Mazda2 – The compact Mazda2 is the gateway into Mazda’s comprehensive new-vehicle range. First introduced in 2002, the Mazda2 nameplate has become synonymous with driving enjoyment as well as style and quality in Australia’s Light new-car segment.
It’s been widely chosen as a city car, second car and first car, offering drivers Mazda’s signature Jinba-Ittai driving experience for more than 20 years.
This dynamic and concentrated expression of Mazda’s Kodo-Soul of Motion design makes it a showcase of tight flowing lines that convey a spirit of movement, an aesthetic signal of its fun-to-drive nature and vibrant personality. Its size makes it the distilled essence of Mazda’s human-centric design philosophy.
A number of considered enhancements have been applied to the Mazda2 for 2023. Fresh exterior styling underscores its fun yet elegant exterior. New paint colours, colour accents and grille styles are joined by grade-specific updates such as a carbon-fibre-style roof finish and a new allow wheel design.
Mazda2 for 2023
Inside, the Mazda2 now offers refreshed seat designs, decorative dash panel colours, and new model grade-specific equipment.
The Skyactiv-G 1.5-litre petrol engine now enjoys improved fuel economy and CO2 output, ensuring driving enjoyment as well as enhanced environmental performance.
The dynamic nature of the Mazda2 continues in this new 2023 edition thanks to a superbly engineered and refined MacPherson strut and torsion beam suspension combination, which is matched to Mazda’s cleverly developed Skyactiv vehicle architecture. Add to this an impressive teaming of Mazda’s i-Activsense driver assistance systems and it’s easy to understand the long-standing popularity of the Mazda2 as a vibrant and high-quality compact car.
Summarising the Mazda2, Vinesh Bhindi, Managing Director, Mazda Australia, said: “Compact, agile and beautifully proportioned: the Mazda2 isn’t only stylish and functional, it’s generously appointed with the equipment and technologies customers want. After more than 20 years, the Mazda2 continues to be a fun-to-drive car like no other.”
The 2023 Mazda2 range is built at Mazda’s plant in Thailand and is now on sale at Mazda dealers across Australia.
Mazda2 Fast Facts
- The Mazda2 is the gateway model into Mazda’s comprehensive new-vehicle range in Australia.
- The Mazda2 is available as both a hatch and sedan and is classified within the Light new-car segment (Light < $30K, according to VFACTS) in Australia.
- The Mazda2 is based on the product concept of “a high-quality driver’s car that enriches your daily life.”
- The 2023 Mazda2 model line-up remains unchanged and comprises four separate model grades for the Hatch (Pure, Pure SP, Evolve, GT) and two separate model grades for the sedan (Pure and GT).
- All Mazda2 model grades are powered by the Mazda Skyactiv-G 1.5 litre in-line 4-cylinder 16 valve DOHC S-VT petrol engine, which uses fuel-saving i-stop technology.
- A 6-speed manual (Skyactiv-MT) or 6-speed automatic (Skyactiv-Drive) transmission are available, depending on the model grade chosen.
Mazda2 Background
- The Mazda2 model nameplate commenced in 2002.
- The Mazda2 was crowned World Car of the Year in 2008.
- This current Mazda2 model generation debuted in Australia in 2014. The hatch series was released in November that year and the sedan variant was introduced in August 2015.
- More than 88,000 Mazda2 hatch and sedan models have been sold in Australia since 2014.
