WANTING to get the right mix of good fuel economy, plenty of space, ‘parkability’, and commuting pleasure, all wrapped up in an affordable package, is a needle we’ve all been searching in the endless haystack which is the classifieds section for years.
But now, we may have somewhat found an answer.
It’s the car you’ve seen poodling along many a high street, normally with someone receiving a pension behind the wheel. You may have not given its not-really-that-exciting looks a second glance.
But, you should. The Mazda2 could be the supermini to beat.
As the Japanese brand’s director Jeremy Thomson says: “It’s a really important car in our line-up”.
And as soon as you step into it, you can tell what he means; any inkling that this is a car for the ‘oldies’ of the world is quashed. Neat dashboard stylings, with plenty of leather-trim, is compliment with the latest tech, connectivity, and even an above-average sound system. Excellent for those morning commutes. In typical Mazda fashion, the entertainment system is easy to use, with control knobs located in the centre console – the volume one is especially satisfying to use.
Sitting down, you’re immediately comfortable with a great view of the road – something a lot of smaller cars like Peugeot’s last gen 208 lacked. Everything is also within arm’s length (I’m 6ft 1in), which is pleasant. Then, after pressing the ignition button, you’re greeted by, unsurprisingly, not so much. Just a nice, quiet hum from Mazda’s 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol engine.
So now you’ll be forgiven for assuming that when you put your foot down, 0-60 would take in the region of five to six days. But no. The Mazda2 is nippy for its size. Our model, the Sports Nav+ delivers just a smidge under 90bhp, which although a bit disappointing on paper – especially with a claimed 9.7s 0-60 – truly is more than enough.
To put it to the test, I took in on my normal commute: a 50-mile round trip from Southampton to Salisbury. My usual motor, a 2.0-litre Honda Civic Type-R, delivers a rather impressive 35-38mpg. Now, to make it fair, I decided not to drive in an economical way, and instead push the Mazda. “What can I get out of it while still having the most fun” I thought. Well, the answer was a smidge over 60mpg. I was impressed. There was also enough room for my bags, with around 280 litres of boot space – this rises to 950 with the rear seats down.
With prices starting at £13,795 for the SE+ model, that’s a lot of bang for your buck. Our model, which is one of eight to choose from, adds the centre-mounted entertainment system, LED lighting, rear parking centres, and around an extra 15bhp, comes in at £16,195. Again, not bad.
Competition in the ever-swelling supermini market is the Seat Ibiza (base model £13,130), the VW Polo (£14,510), and Ford’s excellent Fiesta (£12,715).
So, if you’re after a car with excellent driveability, practicality, is well equipped, and won’t leave you out of pocket at the pumps, then the Mazda2 could be the one for you.
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