Mazda2 GT 2023 Review

It’s difficult not to sound like a broken record but the latest 2023 Mazda2 has followed the industry trend of becoming a lot more expensive.

When this third generation of 2 launched way back in 2014, you could score a base manual for $14,990 plus on-road costs and even the fully loaded Genki automatic would leave you change from $23K before on-roads.

The range now starts at $24,720 plus ORCs for the Pure manual and this GT is $27,920 plus ORCs – or well over $30,000 on the road.

That’s a lot of money for a small car but not necessarily out of step with its rivals like the Suzuki Swift GLX Turbo ($28,790 plus ORCs), Toyota Yaris ZR ($31,260 plus ORCs) and Volkswagen Polo Style ($32,540 plus ORCs).

However, the 2023 sales of the Mazda, Suzuki, Toyota and Volkswagen combined still fall some way short of the category’s dominant figure, the MG3, which tops out at $20,990 drive-away. It seems that at this end of the market, there is still a high degree of price sensitivity.

It’s worth noting that unlike all its rivals, a sedan version of the Mazda2 GT is available for no extra cost.

Manufacturers will argue these price hikes are offset by greater equipment levels and the 2023 Mazda2 GT does have a few mod cons to boast about.

These include 16-inch wheels, auto LED headlights, climate control, keyless entry/start, leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and hand brake and leather seats with synthetic suede interior trim.

Nine colours are available with only Soul Red, Polymetal Grey and Machine Grey attracting an extra cost of $595.

Mazda offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km at a cost of $1256 over three years, $2115 over five or $3037 over seven years.

While it does increase the price, Mazda should be commended for democratising safety equipment across its range, even in its cheapest model.

All 2023 Mazda2 variants benefit from autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, reverse emergency braking and rear cross traffic alert, in addition to the usual airbags and reverse parking sensors and camera.

The GT ups this with front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control, features you aren’t necessarily used to seeing in this class of car.

The 2 did have a maximum five-star ANCAP rating on launch, which has since expired, but its fundamental crash performance was very impressive and it has added important active safety features along the way.

Here we find the most obvious giveaway of the 2023 Mazda2’s age. Its 7.0-inch central infotainment display does now feature wired smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) but it’s only a touch-screen when stationary, forcing you to use the fiddly and annoying rotary dial when driving.

There’s a six-speaker stereo as well as Bluetooth and digital radio but the screen is also small, low-resolution and just feels dated. A larger 8.8-inch screen has been unveiled for the Mazda2 in Japan, but it’s unclear whether this will makes its way to Australia at this stage.

Another issue is the head-up display. It sounds like a fancy feature but it’s almost useless as I could barely see it and I sit as low as possible. Having the seat any higher would only exacerbate the issue, though those with short torsos might have a better viewing angle.

All 2023 Mazda2 variants use a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with a six-speed automatic the only transmission available in the GT.

It produces 81kW/142Nm but the upside of a small engine in a light car (1109kg) is claimed combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 5.0L/100km and it’s happy on regular 91 RON.

It may be nine years old, but the Mazda2 driving experience hasn’t aged a day. This is a terrifically enjoyable small car to drive, with a zingy, rev-happy engine, a mature and comfortable ride and genuinely engaging handling.

There are many so-called performance cars that aren’t nearly as fun as the 2023 Mazda2 to drive hard.

Around town its size and lightness make it super-useable, though the one caveat is that small and torque-lite engine does needs some revs to give its best, which will hurt fuel economy. (Relatively speaking, you’re probably still looking at around 7L/100km or so as a worst-case scenario.)

This lack of grunt does also make itself known on the highway, where the 2 drops into sixth gear at every possible opportunity at 100km/h, only to immediately select fifth again when you add some throttle. This hunting back and forth is tiresome, and while you can get around it by selecting Sport mode, it then hangs on to gears too long for regular driving.

It’s possibly irrelevant for this segment of car, but the 2’s dynamic capability is evidence of Mazda’s ethos of putting the driver first. This is not a fast car, but it’s an exceptionally fun car that does not shirk from being thrown around in the slightest. On the contrary, it relishes it.

Great balance, accurate steering, that revvy engine… it all adds up to a package that will put a smile on your face.

Even if you’re not an enthusiastic driver, it shows Mazda has put plenty of time and effort into the engineering of the 2.

The new suede inserts across the dash and door trims, in addition to the leather touchpoints and nicely-contoured seats give the 2023 Mazda2 GT somewhat of a premium air (relatively speaking) – you can see where some of your extra money has gone.

It’s unlikely too many will consider the 2 as a family car but it can probably get by in a pinch. Adults can fit in the rear without too many complaints over shorter journeys, and while a rear-facing kid seat will require the front passenger be squashed, forward-facing should be fine, though the front seats will likely be within kicking distance.

Boot space is at somewhat of a premium, even by the standards of the segment, but is fine for the shopping or some school bags. The practical choice is the sedan, which has a genuinely impressive 440 litres thanks to its larger rear-end. The hatch holds 250L with the rear seats upright.

There are a multitude of answers to this simple question. If you have around $30,000 to spend and you want a small car then the 2023 Mazda2 should absolutely be on your shopping list. Even at its advanced age it’s one of the best examples of the breed.

As for whether the GT is the pick, that could go either way. A lot of what makes the 2 great is present in the Pure with a $3000-plus saving, but then that’s not an enormous amount of money to upgrade to the GT (especially if spread over a lease) and you do get some useful extra kit. And probably better resale, too.

The trouble is, the sales figures overwhelmingly suggest that what city car buyers want in 2023 is a low price tag, a decent warranty and smartphone mirroring. Hence the success of the MG3.

Happily, there is a middle ground. There are hundreds of examples of this generation Mazda2 available on carsales and $15,000 will get you an early hatch with well under 100,000km and the sedans are even cheaper.

Up your budget to $20,000 and the world is your oyster, with a variety of higher trims available with around 50,000km. You might miss out of some of the newer features, but you’ll still be buying a great small car.

2023 Mazda2 GT at a glance:
Price: $27,920 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 82kW/144Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 117g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Unrated