Mazda 2 Review 2024

The Mazda 2 is on the smaller end of the scale in this class. That means it's great for parking and negotiating the cut-and-thrust of inner-city traffic, but makes it a less practical choice than roomier models from its rivals.

It will suit younger drivers or retirees who rarely need to carry more than two people, but the latter group might not appreciate its firm ride, nor this engine's constant need for revs to make steady progress on faster roads.

Its nicely designed cabin and classy materials do make it feel plush, plus most versions are very generously equipped, too, but the 2 can't quite compete with premium rivals in terms of feel-good factor and perceived quality.

The smallest car in Mazda's line-up competes with some of the most popular models in the UK. The likes of the Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo dominate sales charts and all are newer than the 2.

The Corsa is a grown-up feeling car that's good to drive and reasonably affordable for the class. The Volkswagen Polo is the comfier option, with excellent refinement and a superbly built interior, even if Volkswagen is a little stingy with its equipment.

For a little less you could pick up practical options like the Skoda Fabia or Hyundai i20, while premium buyers can spend a bit more on an Audi A1 or MINI hatch.

That's before we even mention its pure-electric rivals like the Peugeot e-208, Renault Zoe and Honda e.

The Mazda is certainly not the cheapest small car on sale, but it does feel suitably premium inside, especially in later examples. Previous problem areas like the flimsy manual air-conditioning controls, the hood of the instruments and the door cards have been improved in terms of the materials used. You now get nicer finishes in these areas, with a pleasing mixture of glossy, soft-touch and silver-finished plastics, plus a nicely sculpted leather steering wheel that feels sturdy.

There are still some tell-tale signs of cost-cutting, including the cheap black plastic covers for the USB ports, but everything seems robust and fits together really nicely, with tight shut lines between the dashboard panels.

On older, lower-spec Mazda 2 models, you get a monochrome AM/FM radio with just four speakers, a CD slot, and USB and AUX ports - welcome to the 90s. The basic system does at least have Bluetooth, and lets you control the volume and track selection with buttons on the steering wheel.

The thing is, the cabin layout has been designed for the upgraded touchscreen, so the radio is mounted a bit too far back on the dashboard to reach without stretching, and the actual controls are really slim and fiddly to use.

We would avoid this system if you can. Later models (and those with 'Nav' in the name) feature a 7.0-inch colour display, which brings with it DAB digital radio, navigation with live traffic updates plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone mirroring. It's not the sharpest screen and the menus take a little getting used to, but it's miles better than the basic setup. The screen was later upgraded to an 8.0-inch item.

You also benefit from six speakers, better sound quality and an extra USB for charging two devices at once. It's a no brainer and we really like the fact that Mazda gives you a rotary controller to navigate its menus, because it's less distracting to use when driving than a touchscreen.

Small cars need to be good all-rounders, but unfortunately, cabin space is an area the Mazda fails to shine in. It's simply not as spacious inside the back seats or boot as the class leaders, limiting its range of practicality. 

We're talking fine margins of course. You can still fit adults in the rear and every model has five doors, but if your passengers are long-limbed, they may find their knees resting on the backs of the front seats. There is less headroom than in rivals, too, and the small windows make it feel cramped.

The body is narrower than most, so trying to squeeze three into the back will involve an impromptu game of twister as everyone tries to dig out their seat belt buckles from under each other: we wouldn't recommend it. There's a less-than-ideal amount of storage, with no door pockets, one map pocket to share and no cupholders in the back.

Up front, there is more room to stretch out, with enough space to accommodate all shapes and sizes. Again, though, there are some niggles. The door pockets are small and hard to access, while the cubby behind the gear knob is too slim for a smartphone or even a chunkier wallet. Apart from loose change, it's redundant.

It's a similar story in the boot. Overall capacity is 255 litres, which trails most other small cars and it's harder to load bulky, heavy items than it would be in those rivals. It has a high load lip to contend with and there is no false floor option to flatten out the luggage area when you've stowed away the 60/40 split/fold rear seats. 

The opening you actually have to lift things through is narrow, too, which means you have to carefully place longer heavier stuff to avoid scratching the paintwork. It can carry 950-litres in two-seat mode, which would be quite impressive for a city car, but makes the Mazda 2 one of the least commodious small hatchbacks on sale.

