The updated Mazda 2 city car range has launched, bringing with it more safety equipment, claimed dynamic improvements and a new range-topping GT variant to battle the Euros – while keeping pricing unchanged.
The mid-life upgrade to one of Australia’s top-selling light cars arrives as sales in this part of the market continue to struggle, despite fuel prices and ever-increasing urbanisation.
Mazda’s smallest car is now available in four grades, with the flagship GT joining the existing Genki, Maxx and Neo, and remains available in four body styles, with 74 per cent of sales expected to go to the hatch.
Key features added across the range include autonomous emergency braking (called Smart City Brake Support) that works below 30km/h. The only rival with standard AEB is the Skoda Fabia, while the Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo offer it as an option.
The revised Mazda also picks up Mazda’s G-Vectoring system that adjusts torque delivery to the front wheels, transferring weight and enhancing turn-in, and tweaked dampers, bushing to soften the ride. Extra insulation also brings claimed improvements to engine/tyre noise suppression.
Further updates include new wheel colours, Deep Crimson Mica exterior paint, a sleeker steering wheel design, and an updated colour flip-up heads-up display that’s said to be more legible. Unfortunately, the Neo still doesn’t get a standard reversing camera.
For background, half of all sales are expected to be the base Neo, with a further 35 per cent for the Maxx.
The current generation Mazda 2 hatch arrived in Australia in November 2014, followed by the sedan in August 2015, and has chalked up 33,000 sales so far.
Mazda is now projecting about 1000 sales per month, which would have it around similar volumes to the Toyota Yaris and behind the Hyundai Accent, though the Mazda is favoured among private buyers.
Paint colours include Soul Red (an extra $300), or free Snowflake White, Deep Crimson, Meteor Grey, Dynamic Blue, Aluminium Metallic, Eternal Blue and Jet Black.
The Mazda 2 comes with a three-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with roadside assist available for $68.10 per year.
Specs
Engines: 1.5-litre petrol with 79kW/139Nm in the Neo, or 81kW/141Nm in the others
Fuel economy: 4.9L/100km to 5.5L/100km on the combined cycle, 91 RON
Transmissions: Six-speed manual or six-speed auto ($2000 extra, 80 per cent of sales)
Brakes: 258mm ventilated discs front, drums rear
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear
Turning circle: 9.4m to 9.8m
Cargo space: 250L hatch or 440L sedan
Kerb weight: 1028kg to 1076kg
Dimensions (sedan in brackets): 4060mm long (4320mm), 1695mm wide, 1495mm high (1470mm), 2570mm wheelbase, 143mm ground clearance (140mm)
2017 Mazda 2 pricing (add $2000 for drive-away price)
Neo hatch manual — $14,990
Neo hatch auto — $16,990
Maxx hatch manual — $17,690
Maxx hatch auto — $19,690
Genki hatch manual — $20,690
Genki hatch auto — $23,680
GT hatch manual — $21,680
GT hatch auto — $23,680
Neo sedan manual — $14,990
Neo sedan auto — $16,990
Maxx sedan manual — $17,690
Maxx sedan auto — $19,690
GT sedan manual — $21,680
GT sedan auto — $23,680
Neo
1.5-litre engine with 79kW/139Nm
Six airbags
Autonomous emergency braking AEB G-Vectoring
15-inch steel wheels
Black cloth trim
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Bluetooth audio/phone
USB and Aux inputs
Push-button start
Steering wheel audio controls
Rear parking sensors
Maxx extras
$2700 price premium over Neo
1.5-litre engine with 81kW/141Nm
15-inch alloy wheels
AEB in reverse as well as forward
Leather wheel, gear knob and handbrake handle
DAB+ digital radio
7.0-inch touchscreen (MZD Connect rotary dial)
Reversing camera
Audio system with six speakers (not four)
Internet radio integration (Pandora/Stitcher/Aha)
Radio Data System program information
Reversing camera
Genki extras
$3000 price premium over Maxx
16-inch machined alloy wheels
Satellite-navigation
Blind-spot Monitoring
Rear-cross traffic alert
Daytime running lights
Power mirrors with auto-folding
Shark fin antenna
Chrome exhaust extension
Nicer cabin materials
Black cloth (the red accents are gone)}
LED headlights with auto on/off
Rain-sensing wipers
Head-up display
Climate control
GT extras
$990 price premium over Genki
More soft-touch cabin padding
White leather and black cloth seats (hatch)
Black cloth seats (sedan)
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