2015 Mazda2 Review

Faced with stiff competition from numerous European rivals, the baby hatch has carved a new niche for itself, which we'd call the "affordable premium small car". Sounds like an oxymoron, but you'll understand pretty soon.

Now available exclusively as a 5-door, the new Mazda2 hatchback is gigantic compared to its predecessor. The overall length has increased from 3,900mm (153.5 inches) to 4,060mm (159.8 inches), which makes it larger than the Mk3 Volkswagen Golf. The alloys continue to sit at the far edges of the body, which means the wheelbase is so long that you can park a Smart Fortwo inside it.

This has impacted the way the car drives in a positive way. With the help of slightly firmer springs, Mazda have made a B-segment hatch that feels like a C-segment one from behind the wheel. Cabin space is also better, though the ergonomics may not be ideal for taller people.

From the light but responsive steering system to the unconventional interior, the new Mazda2 reminds us in many ways of the MINI Cooper and could prove to be a viable alternative for young buyers on a tight budget. Ford's Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost has been described the same way, but we think Mazda's engines are the most sportscar-like. In fact, it's even available on the 2016 Miata.

The all-new Mazda2 looks like a serious car for Gen Y buyers, thanks to the KODO Soul of Motion design language. We first saw it on the Shinari concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and when the new Mazda6 came out looking 95% the same, it became clear the company had completely reinvented itself under the guidance of Ikuo Maeda.

His work was seen in the lines of the 2014 Hazumi Concept, which previewed the Mazda2. Both show the same large front grille, surrounded by a V-shaped chrome trim piece which flows into the headlights. From the hood, belt lines travel towards the door handles. Just like on the Renault Clio 4, the rear shoulders are pronounced, and the back windows are narrow like those of a coupe, but they haven't tried to hide the handles like the French did.

At the rear, the KODO design is much less successful than it was on the Mazda3 and Mazda6, but that's largely due the constraints of the small car segment and the need to appeal to female customers. The redeeming feature is the sloped rear windshield, which is similar to the Audi A1. The downside is that there's slightly less space if you want to fill the trunk up to the roof. However, nobody does that nowadays because it's unsafe to drive that way, plus there's more than enough space with the rear seats folded flat (975 liters).

Looks are subjective, but I doubt anybody will contradict the fact that Mazda2 models are more appealing than boxy superminis like the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia. There are some areas where the build quality isn't up to German standards, but the Japanese sell the only small car with carbon fiber (fake) accents in the headlights. That's got to count for something, right?

We can't say enough positive things about the cabin of the all-new 2015 Mazda2. It can be configured with regular black trim, but we had a Hazumi model (named after the concept) with red fabric seats that we would recommend. On a cold day, seeing them could be the only thing getting you out of bed in time for work.

The cabin featured a bit of faux red leather on the doors and numerous fake carbon fiber inserts on the sides, steering wheel and dashboard. Sure, they didn't fool anybody, but we preferred them over piano black plastic from Renault any day. Mazda saved the real leather for the steering wheel, gear shifter sleeve and handbrake, all ruggedly finished with profiled stitching.

The design of the dashboard is probably the best feature of the car, starting with the aircraft-style instrument binnacle and followed by the circular air vents that seemed like they had been taken from the Audi TT. There was also a red stripe traveling the length of the dash, which reminded the whole team of the 2015 Passat. As for the infotainment system, it's the same MZD 7-inch setup we saw on the Mazda3 last year. It looks like it came off a Mercedes-Benz, has colorful menus and works well, so no problems there. There are not one, but two USB ports placed within easy access, and iOS or Android devices can be paired up easily. Navigation is one of the few option boxes you can check, in which case you will pay around €600 extra.

However, while the cabin of the Mazda2 is sporty, it's not the most comfortable in its class. For example, the seat bottoms may have been designed with slightly shorter customers in mind and don't offer enough thigh support. If you are over 1.8 meters tall (5' 11") or very athletic, this can be a problematic, even though there's enough headroom. The buttons on the steering wheel are Renault-like in their softness, and the central console moves if you tug on it, just like the Fiesta's. But all these issues might not be enough to put off most buyers.

As for the trunk, it offers 280 liters of space, 30 more than before. The new Skoda Fabia and Honda Jazz/Fit have more, but the Mazda2 falls within the average. To compensate for the sloped tailgate, the luggage space has moved further down into the car, which creates a substantial load lit of around 15 centimeters (6 inches). The shape isn't optimal either, as there's a slight curve towards the sides of the opening that stop you from fitting larger suitcases. We consider this to be the biggest shortcoming of the new Mazda2 in terms of practicality.

Rear passenger space is also a minor problem, as some might find there isn't enough legroom while that sloped rear windshield will get noticed by everybody over 1.75m (5' 9"). What's more, seating three people can be a bit of a squeeze.

In Europe, the Mazda2 is classed as a supermini or B-segment hatchback. That means it has the tough job of competing against some of the most famous and long-lasting nameplates in the industry. Mentioning just the relevant models, we'll begin with the Volkswagen Polo, which has been in production since 1975, currently nearing the end of its 5th incarnation. The Ford Fiesta comes after that, followed by the Renault Clio 4, the Peugeot 208 and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa.

All of those are among the Top 10 best selling cars overall in Europe right now. Coming in hot from behind are the new Hyundai i20 and Skoda Fabia, which we think are going to perform well. It would be unreasonable to expect the 2015 Mazda2 to be better at everything than its rivals, but on a personal level, I can honestly say I love it more. And shouldn't buying cars be an emotional decision anyway?

