Mazda2 GT 2022 Review

The 2022 Mazda2 range is available in hatchback and sedan form, the most affordable being the base Pure hatch which is available in six-speed manual transmission form for $21,390 plus on-road costs. The auto version is $23,390 plus ORCs.

The otherwise all-auto Mazda2 range progresses through the Pure SP (from $23,890) and Evolve (from $24,990) model grades – only available on hatch – to the bells-and-whistles GT tested here.

At this level, the price gap to some competitors is more evident. Where the top-spec MG3 Excite sits at just $19,990 drive-away, the premium Mazda2 GT sedan and hatch are both tagged at $26,490 plus on-road costs (with a delivered-to-the-customer price beyond $30,000) – a spot where you could conceivably consider shifting up to a small car like the Mazda3.

Catering for those who simply don’t want an even slightly bigger car, the Mazda2 GT comes with a standard equipment list that would be the envy of just about any other brand in this segment.

In addition to the safety technology we’ll talk about in a minute, the prime example of the littlest Mazda greets you with a brand-typical upmarket interior featuring part-leather trim, climate-control air-conditioning, sat-nav (with centre-console-located, touch-screen-avoiding controls), keyless entry and 360-degree bird’s eye view monitoring to help with parking.

Universal Mazda2 equipment includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, DAB+ digital audio, push-button starting, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and – for the driver only – a one-touch power window.

The Mazda2 GT doesn’t come with everything though. It misses out on a centre arm rest and air vents for the rear passengers.

The 2022 Mazda2 might be at the expensive end of this segment, but it’s also at the ‘socially responsible’ end.

The list of safety technology borrows from other Mazda models higher up the food chain and includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – at low speeds only, in forward and reverse – as well as pedestrian avoidance, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

There’s also adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers and a collection of cameras to feed the 360-degree monitor displayed on the 7.0-inch screen.

Other Mazda2 models get all these things bar the adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and the extra front and side cameras.

Also fitted with six airbags as standard, the Mazda2 was awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2015.

The engine in the 2022 Mazda2 – an 82kW/144Nm long-stroke 1.5-litre SKYACTIV unit – enjoys a pleasantly buzzy, but not too intrusive, note that broadcasts an eager, almost sporty responsiveness.

It’s sensory in a manner similar to the related but now-departed 97kW/152Nm version used in the 1.5-litre Mazda MX-5.

The Mazda2’s healthy power-to-weight ratio pips its major competitors including the MG3, Suzuki Baleno and the 85TFSI version of the Volkswagen Polo.

Working well with the standard six-speed auto gearbox (with selectable Sport mode on the centre console), and aided by a tare weight that’s a whisker over one tonne, the 1.5-litre is quite willing off the mark and is ready to help when you are passing slower traffic or the smart cruise control is holding speed on a long uphill gradient.

Unlike some, it’s a light car that feels quite at home on the open road.

Fuel economy isn’t bad either. Helped by Mazda’s i-stop automatic engine cut-out when stationary, the Mazda2 claims an official consumption of 5.3L/100km on the combined cycle.

We didn’t match that, averaging what we still thought was a reasonable 6.2L/100km during our review.

With its 44-litre fuel tank promising a reasonable touring range, the Mazda2 is on par with similarly-powered and similar-capacity competitors. And as you might expect, the Mazda2 asks only for regular 91 RON fuel.

Unlike some of its major rivals, the 2022 Mazda2 GT is a light hatch with a bit of character.

It’s quite a fun city car that can hold its own on the open road with a relatively quiet driveline, minimal cabin noise and a reasonably comfortable ride.

The willing powerplant and the responsive auto transmission combine with appropriately weighted steering and a competent MacPherson strut/beam axle suspension set-up to keep it a cut above the hoi polloi.

The front disc/rear drum braking is within the capabilities of the Mazda2’s road performance, and so are the highish-profile 185/60 tyres on the standard 16-inch alloy wheels.

Probably the most notable – and also unsurprising – thing is that there’s not a lot of room aboard if you’re planning to carry more than, say, three passengers.

Rear seat legroom is minimal and there’s not a huge amount of width to the cabin. Given the Mazda2’s small size – although it is longer in both body and wheelbase than the MG3, Suzuki Baleno and Volkswagen Polo – expecting more would be a bit unrealistic.

The driver, even a taller driver, is nevertheless given a comfortable seating position and the padding and cushion shaping are comfortable over a reasonably lengthy trip of three hours or so.

There’s no powered or heated seats here, just the usual lever-operated length/recline and height adjustments.

The Mazda2’s narrow cabin doesn’t offer a lot to play with so there’s no such thing as a front centre arm rest.

The 250-litre boot is relatively deep and cleanly shaped, but its capacity restricts what can be carried. That said, the hatchback configuration, combined with the 60/40-split folding rear seats, helps make the most of what’s available when only two or three passengers are on board.

The sedan version of the Mazda2 lacks hatchback versatility, but it does offer a big 440-litre boot.

The GT hatchback interior has plenty of quality touches including leather wrapping for the steering wheel, shift lever boot and handbrake grip (there’s no electric parking brake), but the colour screen sitting high at the centre of the dash is a bit of a tiddler.

A quality, generously fitted-out interior, a seriously complete range of safety tech, a characterful and willing 1.5-litre engine and a pervading sense of competence set the 2022 Mazda2 GT apart from the bulk of its competitors in the light car segment.

The pricing might be a bit of a put-off for budget-conscious buyers, but you do, after all, get what you pay for. And there are cheaper Mazda2 models available.

With these thoughts in mind, the question is: Do you, in terms of safety and comfort, go for what is arguably one of the most completely-equipped cars in the segment, or do you spend the same money on a bigger, but slightly less jazzy, vehicle in the small car class?

If it’s a light car you want, and you are prepared to pay more for everything it brings, the Mazda2 GT is one of the best-credentialled in its segment.

How much does the 2022 Mazda2 GT hatch cost?
Price: $26,490 (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)