That might not be a deal-breaker, but for those who do need space, a Skoda Fabia or Citroen C3 is a better choice. Fact fans, take note. The Mazda 2 measures 4070mm in length, 1695mm in width and 1515mm in height.

One thing that Mazda does differently to other car firms is the clever use of something it calls ‘SkyActiv’ technology to boost fuel economy. This means that it uses larger engines than most other small cars and doesn’t feature turbos. Indeed, the 2 posts some very impressive official WLTP figures, and it's likely to get a lot closer to them on a regular basis than a highly tuned, smaller-capacity turbo engine.

This approach gives the 2 a very different character from most rivals. It now comes with one engine, a 1.5-litre petrol, available with 75PS, 90PS and 115PS, with or without mild-hybrid assistance.

Those power figures are modest compared with pricier versions of the Fiesta (140PS) and Corsa (130PS), and the Mazda makes you work for every ounce of performance. You have to rev the engine hard to get it going, and while it feels willing and eager to do so in the mid-range, at lower revs it feels flat and breathless.

Unless you rarely venture out of town, we'd go for the 90PS model, but don't expect many fireworks. Its six-speed manual gearbox has very long ratios, and while that's good for cruising, it also means you can put your foot right to the floor in fifth or sixth gear and the car will barely move any faster.

On the plus side, the gearchange is wonderfully positive. All that's required to slot between the gears is a flick of the wrist, so at least you'll be having fun as you constantly shift. You can add a six-speed automatic to this version, but it accelerates even slower than the manual model.

Small cars like this one often struggle to suppress wind- and road noise, purely because there's less metal between you and the scenery rushing past outside. Unfortunately, the Mazda holds true to form in this area.

On the motorway, it's less peaceful than a SEAT Ibiza or Ford Fiesta. Wind noise is kept at a reasonable level, but the rumble from the tyres gets pretty intrusive, especially on cars fitted with larger 16-inch alloy wheels.

Since its engine is down on torque compared to the three-cylinder turbos common in its rivals, it can be hard to keep the revs down. Once they climb past 4000rpm, the motor adds its coarse voice to the rising hubbub.

That's a pity, since at low speed the 1.5-litre unit is so smooth that it's often difficult to tell if it's even running. All cars now get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. It's slick and really precise to use, but tall gearing and general lack of puff mean you'll be making a lot of changes to try and keep the engine in its sweet spot.

If you're not up for the workout, the optional six-speed automatic on the 90PS motor is a smooth operator. It doesn't benefit from the mild-hybrid system you get on the manuals, though, so its a lot thirstier and the start-stop system is not as slick.

Keeping you protected in an accident is just as important in a small car as a bigger one - arguably more so. It's not ideal then, that the Mazda 2 received only four out of a possible five stars when it was tested by Euro NCAP back in 2015.

It got decent individual scores for adult and child protection, although the Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo all do even better in the former category, helping to secure that extra star. The main issue is that base-level models miss out on important active safety systems that cannot be added, even as part of an optional pack.

The brand has fitted a more generous level of safety gear to the rest of the range. Every other model comes with lane departure warning and a lane keep assistant, plus auto-emergency braking.

All cars feature rear parking sensors, which should help mitigate unwanted low-speed prangs, and cruise control that includes a speed limiter function, ensuring you stay below the legal maximum. All very sensible.

While it's not possible to enhance the protection or assistance on board with optional extras, there are a few items of equipment reserved for the most expensive GT Sport Nav (later GT Sport Tech, and later still, Homura Aka) model. It gets a driver tiredness monitor, a blind spot monitor, and a head-up display, which projects key driving information onto a pop-up screen above the normal dials.

Another point to bear in mind about that Euro NCAP rating. The body's tests get harder and harder every year in the pursuit of ever-increasing safety standards, and with the 2 having been tested way back in 2015, it will have been tested against standards and thresholds that were nowhere near as stringent as they are today. Indeed, these ratings only stand for a five-year period before the body deems them irrelevant, at which point the ratings expire. So, if the 2 was below-par for crash safety in 2015, it's likely to be a lot less competitive now.

