Mazda2 Genki 2012 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $22,145
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Nil
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 6.8
CO2 emissions (g/km): 162
Also consider: Ford Fiesta (from $15,490 - $24,990); Kia Rio (from $15,290 - $21,990); Toyota Yaris (from $14,990 - $21,790); Volkswagen Polo (from $16,990 - $28,990)

Light cars are a bit like two minute noodles. They do the job, and there are a lot of different brands to choose from. But as any Uni student will tell you, the difference a couple of dollars makes is massive. Same goes with Light cars.

And it’s not just the pretty packaging we’re talking about, either. Inside, the flavour and texture of Light cars varies wildly, and for the sake of a few bucks you can avoid the bland, boring Home Brand variety and get yourself a zesty, tasty treat.

The current DE Series Mazda2 has been with us since 2007, and remains a perennial favourite. The car’s composed chassis, solid construction and quality finish continue to impress, even if some of the technology and equipment is falling behind the times.

The Mazda2 is powered exclusively by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, outputting 76kW at 6000rpm and 135Nm at 4000rpm. It’ll run happily on regular unleaded, but consumes a little more than some of its newer rivals. On test, we averaged 7.0L/100km through a mix of city and country driving.

Similarly, the four-speed automatic feels old hat with a noticeable gap between the top two ratios. Despite this, the transmission does a good job of keeping the Mazda2’s peppy engine in its sweet spot, and is smooth of operation.

Under hard acceleration, the Mazda2 does sound a little raspy and tyre noise at freeway speeds is abundantly apparent, especially over coarse-chip asphalt. But around town, these issues fade away leaving only the buzz of traffic outside and the tunes from Mazda2’s single CD/tuner to enjoy.

The cabin is roomier than you might think with enough space to comfortably accommodate four adults. Unfortunately, luggage space isn’t class leading, though we managed to pack in enough gear for a weekend away without resorting to using the back seat.

Each seating position benefits from head restraints and three-point seatbelts, and child seat anchor points are offered across the rear seat’s outboard positions. Back-seat passengers do, however, miss out on cup holders and ventilation outlets – not so good on long trips.

Up front, there’s ample space and good vision of the road ahead. But with small wing mirrors and a rising shoulder line, side and rear vision can be tricky for shorter drivers. Luckily the Mazda2’s steering column and seat adjustment makes finding the right driving position a breeze.

On longer drives we found the seats to be supportive and the level of equipment satisfactory. Power windows and mirrors were handy, as was the steering-wheel-mounted cruise control. The top-spec Mazda2 Genki on test was also fitted with single-zone climate control, which in this instance was let down by the need for a re-gas (happily it wasn’t too hot outside).

With auto lights and wipers, the Mazda2 Genki keeps your hands where they belong, though sadly Bluetooth connectivity is still an option, leaving us to carry a Bluetooth ear piece for phone calls. It also means missing out on wireless audio streaming – an old-fashioned USB and 3.5mm auxiliary audio input are offered in case you need it.

The Mazda2 corners more tenaciously than most in this class, a point noted by motoring.com.au judges in our Light Car mega-test last year. But it’s not so stiff as to be uncomfortable, even when fitted with larger 16-inch alloy wheels and low-profile 195/45 tyres.

Yep, it’s pricey and the packet is starting to look a bit out of date, but the Mazda2 is still a hearty staple offering all the carbs you need with enough flavour to keep things interesting. What more could you ask for?

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