Road Test: Mazda2 2015 South Africa

Mazda2 road test South Africa

When you’ve won an international Car of The Year award with your B-segment hatch offering, you will naturally feel the pressure when you unveil the latest incarnation. For Mazda, the diminutive Mazda2 has been a solid performer and the latest version of this compact hatchback is set to continue the trend.

The fourth version of the Mazda2 is no longer based on the Ford DE platform and instead utilises the Mazda CX5 chassis, making it slightly larger and wider than its predecessor. This bodes well for the interior space as well as the overall handling and poise of this new model.

We had the 1.5-litre petrol model on test, fitted with Mazda’s Skyactive-Drive automatic transmission. In Individual trim, it’s the second most luxurious model you can choose, with the 1.5 diesel variant topping that list. As such, the new Mazda2 Individual is missing a few niceties in what is otherwise a comprehensive list of features. The petrol model is devoid of cruise control, automatic climate control, Dynamic Stability Control and Satellite Navigation and, thankfully, Auto Stop/Start functionality.

The 1.5 litre motor is pleasantly surprising. I wasn’t expecting too much from the 82kW and 145Nm power plant, especially when mated to the auto transmission, but I walked away singing its praises. There is more than adequate power to give the Mazda2 some energetic get up and go, even when loaded up with passengers. On a trip across country with some open roads, the fuel consumption was beautifully frugal, returning 6.7 litre/100km.

The buzz word in Mazda circles is KODO Design, their latest ideology of function and form in the design process. While the Mazda2 doesn’t have the striking, angular front end of the 3 or 6, the revamped visage is contemporary and palatable with key elements ensuring that it is in fact new and of the same lineage as its larger brethren. The rear end is nothing special and overall one could regard the styling as conservative. Despite this, is still manages to garner a few interested glances from passers-by. Sadly, the undersized 16-inch alloy wheels leave a bitter aftertaste and I would personally have preferred to see wheels one size bigger, allowing for a more sporty and proud stance.

The highlight for me was most certainly the interior. What the exterior lacks in terms of punch, the interior makes up for in spades. While not revolutionary, it’s an interior befitting a car of much larger, much more expensive tastes. The long, rolled dashboard features a leather wrapped centre section, complete with brushed aluminium detailing. It’s flanked on either side by sporty, round air vents with high class black and aluminium coloured trimmings. If you didn’t know any better, you would mistake the interior for that of an Italian sports car.

Mazda has also recently received several Red-Dot Design awards with the Mazda2 featuring amongst the CX-5 and MX-5 in the accolades.

The instrument cluster features a centre mounted speedometer, with the digital tacho and simple OBC resting either side in the wing shaped binnacles. A multifunction steering wheel houses controls for the wonderful MZD infotainment system that rests on top of the dashboard, with i-Drive-like controls resting below the gear selector for further functionality and accessibility.

The Mazda2 is up against some stiff competition when you consider the pricing and spec level with the biggest threat coming from the Koreans. I believe it has the number of the VW and Ford offerings, even that of the French onslaught. It is therefore a solid choice when one factors in price and service / warranty backup.

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