Road Test - Mazda 2
Author: Ian Strachan
If the Mazda6 is an upper medium sector car and the Mazda3 is lower medium, then you’d expect the Mazda2 to be a small car.
But it’s not. Or at least it doesn’t feel as if it is.
The Mazda2 is certainly in the supermini sector, but a clever
use of available space makes it feel much larger. Big windows all
round give the car an open, airy feel, belying its true size when
you sit inside.
It also has a high specification compared to many of its rivals,
particularly in the three-door Sport version which I tested.
The Mazda2 is certainly a good looking car, tall but streamlined
with soft curves and a steeply sloping waistline down to
distinctive, sporty headlights. But it's inside where it really
scores.
The cabin is a very pleasant place to be, thanks to a good use
of trim materials and simple, well-placed instruments and dials.
There are some clever touches too, such as the large tray centre
console and the magazine/handbook rack in the front of the glovebox
lid.
Standard equipment includes remote central locking, electric
front windows, radio and CD player, an auxiliary jack point for
MP3s and iPods, steering wheel controls, air conditioning and
electric exterior mirrors.
Head room and leg room is generous for a small car and with all
that glass, visibility is superb.
Luggage room is excellent - among the most capacious in its
class - and can be increased by folding the rear seats down
The 1.5 petrol engine in the Sport is flexible and lively. Power
from the 102 bhp unit is more than adequate - in fact it's
surprisingly brisk, with a 0-60 time of around 10 seconds. The
gearshift is smooth, with economical movement between changes and a
comfortably long gear lever which falls easily to hand.
It's a frugal engine too, returning 48.7 miles to the gallon in
mixed driving.
Prices for the Mazda2 start at below £10,500 for the entry
model. My test car comes in at a very competitive
£12,945.
Road test by Ian Strachan Communications
Ltd
Ian Strachan is a motoring and business writer and PR
consultant. He can be contacted on 01543 490932 or 07949
202596 or via email: ian@strachan13.freeserv