Mazda generally has a good (if not exceptional) reliability record – although we have heard of a few build quality issues with the Mazda 2. These includes squeaks and rattles from the cabin, while a few HonestJohn.co.uk readers have reported gremlins with the infotainment system. Rusty suspension parts are quite common, too.

Insurance companies make some calculations based on engine size, so although the Mazda's 1.5-litre unit doesn't pack the biggest punch, it will cost you more than smaller-engined rivals with similar power outputs.

Even the cheapest 75PS model sits in Group 13, a few bands higher than a Volkswagen Polo and a massive eleven more than a Skoda Fabia with identical oomph. The 90PS model starts off in Group 15, while the quickest 115PS version will be off-limits for inexperienced drivers or those with a patchy record, as it's up in Group 19.

Before the rule changes made to the system in April 2017, taxing your Mazda 2 was a painless experience. It emitted less than 120g/km across the range, so the maximum it would set you back was just £30 every year.

Later models now have to pay the same £190 flat-rate of tax as all other petrol cars, regardless of emissions.

The Mazda 2 trim line-up has changed a number of times over the years, and there have also been a large number of special edition models offered over time with weird and wonderful names. In fact, at last count, we think there have been no fewer than 25 separate trim versions of this car over the years.

Currently, the trim versions available are Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line, Homura and Homura Aka.

Centre-Line trim comes pretty well equipped, with 15-inch alloys, climate control, automatic lights and wipers, reversing sensors, power folding door mirrors, cruise control, electric windows and the full infotainment system with 8.0-inch screen. That's if you pair this trim with the 75PS engine: upgrade to the 90PS unit, and you also get lane departure waning, lane-keep assist and automatic emergency braking.

Exclusive-Line trim can only be had with the 90PS engine - manual or automatic - and this comes with larger 16-inch wheels, rear privacy glass, a reversing camera and smart keyless entry. Homura trim forgoes a few of those items in favour of sportier styling. Homura Aka, meanwhile, adds part-leather seats with three-stage heating up front, plus a heated steering wheel. Pair Homura Aka trim with the range-topping 115PS engine, and you also get front parking sensors, 360-degree cameras, a head-up display, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert with brake intervention.

Before that, the range was made up of four key models: SE-L, Sport, GT Sport and GT Sport Tech. 

Standard equipment on the Mazda 2 SE-L includes a 7.0-inch sat-nav (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), brown cloth seats with black inserts and a leather steering wheel. LED headlights are also standard, as well as rear parking sensors, cruise control and 15-inch alloy wheels. Buy an SE-L with the mild-hybrid engine and it'll also come with an emergency braking system, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist. Not too shabby for an entry-level car.

For a sportier look, the Mazda 2 Sport adds tinted windows, a chrome exhaust trim, black radiator grille and 16-inch alloy wheels. You'll also find smart keyless entry and wireless Apple CarPlay.

The Mazda 2 GT Sport features a reversing camera, blue/grey leather, heated steering wheel, heated front seats and a colour head-up display. Sitting at the top of the range, the Mazda 2 GT Sport Tech adds front and rear parking sensors, adaptive LED headlights and a 360-degree camera. A blind spot monitoring system (with rear cross traffic alert) is standard, as well as a rear smart city brake support system and driver attention alert.

In the past, there were five different trim levels: SE, SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport Nav, and GT Sport Nav.

The old Mazda 2 SE was quite basic, with air-con, but winding electric windows, steel wheels and little else. We won't be mourning its loss, and the SE is best avoided if you're shopping used, even though it's cheap. 

If you're on a budget, we'd look for a Mazda 2 SE-L, which comes positively stuffed with kit. LED headlights, alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, cruise and climate control, all it's missing is a big touchscreen.

Of course, that's exactly what you get when you upgrade to the 'Nav' version, along with a properly modern infotainment system that includes DAB radio, Apple and Android smartphone pairing, and sat-nav.

Mazda 2 Sport Nav adds some sleeker LED headlights with integrated day lamps, 16-inch alloys, darker privacy glass, and keyless entry. Meanwhile, top-spec cars feature a reversing camera, head-up display, plus heated leather for the seats and steering wheel. 

As we said, there have been tonnes of special editions over the course of its life too. Most are more about a few styling tweaks or exclusive colours like red or black, and not an increase in the amount of equipment on board.