The new Mazda2 is the cutest, most cheerful little car to have arrived since Ford's cuddly Ka ambled here 18 years ago.
Its compact proportions - 4,060mm by 1,697mm by 1,495mm - seem to bring out the best in the tautly drawn hatchback.
Clean lines from its sinewy flanks converge on a front that conveys
sportiness without aggression, friendliness without frivolity. It has
the smiley face that modern Mazdas wear but on the Mazda2, it seems to
be beaming.
While it is guaranteed to make women swoon, it is not too girly for
the boys either. In jet black and with the right rims, it can look the
part of a pocket rocket.
Alas, the Mazda2 is made more for breezy runs around town than
ballistic bravado. Equipped with a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine
paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, it has enough oomph to
keep you contented, but not entertained.
Like all latter-day Mazdas, the engine has a high compression ratio
of 14:1, which gives it some of the characteristics of a turbo. But not
all.
It produces a decent 115bhp at 6,000rpm and 148Nm of torque from
4,000rpm, which seems adequate for a vehicle weight of 1,060kg. But it
lacks the clean and crisp throttle response of a Volkswagen turbo
engine, for instance.
The Mazda unit is relatively free- revving, but it becomes buzzy from just 3,000rpm. This mars the driving experience somewhat.
You may say a Porsche 911 rumbles, roars and reverberates too, but there are good vibrations and bland vibrations.
To liven things up, the Mazda2 comes with a Sport mode, a rarity in
its segment. Flip a switch just aft of the gear lever and the hatch
adopts a caffeinated disposition.
Revs pile higher before the gearbox changes up, and the car
certainly feels a lot more urgent. For sure, the Mazda in this mode
would be great for those who might be motivated enough to challenge a
boy racer. But it would be in vain.
The hot-looking hatch has modest capabilities, clocking a 0-100kmh
in 10 seconds on paper, and often feeling more leisurely on the road.
With such a handsome and sporty design, the Mazda2 deserves a more energetic drivetrain. Like a turbo.
This is not to say that the Mazda2's power plant is anaemic. As
mentioned, it is reasonably lively, but seems to falter when faced with
higher demands.
The one thing it does better than expected is in the efficiency
department. The car averaged 6.4 litres/100km during this test-drive -
quite close to its declared 5.1 litres/100km figure.
The other thing it has going for it is a trendy and comfortable
interior. Nice touches include a soft, stitched, padded panel running
across the dashboard, a tablet-like infotainment monitor that is
operated like BMW's iDrive system (with navigation and reverse camera
thrown in), aeronautical aircon vents similar to what you see in the
Audi A1, multi- function steering wheel (with cruise control and phone
functions) and hip dual-tone leather upholstery.
The car is firmly sprung and has a weighty steering. At the helm, it
feels more European than Japanese, especially when it goes around
bends. Yet, its ride comfort cannot be faulted for a subcompact.
On the safety front, it has dynamic stability control, traction
control and four-wheel anti-lock braking system. All these make it one
of the best-equipped among small Japanese hatchbacks.
Overall, the made-in-Japan Mazda2 is an attractive buy. It is a
visual treat inside and out, has lots of premium features and is
comfortable, efficient and handles well enough. The only thing it could
do with is a beefier engine.
Specs
MAZDA2 1.5
Price: $122,800 with COE
Engine: 1,496cc 16-valve inline-4
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual select
Power: 115bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 148Nm at 4,000rpm
0-100kmh: 10 seconds
Top speed: 184kmh
Fuel consumption: 5.1 litres/100km
