Mazda2 2017 Review

Mazda apparently has a happy knack for handing us a new model updated with G-Vectoring Control just in time for Melbourne's rain gods to provide the ideal test environment.

It happened previously with my review of the updated Mazda6 last year, and now it's happened again with the Mazda2 light passenger car.

The car on test, a Mazda2 Maxx sedan with automatic transmission, became available for a brief test on roads I know well just in time for a post-Cyclone Debbie deluge that made its way into the southern parts of Victoria.

And while target buyers for the Mazda2 might be left scratching their heads by phrases like 'trailing-throttle oversteer' (which is reined in without any drama by the light sedan's stability control), that handling trait and the power-on grip afforded by the G-Vectoring Control make the Mazda2 one of the best choices for active safety in the light-car market segment.

Dynamic and safe driving
The new 2 also comes with standard autonomous emergency braking – a feature that according to Mazda is standard on only one other car in the light VFACTS segment, the Skoda Fabia. Mazda's system also works in reverse, for all models other than the entry-level Mazda2 Neo.

While the test vehicle lacked the blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available in higher-grade Genki and GT models, the Mazda2 Maxx did feature a reversing camera that's missing from the Neo specification.

Despite the Mazda's active safety credentials, it rides fairly comfortably as well. There's some impact harshness at lower speeds, even on the test vehicle's 15-inch wheels (upmarket Genki and GT models ride on 16-inch alloys).

The steering of the Mazda2 is quite light, yet this has little impact on the car's steering response and precision. It's a car that can be punted along with a high degree of confidence, even in conditions as adverse as those experienced during the test.

So while the 81kW Mazda2 is not an enthusiast's car as such, its dynamic ability makes it safe without being dull. There's enough grunt available to spin up a drive wheel in the wet, as I found, but the Mazda2 handles that relatively well, with minimal axle tramp from the McPherson strut front end.

Audience-suited performance
The engine under the Mazda's bonnet has the necessary mid-range torque and naturally-aspirated response to work well with the slick-shifting adaptive six-speed automatic. Throttle back on a hill and the transmission will hold lower gears – and even shift down again – for engine braking. It's one of the better transmissions we've experienced in a light car, also delivering the right gear required in a timely way when shifted manually.

While the Mazda2 engine is a little coarse under load, it's not at all obtrusive at low revs – down to 1500rpm. There's zero labouring in higher gears. Cruising at open-road speeds the engine note also recedes into the background noise of wind and road, leaving just a subdued rumble to remind you the engine is still running.

Performance is lively enough around town and while the engine output is only marginally better than that of the Kia Rio launched in Australia recently, there are more transmission ratios to exploit the Mazda's torque, which is easier to harness than the Kia's.

That makes the Mazda2 easier to drive in its default state, and power delivery improves by selecting the Sports mode from the toggle just to the south of the transmission lever. This ensures the powerplant is right in the sweet spot for performance – at around 3000rpm. Without the Sports mode, the transmission can be reluctant to kick down.

An economical drive
While the Mazda's fuel consumption figure of 7.3L/100km exceeded the Kia's – in different test conditions, admittedly – we're confident the Mazda would be more economical than the Rio in the same scenario. Certainly the official fuel consumption figures support that view. On open roads, the Mazda has the potential to sip fuel at a rate well below 6.0L/100km.

At night, the Mazda2's headlights were above average and better than many of the Mazda's market rivals, casting a beam well ahead of the car.

Mazda has made the new 2 quieter overall; there's still some tyre roar on coarse-chip bitumen, although this was likely exacerbated by the wet surfaces. If there's one element of the Mazda2 design that needs to be louder, it's the indicators, which can be hard to hear at times.

Design and ergonomics: a cosy drive
Inside, reflecting its packaging, the Mazda2 is not exactly the Albert Hall. Behind the wheel I found the driving position to be not quite right for my purposes. The seat base was too short, and I could have done with more reach in the steering column adjustment, but shorter drivers won't likely find reason to complain.

Essentially, the rear of the Mazda is fit for younger teens and pre-teens, with knee room at a premium and my head brushing the headlining. In this regard, the Mazda2 loses out to the Rio and other light-segment rivals. Also, as is usually the case with light cars, there are no adjustable vents for rear-seat passengers.

There's a commodious boot behind the C pillars of the Mazda2 sedan, and the boot lid is light enough for anyone, but still fairly solid. Gooseneck hinges could make contact with larger, fragile loads as the boot is closed. Cable releases in the boot unlatch the folding rear seats, which flip forward. As with a few light-segment cars, the Mazda2's seats fold down leaving a step between the seat squab and the boot floor, which means larger items won't sit flat.

All in all…
The changes that Mazda has introduced to the smallest car in the range are undeniably changes for the better. These will keep the Mazda2 fresh and competitive for some years to come, while the other brands catch up. There's no denying the competence of the drivetrain, the reassurance of the car's dynamics, the benefits of the active safety systems or the sensible pricing. Only the interior spaciousness lets the Mazda2 down, and for many buyers, that's not a major consideration.

2017 Mazda2 Maxx sedan pricing and specifications:
Price: $19,690 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 81kW/141Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 114g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2014)

Related reading:
>> Kia Rio v Mazda 2 2017 Comparison
>> Mazda2 2016 Review
>> Mazda2 Sedan 2015: Video Review