One thing the Mazda2, or in fact any other Mazda, doesn't do is engine downsizing. The only type of petrol engine available is a naturally aspirated inline-4 1.5-liter. It's available in three stages of tune, starting with the anemic 75 HP model that replaces the old 1.3-liter, followed by 90 HP and 115 HP versions. The first two get a standard 5-speed manual while the 90 HP model is available with an optional 6-speed automatic.

The high-performance 115 HP engine gets a 6-speed manual, and so does the only diesel model, which produces 105 HP. It is a brand new 1.5-liter engine that Mazda has just finished developing, and in some markets it might not be available until this summer. The latest Skyactiv-D tech has been used to reduce those annoying diesel knocking sounds to a minimum. It will offer much better highway fuel consumption, but we doubt the in-town savings will be substantial.

Our test car came with the 90 horsepower engine, and we can honestly say the 5-speed manual is more fun than what's offered on any of its competitors. The short-throw design is not only great for pretending you're a racing driver, but it also makes for precise and smooth driving. As for the engine, it reminds us why we love non-turbo setups – linear power delivery.

Pulling predictably and smoothly from the start, it climbs through the rev band and takes you to 100 km/h in only 9.4 seconds. That's faster than a lot of other 90 horsepower superminis, including the Polo 1.2 TSI or even the 100 HP Ford Fiesta EcoBoost. Part of that is due to the engine response time, but the Mazda2 is designed with the legs of a sprinter in 1st and 2nd gear.

There are some downsides to the lack of a turbocharger, the biggest of which has to do with the torque delivery, of course. Driving around town in 4th gear, you notice that nothing happens if you put your foot down, and you may even have to downshift to 2nd to find the torque band. It reminds you how cars used to work before the era of the turbocharger.

This is by no means a deal-breaker, as shifting gears in the Mazda2 is a lot of fun, but for this very reason it's worth considering the most powerful version of the 1.5-liter. We'd avoid the entry-level 75 hp model because it kind of spoils the fun, plus other manufacturers do entry-level cars much better.

Despite claiming to use all the latest Skyactiv technologies, Mazda hasn't managed to keep the weight off. The 2015 model is heavier than before, but part of that is due to all the safety equipment they needed to install. All the petrol versions weigh approximately 1,050 kilograms (2315 lbs), which makes them slightly heavier than average, but this doesn't affect efficiency.

Official fuel consumption figures would lead you to believe the Mazda2 is a very thirsty car, when in reality that isn't the case. In the real world, naturally aspirated engines are much more predictable and have real eco benefits. We found that going from leisurely to sporty driving only increases fuel consumption by 1 l/100km, even when turning off the engine stop/start system.

During our spirited city session, the Mazda2 achieved 6.5 l/100km (36 mpg US), which is just 6% more than officially claimed. If you ever meet a Mazda engineer, give him a gentle pat on the back or a hug on autoevolution’s behalf, because he deserves it. Even though this supermini was a hoot, it drank the same amount of fuel as the 2015 Smart Fortwo we drove a few months ago.

That car was tiny by comparison, designed to be very economical and had an anemic 1-liter 3-cylinder engine that got you nowhere fast. The highway seems to be the Achilles' heel of the Mazda2 powertrain, as fuel consumption climbed to 7 l/100km (33.6 mpg). It's not brilliant, but the car we tested was brand new, so the engine has yet to give its best. The lack of a sixth gear means you'll be making most of your long journeys above 3,000rpm, and that's not ideal.

Euro NCAP is so far the only independent safety body to test the 2015 Mazda2. A 4-star rating was give, 1 less than the Skoda Fabia which is the class leader. However, the high-strength steel body proved rigid and the Japanese car scored maximum points in many tests, including the side impact pole test. Front, side and curtain airbags are all standard. Mazda added pressure sensors to the front doors for more precise side impact detection, plus the back seatbelts also have pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Purely from a driving point of view, the Mazda2 is one of the safest, most predictable cars in its class. Body roll is minimal and the brakes are strong, so responding to an emergency situation is easier. What's more, Mazda offers most safety systems from larger cars, like blind spot monitoring, lane and front assist. On the more expensive examples, you can even have scanners that check on either side of the rear bumper for incoming traffic.

Right, we've come to the all-important conclusion of this review, where we talk about the buying decision. Prices depend on the market, but in Europe, the 2015 Mazda2 starts from around €13,000. The fact that a Volkswagen Polo begins at around the same price is not a coincidence since the Mazda2 has been benchmarked to be slightly better in most areas than the German champ.

We're still waiting for news from Mazda USA, which will announce a 2016 model year sedan version being available from around $15,000 or so when production ensures this summer.

While the VW will hold onto your euros for longer, a Mazda2 is much better value because it comes with a 5-door body as standard while other brands charge you about €800 extra. And which engine would you prefer to drive, a 75 HP 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G or a 60 HP 1-liter? We didn't need to ask that question.

Full-spec models with the 115 HP engine and all the options can reach €20,000 quite quickly. However, the cream leather seats of the Sportsline trim level, also called Revolution in some markets, are pretty cool and make a good case for themselves, as do the full-LED headlights.

But the real battle will be fought by cars like our €15,600 Mazda2 G90 Hazumi model. There's very little to differentiate it from a turbocharged Fiesta, Polo or Clio model in terms of value.

Other manufacturers offer a little bit more practicality and comfort. But if you want a stylish supermini that's fun to drive and has a better cabin than a Fiesta, the 2015 Mazda2 is for you.