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Mazda2 – small car with a big heart
By Ross Kiddie – Christchurch Star | 5 December 2007
As one model has evolved into another, so have most car makers added a bit of size.
Mazda have reversed that trend with their new-generation small car, the Mazda2. Smaller, lighter and more compact than before, but thanks to clever design work the new model offers more interior room and all the benefits that a small car generates.
The new series has just arrived in New Zealand and is available here in two models each with a manual or automatic gearbox option, the latter with a $1400 price lift. The entry-level manual Classic sits at $20,900, while the Sport model is listed at $23,100.
Not only is the Mazda2 engineered well, it looks pretty smart and is beautifully built with a tight, rigid body construction. The interior is bright and flashy, white faced instruments, ergonomically-friendly controls and a host of knick knack pockets combine to offer practicality along with design flair.
The test car, which this review focuses on, is the range-topping Sport auto and features over and above the Classic include alloy wheels 1in larger up to 16in with low profile 195/45 tyres, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, fog lamps, rear spoiler and six-disc audio.
Even without these items the Classic is still well appointed. It gets air conditioning, tilt-adjustable steering column, full electrics and remote locking with immobiliser.
Disappointingly, the Mazda2 doesn’t get a fuel usage readout but Mazda claim a combined fuel usage average of 6.8 litres usage per 100km (42mpg). Given the small amount of fuel I used during my five-day test I wouldn’t dispute that figure. And that is one of the main reasons people buy small cars, their fuel bills in this age of high prices are relatively low, the Mazda2 rewarding with its engine efficiency and design which means fuel wastage is an absolute minimum.
Mazda as designers are building cars with an emphasis on weight saving components and the newcomer is claimed to be around 100kg lighter than its predecessor. The logic is that the lighter the car, not only do you get fuel saving benefits but performance is enhanced as well.
The new Mazda2 is no slouch, the double-camshaft, 16-valve engine is rated at 76kW (6000rpm) with 137Nm of torque available at 4000rpm. A 0-100km/h sprint can be made in around 10.9sec with an overtaking time to make 120km/h from 80km/h in 6.9sec. These are respectable figures considering the engine works through an automatic gearbox with the restrictions of four ratios.
It would be asking a lot to produce a budget car with a five-speed automatic and the reality is that the four-speeder does do a pretty good job of transferring engine energy. And where the weight saving gains are noticed the most is the frisky way the engine operates, it isn’t hindered by bulk and fills the wide ratio gaps quite well.
Interaction between engine and gearbox is quite fluid, the gears are changed smoothly and aren’t ushered in with much mechanical force.
There’s no manual sequential function but if you decide that a manual change needs to be initiated the console-mounted gear lever slides freely down the gate into sport or low mode.
Most of my time with the test car was spent around the inner-city and suburban environs, it is the quintessential city car, it is light amongst the traffic, eager and nimble. There is good vision form all quarters and it is easy to manoeuvre into a standard metered park.
I also took the test car inland to my mother’s home in Kirwee. She has a mid-90s Demio the predecessor to the Mazda2. She was impressed with the newcomer, and reading between the lines she may have been tempted if she was in the market for a new car.
The Mazda2 sits nicely at highway speed the engine is quite subdued turning over at just 2750rpm, the wide Toyo tyres are quiet on coarse chip seal and don’t affect the in-cabin ride with their low resistance, narrow sidewall construction.
Sprung softly on its four-strut suspension the Mazda2 has spring and damper rates akin with the role it is expected to play. When Mazda badge a model with Sport designation that doesn’t mean to say it is a sports model. Yes, the low profile tyres, do have amazing grip and arrest understeer well, but the Mazda2 isn’t designed to be a really hard corner charger.
Treated with respect the steerage offers good feedback in a corner, turn-in is quite direct and even though the tall body moves over the suspension overall balance is quite good.
If a tight corner does catch the driver out I’m pleased to report that the Sport variant has a traction and stability control system, DSC is aligned to an ABS/front disc-rear drum set-up.
Other safety features include no fewer than six air bags and an overshoulder seat belt for all.
Mazda have timed the arrival of their new small car well. Fuel prices are on the rise again and people who choose smart, well engineered cars that will reap the most benefits come fill up time. I enjoyed the newcomer and would probably be satisfied with the Classic, forsaking a few extras to reap a $2200 savings sounds like good sense to me.
However, any new Mazda2 purchaser will still be making a sensible purchase no matter what model he/she chooses.
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