Mazda2 introduces enhanced safety

The first major update for the current generation of Mazda2 has been launched in Australia with new driver-assist technology and two new variants joining the range.

Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak that the manufacturer’s goals in revising the Mazda2 were concentrated on quality, safety and Jinba-Ittai – the company’s design philosophy symbolised by ‘horse and rider’ or driver at one with the car.

“Focusing on static quality,” he said, “we worked on improvements to interior design, while with dynamic quality we aimed to reduce NVH [Noise, Vibration and Harshness]. Although Mazda2 was already leading the light-car segment with safety technologies, we have expanded our offering and evolved existing technology.

“And to support the most unique of the Mazda brand pillars, Jinba-Ittai – which of course is horse and rider as one, or car and driver – we have further enhanced driving dynamics through new technologies...”

Prices are unchanged, despite the added equipment, which includes Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert as options for the Neo and Maxx grades or as standard for the Genki and GT variants. Mazda2 Neo loses the CD player, but all other variants now offer DAB+ digital radio.

Smart City Brake Support – Forward (autonomous emergency braking) is now standard across the range and operates between 10 and 80km/h. Its counterpart, Smart City Brake Support – Reverse, is also available and all variants other than the entry-level Mazda2 Maxx come equipped with it.

“We are very proud to be market leaders when it comes to the introduction of market safety,” says Doak, pointing out that just one rival to the Mazda2 – the Skoda Fabia – can match the Mazda for the standard inclusion of AEB in the light-car segment.

G-Vectoring Control, which is already available in the Mazda3 and new CX-5, also makes its debut in the Mazda2 as a standard feature for all variants.

The new models added to the range are the GT hatch and sedan. Replacing a previous option pack, the GT variants top the Mazda2 range and offer cosmetic and comfort enhancements in the form of soft-touch leather upholstery with white contrasting accents for the hatch, black leather for the sedan, and different finishes for the 16-inch alloy wheels.

The alloys are the same design as for the Mazda2 Genki, but with a gunmetal/machined finish for the GT hatch or a bright silver/machined finish for the GT sedan.

All models feature a new design of steering wheel and improved instrument legibility. Digital radio is standard for all grades other than Neo, and the Genki and GT models feature an Active Driving Display now in colour.

Interior colours and trim have been revised, with seats and headrests of all variants other than GT upholstered in black cloth – in differing patterns for each grade. The GT hatch is upholstered in white leather with black cloth inserts, and the GT sedan features a black leather and synthetic suede combination.

Mazda has tweaked the dampers and bushes for improved ride and handling, and the electrically-assisted steering has also been recalibrated.

The Mazda2 is claimed to be more refined now, with a noise-insulating windscreen specified, along with additional insulation in the engine bay and the boot.

Features for Genki and GT distinguishing the new Mazda2 from the old include indicators integrated in the exterior mirrors, which now fold in electrically, a shark fin antenna, grey metallic radiator grille garnish and a new fog light design.

A new colour, Deep Crimson Mica, joins existing Mazda colours that are now also made available for Mazda2. These include: Eternal Blue Mica, Meteor Grey Mica and Jet Back Mica. Carry-over colours are Soul Red Metallic, Dynamic Blue Mica, Snowflake White Pearl Mica and Aluminium Metallic. Only Soul Red Metallic incurs any extra cost – $300.

Eternal Blue Mica replaces Gunmetal Blue, Meteor Grey Mica replaces Metropolitan Grey and Jet Back Mica replaces Black Mica.

Leaving aside tweaks to the underpinnings, the Mazda2 is mechanically unchanged, with a 79kW/139Nm version of the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV four-cylinder engine powering the Neo variants, and a higher-rated version developing 81kW/141Nm under the bonnet of all other models.

Mazda offers all grades with a six-speed manual transmission or the option of a six-speed automatic. Combined-cycle fuel consumption figures range from 4.9L/100km for the 81kW automatic variants to 5.5L/100km for the 79kW automatic Neo models.

Mazda expects hatches to account for 74 per cent of sales and Neo (49 per cent) and Maxx (35 per cent) taking the lion’s share of sales by trim level. Automatics (81 per cent) will vastly outnumber manuals.

2017 Mazda2 pricing (plus ORCs):
Mazda2 Neo manual – $14,990
Mazda2 Neo auto – $16,990
Mazda2 Maxx manual – $17,690
Mazda2 Maxx auto – $19,690
Mazda2 Genki manual (hatch only) – $20,690
Mazda2 Genki auto (hatch only) – $22,690
Mazda2 GT manual – $21,680
Mazda2 GT auto – $23,690