- The sales split for Mazda2 is predominantly made up of hatch models, which account for just over 85 per cent of the mix
Australian sales
- Mazda2 first-generation (2002 – 2007)
- Start of sales: November 2002
- Total sales: Approx. 26,000
- second-generation (2007 – 2014)
- Start of sales: September 2007
- Total sales: Approx. 109,000
- Mazda2 third-generation (2014 – present)
- Start of sales: November 2014
- Total sales: Approx. 77,000
Mazda2: The 2023 Australian model range
Engine and transmission:
- 1.5 litre I4 16-valve DOHC S-VT petrol (Skyactiv-G) engine with i-stop
- Power: 82 kW @ 6,000 rpm (manual) / 81 kW @ 6,000 rpm (auto)
- Torque: 144 Nm @ 4,000 rpm (manual) / 142 Nm @ 3,500 rpm (auto)
- Fuel consumption: 5.4 litres (manual) / 5.0 litres (auto) per 100 km*
- CO2 emissions: 125g (manual) / 117g (auto) per km
- Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with optimised control for enhanced upshifts and paddle shift operation
- Smooth-shifting Skyactiv-MT 6-speed manual transmission (available only on the Pure model grade)
- Front-wheel drive (FWD) layout
Body styles:
- Hatch
- Sedan
Model grades
- G15 Pure (entry grade)
- G15 Pure SP
- G15 Evolve
- G15 GT (range leader)
Model grade availability: Mazda2
| Body style | Drivetrain | G15 Pure | G15 Pure SP | G15 Evolve | G15 GT |
| Hatch | 1.5L I4 / 6-sp. manual | • | – | – | – |
| 1.5L I4 / 6-sp. auto | • | • | • | • | |
| Sedan | 1.5L I4 / 6-sp. auto | • | – | – | • |
Exterior design highlights
- Redesigned front bumper
- New front grille with signature wing in black
- Colour accent to front grille and rear bumper (front only on Sedan)
- Two new paint colours: Aero Grey Metallic and Airstream Blue Metallic
- Availability of two Mazda Takuminuri paint finishes: Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Machine Grey
- New 16-inch alloy wheel design for Mazda2 GT
- New black carbon fibre-style roof (Pure SP model grade)
Interior design highlights
- New seat designs
- New decorative dash panel and colour accents for the round ventilation outlets
- Automatic on/off headlamp function (new for the Pure and Pure SP model grades)
- Two-speed windscreen wipers with rain-sensing function (new for the Pure and Pure SP model grades)
Packaging highlights
- Hatch dimensions:
- 4,060 mm long (Sedan: 4,320 mm)
- 1,695 mm wide (Sedan: 1,695 mm)
- 1,495 mm high (Sedan: 1,470 mm)
- 2,570 mm wheelbase (Sedan: same)
- 250-litre cargo volume^ (Sedan: 440 litres of boot volume)
^Measured to the top of the cargo cover with the rear seats up
Audio highlights
- Addition of Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ (wired)
- Six-speaker sound system
- USB audio input port
Powertrain highlights
- Improved fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions
- Availability of the Skyactiv-MT six-speed manual transmission for the Mazda2 Pure Hatch
- Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission fitted across the 2023 Mazda2 range
Driving dynamics
- Mazda Skyactiv vehicle architecture underpins the 2023 Mazda2. It uses Mazda’s advanced Skyactiv-Chassis and Skyactiv-Body
- New aero-inspired 16-inch alloy wheel design (GT model grade)
- A 14.7:1 steering ratio and rigid steering mounts for agile steering response
- Electric power-assisted steering is fitted to the Mazda2.
- G-Vectoring Control (GVC) precisely deploys engine torque when accelerating
- Hill Launch Assist (HLA) makes setting off on an incline smooth and easy
Safety
- The 2023 Mazda2 is equipped with an array of i-Activsense driver-supporting safety technologies, including Smart City Brake Support – Forward (SCBS-F), Smart City Brake Support – Reverse (SCBS-R), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). The Evolve and GT model grades are fitted with Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). The GT model grade comes fitted with front parking sensors and 360-degree View Monitor.
Australian Pricing Mazda2
| Model | Grade | Transmission | MLP |
| Hatch | G15 Pure | Manual | $22,410 |
| Hatch | G15 Pure | Auto | $24,410 |
| Hatch | G15 Pure SP | Auto | $25,210 |
| Hatch | G15 Evolve | Auto | $25,910 |
| Hatch | G15 GT | Auto | $27,610 |
| Sedan | G15 Pure | Auto | $24,410 |
| Sedan | G15 GT | Auto | $27,610 |
Please note: Manufacturer’s List Price (MLP) excludes all on-road and dealer delivery costs. Premium paint charge of $595 applies for Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Machine Grey Metallic and Polymetal Grey Metallic.