Mazda2 G15 Pure 2022 Review

As with most things in life, the light car segment is no stranger to price hikes, with sub-$20,000 models fast becoming an endangered species Down Under.

The 2022 Mazda2 is no exception, and while you could get your hands on one for as little as $15,570 plus on-road costs only a few years back, entry into the pint-sized line-up now starts from $21,390 plus ORCs.

Opening the four-variant range is the entry-level Pure, sold with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic, the latter commanding a $2000 premium and is the specification we’re testing here.

If you’re after more of a sporty look, the blacked-out Pure SP is next in line, priced from $23,890 plus ORCs, while the Evolve (from $24,990) and flagship GT (from $26,490) round out the range.

If you prefer a sedan body over a five-door hatchback, choice is narrowed down to either the Pure or GT – each of which cost the same as the hatch – while every 2 is powered by the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

But even by today’s standards, the Mazda2 remains a relatively affordable city car option, and feels like great value when you look at its list of standard equipment.

We could happily live without the two-tone black and brown cloth upholstery, but welcome features include push-button start, blind spot monitoring, digital radio, rear parking sensors and smartphone mirroring, to name a few.

Our tester’s premium paint option of Machine Grey metallic also adds $595 to the final bill.

The Mazda2 is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, however it does require servicing more often than some of its competitors, scheduled every 10,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Those trips to the workshop will set you back $1015 or $1702 over the first three or five years respectively.

Even though the 2022 Mazda2 G15 Pure is the most affordable model in the brand’s local line-up, the Japanese car-maker hasn’t skimped on safety.

Carrying over a maximum five-star safety rating awarded by ANCAP back in 2015, every Mazda2 hatch and sedan is fitted with six airbags, along with a host of standard safety tech.

Our tester is fitted with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – low speeds only – with pedestrian detection, as well as emergency brake assist, cruise control (non-adaptive), blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The display projected from the reversing camera isn’t of the highest quality, but certainly good enough to pick up smaller objects.

Overall, it doesn’t feel like the cheap city cars many of us drove in our younger years, and you’ll feel at ease behind the wheel, knowing you’re backed by plenty of safety gear.

Meanwhile, the 7.0-inch central touch-screen is on the smaller side, but at least it’s clear and easy to navigate via a rotary dial mounted on the centre console. It also brings wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity.

A six-speaker sound system also comes standard, but audiophiles will likely find its lack of bass and clarity in need of an upgrade.

The driver’s instrument cluster consists of a large analogue dial, with small screens either side. It’s a fuss-free and easy-to-read console, but we’d love to see a digital speedometer.

You’ll have to forego other niceties, including features such as rain-sensing wipers, auto-fold mirrors and climate control, all of which are reserved for higher grades.

Every variant in the 2022 Mazda2 range is powered by the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to either a six-speed manual (Pure only) or six-speed torque-converter automatic that drives the front wheels.

It does a commendable job on road, particularly considering its measly outputs of 82kW of power and 144Nm of torque. That’s not much on paper, but in the real world the little Mazda2 provides more than enough gusto to get you going.

Likewise, the six-speed automatic feels like a good match, providing smooth, predictable shifts.

A ‘Sport’ button ups the ante ever so slightly, bringing up the revs, but at the same time making the Mazda2’s already-touchy accelerator pedal even more so. It’ll jerk you forwards with even the smallest of dabs.

In contrast, the brake pedal feels great, with a prompt, yet natural, feel to it.

Elsewhere, steering feel is super-light – and the leather-appointed steering wheel is soft under hand – making the already-tiny Mazda2 a breeze to manoeuvre.

A teeny tiny turning circle of 9.4m also makes it the perfect city runabout.

Our tester’s average combined fuel consumption after seven days of highway and suburban driving read 6.4L/100km, which is a bit over Mazda’s official claim of 5.3L/100km.

You’ll get better economy out of the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, which uses just 3.3L/100km on the combined cycle, but it’s considerably more expensive to purchase outright, starting at $29,130 plus ORCs.

It might no longer be at the top of the class when it comes to cabin comfort and dynamics, but the driving experience in the 2022 Mazda2 G15 Pure is, again, one of ease.

If you want a more athletic or polished on-road car, look to the pricier Volkswagen Polo or Skoda Fabia.

But stick with the more affordable entry-level Mazda2 and you’ll be rewarded with a silent assassin in terms of all-round liveability.

Riding on 15-inch wheels with chunky Dunlop tyres, most road imperfections are soaked up well, but you will feel larger hits tremor through the hatchback’s cabin, particularly at the rear-end.

Other sore points include a lack of cabin refinement, most noticeable on coarse-chip tarmac where a fair bit of road noise filters into the cabin.

There’s also loads of hard plastic trim around the cabin – expected at this price point – but thankfully common touch points around the cabin (steering wheel, gear shifter and manual handbrake) are all finished in a softer faux leather.

Rear seat passengers aren’t treated to as many creature comforts, missing out on air vents, a centre arm rest and even door pocket storage.

There also isn’t so much as a single USB outlet for occupants in the second row, who will also have to deal with a rather cramped space unless they’re relatively small.

Taller people may also struggle for headroom and legroom up front, although the driver is handed tilt and reach adjustment for the steering wheel and a good range of manual adjustment for the seat, too.

As you probably guessed, the cargo area in the Mazda2 hatch is also tiny, rated at 250 litres with the rear seats upright, which makes it one of the smallest in the segment.

For reference, the top-selling MG3 offers 307 litres of space, while the Toyota Yaris Hybrid offers 270L, even with its extra battery-electric tech on board.

Easy and affordable, there is a lot to like about the 2022 Mazda2 G15 Pure.

Even now, reaching the pointy end of its third generation, the little Mazda2 is an attractive and appealing car you can simply get into and just drive, with minimal worries about where you’ll park or how much it’ll cost to fill its tiny 44-litre fuel tank.

If you can live without creature comforts like keyless entry, an electric handbrake with auto hold or even climate control, the Mazda2 Pure makes a great, fuss-free option.

How much does the 2022 Mazda2 G15 Pure cost?
Price: $23,390 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 82kW/144Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 123g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)