FirstDrive:Mazda2 In a crowded supermini sector, the Mazda2 offers an impressive package with good design and a fun drive, writes Paddy Comyn
We live in an era where our small cars, like our children, seem to be getting fatter. Recent arrivals on what used to be called the supermini sector have got safer, but in doing so have piled on the pounds. The current batch of cars, like the Peugeot 207 and Renault Clio, have bulked up to a level that we would have only seen in a class above some 10 years ago.
But with so much pressure being put on manufacturers to cut down on their CO2 emissions and produce cars that are more fuel-efficient, Mazda has decided to buck the trend and produce a car that is smaller and lighter than before, without sacrificing passenger safety or indeed making the car less rewarding to drive.
The Mazda2, to give it its full title, is the second-generation of Mazda's smallest car and one that has descended from the wagon-like Demio and Fiesta-cloned 121 that went before that. It will be distantly related to the next Ford Fiesta, but unlike the previous-generation Mazda2, the petrol engines used will be Mazda's own, while the diesel, which arrives a few months after the petrol versions, will be shared with Ford.
And while every other competitor has got bigger and heavier over generations, the opposite is true with this latest version of the Mazda2. Not only is it 100kg lighter than its predecessor, but also 40mm shorter and as a result it weighs in at just 955kg and this makes it lighter than many of its main five-door rivals. The Peugeot 207, for example, weighs in at 1,213kg. This weight saving contributes to 15 per cent less fuel consumption and healthy CO2 figures for their 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol engines.
But while many competitors will use the excuse of safety features adding much of the weight, Mazda has managed to make the new Mazda2 safer thanks to the addition of high-tensile steel on A and B pillars to increase the car's rigidity and strength. Mazda is confident of a best-in-class score in terms of safety for its new supermini.
The reduction in size and weight of the car has been achieved not only by making less car than before, but also taking weight from areas such as suspension, seats, the exhaust and as part of their "gramme strategy" - literally paring down anything that looks like it needs slimming.
Visually, the car is an impressive package in the flesh. There are shades of other cars in the design, with hints of Corsa at the rear, and a side profile not dissimilar to the Toyota Yaris. There is quite a lot of bare metal at the rear which is likely to come a cropper in shopping centre car parks, but the design is a blend of "cheeky and sporty", in the designers own words. The interior has been well packaged, too.
There is a low-slung dashboard which is not as far away as in some rivals, and the centre console sits close to the driver, while the outer edges slope away creating a feeling of more space. Space in the front is perfect for tall adults and even the rear will be fine unless you are over six feet tall. The boot is only a little smaller at 252 litres and this compares to 270 litres in a Peugeot 207, one of the largest cars in its class.
The interiors are variations on one theme, black, but this works well, contrasted to a light roof lining. The controls are straightforward and uncluttered and everything that your hand touches feels good.
This car is aimed at a wide audience, so it is as funky and functional as it is easy to use.
The Mazda2 comes to Ireland in September and will be available initially with three engines. Two will be 1.3-litre petrol engines of 75 and 86bhp or a 1.5-litre petrol with 103bhp. A 1.4-litre turbo diesel will follow in 2008, as will a three-door, we expect. The 1.3-litre engine will be most relevant to our market and, in terms of performance, both versions of it return 6.9 litres/100km and 129g/km of CO2. This puts it among the cleanest and most fuel efficient cars in its class. To put it in context, a 1.4-litre Peugeot 207 will return 6.5 l/100km but cough up 150g/km of CO2 and a 1-litre Toyota Yaris 5-door will manage 5.4 l/100km and 127g/km of CO2. This means the Mazda2 1.3 is a clean running car.
So far, so good then. What about the drive? Well our launch didn't include a road test as such, with potholes and traffic lights and other drivers, but was on a track and the car was a hoot to drive. The cars were fitted with ESP and were 1.5-litre, which might have flattered our abilities a little but there was no mistaking that it felt agile, tight and incredibly nimble.
Somehow, Mazda has allowed a little bit of its MX-5 to spread its genes downwards to its smaller sibling. It is very difficult to come away from this car feeling anything but positive.
The question of course is whether it will compete well in what has become a cluttered small car market. The choice offered to supermini buyers is bewildering, and customers are still driven by price. If Mazda can keep the price of this car down, and we are hearing ballpark figures of €16,000 to start off, then their goal of 1,000 units in 2008 might seem a little conservative.
So many superminis are now too much of one thing over another. Some are too big, some are too full of feminine wiles to capture a male audience, while some are just plain dull.
This Mazda2 seems to have got the mix right. It is good-looking, fun, not likely to be too gender specific, has the feel of quality that the Mazda brand suggests, and the reliability which is a by-product. It's too early to say it's the best in class, but it's certainly in the running.
Factfile
Engines:1.3-litre 75bhp and 86bhp, 1.5-litre 103bhp
Fuel economy:1.3-litre engine - 6.9 l/100km, 1.5-litre - 7.6 l/100km
CO2:1.3-litre engines - 129g/km, 1.5-litre - 140g/km
Performance:1.3-litre - 0-100km/h in 14.0/12.9 secs, 1.5-litre in 10.4 secs
Max speed:1.3-litre engines 168km/h / 172km/h, 1.5-litre 188km/h
On sale:September 2007 1.3-litre/1.5-litre engines; 2008 for 1.4-litre diesel
Price:Expect starting price of €16,000