Mazda2 Review

Mazda2 Review

The new Mazda2 was originally previewed at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show and the first cars arrived in the UK in September 2007.

We liked the outgoing Mazda2 when we tested it in September 2003 but unfortunately it never really appealed to a mass audience. However, the all new Mazda2 has been designed with a world audience in mind, from the young fashionable buyer to the more mature conservative motorist.

There are three trim levels, TS, TS2 and Sport - prices start from £8,099 for the Mazda2 1.3 3 door TS - through to £ 11,899 for the 1.5 5door Sport model. There is now a choice of 3-doors or 5-doors, the extra 2-doors has a premium of £500 over the funky 3-door which would possibly appeal to a young buyer or those of you needing a wider door opening.

All of the Mazda2 range is well equipped for instance on the top of the range Sport model you get as standard auto on headlights, rain sensing windscreen wipers and cruise control, functions which were once the privilege of expensive executive car owners.

You have the choice of three four-cylinder petrol engines and one four-cylinder diesel engine all have five-speed manual gearboxes. There are two 1.3 litre petrol engines a 75ps, and slightly higher outputting 86ps which both incidentally return 52.3 mpg on the combined fuel cycle and output 129g/km of CO2. For those of you who want a bit more power then there is the 1.5 litre 103ps petrol engine, which returns 47.9 mpg, outputs just 140g/km of Co2 and is capable of 117 mph.

And for those of you wishing to do more to the gallon there is a 1.4 litre turbocharged diesel engine, which produces 68ps and returns around 65 mpg, yet only produces 140 g/m of Co2.which currently means you will only be paying £35 in road tax.

We drove a five door Mazda2 with the 1.3 86ps petrol engine and were left impressed by its relative refinement. On the road it was quite perky and willing to entertain, 0- 62 mph takes a respectable 12.9 seconds, with a top speed 107 mph.