, generally three-cylinder, accompanied by a turbo.

Mazda has never had a notable position in the ranking of sales in the Spanish market. Reasons to achieve it are not lacking. Still, European brands, especially French, German and Italian, take most of the cake among the utilitarian.

Design

At 4.06 meters in length, the Mazda 2 is 14 centimeters longer than its predecessor. The new measures place it as one of the largest in its category, something that does not appear. The increase of the battle has achieved an improvement in the interior space.

We can only acquire this urban in the five-door configuration.  This is a difference with most of its rivals, such as the Seat Ibiza or the Opel Corsa, also available with three doors in their catalogs.

The front part is very reminiscent of the Mazda 3 but smaller, with a chrome line that crosses the grille, so characteristic of the Japanese brand. The headlights are also reminiscent of the rest of the range, with a sharp design and a very sporty image.

It continues to be a vehicle with very rounded shapes, different from the new trends in the segment, where they are releasing wider and lower cars like the new Polo; utility vehicles that increasingly resemble their older C-segment siblings.

The rear has been redesigned to give the Mazda 2 a wider feel. Still, at 1.69 meters, it’s not among the widest in the segment. Its clean and rounded lines in this part have improved the aesthetics with the previous model, although its forms take away space in the cargo area.

The general appearance of the small Japanese is very premium, with a level of finish available to very few in its segment.

Inside

Recent additions to the market, such as the new Volkswagen Polo or the Seat Ibiza, have set the bar higher when it comes to interior space. The Hyundai i20 has already shown that you can have a spacious car in four meters, and the rest have had no choice but to improve their designs.

In the front seats we will have no problems feeling comfortable from the first moment, with enough adjustments to find a good posture, regardless of height.

With a purely minimalist design, the Mazda 2 has shapes that are as original as they are functional. It has a multi-function touch screen, well placed, and from where most of the functions are controlled. On the other hand, for the air conditioning system, the Japanese brand has opted for conventional roulettes. From our point of view, it is the most comfortable system there is.

In the rear seats, the legroom is somewhat fair. Two people will travel comfortably, but the width available at shoulder height does not make it advisable to accommodate three adults in these seats. It does not have ventilation outlets. but all the materials here give a feeling of robustness and durability. A Hyundai i20 has much better resolved this space.

In the trunk something similar to the rear seats happens to us : they comply, but they do not stand out. With 280 liters of capacity, it is slightly below average, and although it has regular shapes, it will cost us to accommodate the luggage of four people.

Dynamic

This is where the Mazda 2 can get its chest out against most of its rivals. Good work with the suspension and soundproofing make it a very comfortable and stable car on fast roads. It has a stability worthy of a compact.

On curved roads it also more than meets the eye. It changes direction quickly and, unless we get too fast, where a slight understeer appears, the car will behave very neutrally and with very predictable movements. Fun is not out of the question with a Mazda urban.

Motor

This is where we find the biggest differences from its competitors. Mazda seems convinced that doing without the turbo is the way, and so far it is difficult to disagree with them. With a very high level of compression, generous displacement and endless internal improvements to minimize friction, they have achieved engines that are very pleasant to drive and with good levels of power and consumption. For all these reasons, the brand exceeds the level of the best.

The brand has put all the responsibility on a 1.5 liter block. This is offered configurable with three power levels: 75, 90 and 115 hp. From the first to the last we can consider it a good choice, since from the 75 hp we get very decent performance: it goes from 0 to 100 km / h in 12.1 seconds and has a top speed of 171 km / h. In all its versions it shows very good data for its power.

Our choice would be the 90 hp variant, as it combines excellent performance with very moderate consumption. It goes from 0 to 100 km / h in 9.4 seconds, at the level of models with 20 more HP.

Prices

Part of the € 13,250 of the Pulse version with 75 HP and goes up to € 18,400 of the most luxurious finish called Luxury, with automatic transmission and the powerful 115 HP engine. They are fully competent prices for everything that this Mazda 2 offers.

conclusion

The Japanese brand offers a product with a manufacturing level at the level of the best and a groundbreaking aesthetic. In addition, the reliability of its naturally aspirated gasoline engines is more than proven.

It is not the best in interior habitability, but it more than makes up for it in other sections. Only by testing this Mazda 2 will you be able to appreciate its virtues compared to most of its rivals. Your gearbox-engine set will make you fall in love.