2024 Mazda2 G15 Launch Review

Small cars are no longer be the big affair they once were when this current generation Mazda2 was launched back in 2014. Almost 10 years later, some might say small cars lack the butch looks and appeal of SUVs, but models such as the freshly facelifted 2024 Mazda2 prove just how good, and relevant small cars can still be. The Mazda2 itself has proven to be reliable, stylish and beautiful to drive over the years.

Mazda hopes this facelift will be enough to pop the tiny little Mazda onto quite a few shopping lists by offering new colours, a fresh design and some improved efficiency for automatic models. We’re also thankful Mazda has continued to offer a manual option on the Mazda2, meaning that first time buyers can still revel in the joy that changing cogs yourself is. But with pricing for the small Mazda creeping up, does the Mazda2 still have what it takes to be a top pick on your first car shopping list?      

Price & Equipment: 7.5/10

For the facelifted model, Mazda has kept the 2’s lineup the same as it was before with the Pure and Pure SP at the bottom of the range, and the Evolve and GT sitting above them. As before, both five-door hatchback and four-door sedan bodystyles are offered, but while the hatch can be had with any model, the sedan is limited to the base Pure and top-spec GT. Competitors to the Mazda2 include the Suzuki Swift (from $23,990 drive away), Volkswagen Polo (from around $33,000 drive away), MG3 (from $19,990 drive away) and Toyota Yaris (from around $28,500 drive away).

Standard equipment on the entry level Pure ($22,410 +ORC for the manual or around $26,500 drive away, $24,410 for the auto or around $28,500 drive away) includes:

• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic dusk-sensing LED headlights
• Auto rain-sensing wipers
• Remote keyless entry with push button start
• Height adjustable front seats
• Cloth upholstery
• Manual air-conditioning
• Power windows with automatic front units
• Electric and auto-folding mirrors
• 7.0-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• FM/AM/digital radio
• Bluetooth phone and audio streaming
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake
• Six-speaker sound system
• Cruise control with a speed limiter
• Two USB-A ports
• 12V socket
• Trip computer
• Automatic start/stop

Safety equipment includes:

• Six airbags (front, side, curtain)
• Auto emergency braking (AEB)
• Lane departure warning with lane keep assist
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert
• Low-speed rear automatic braking
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera

The pre-updated Mazda2’s five-star ANCAP rating expired due to age, and the company has no plans to re-test it thanks to the tougher criteria it would now face. But we think the 2’s safety kit is impressive, especially at the entry level Pure with features like blind-spot monitoring, front and rear auto braking and lane keeping assistance as standard kit – especially against the top-selling MG3, which features absolutely none of that, even as an option.

The 2 Pure SP (auto hatch only – $25,210 +ORC or around $29,000 drive away) adds:

• Back 16-inch alloy wheels
• Back exterior detailing
• Carbon-look roof wrap 

Above the Pure SP is the Evolve (auto hatch only – $25,910 +ORC or around $30,000 drive away), which adds:

• Single-zone automatic climate control
• Heads-up display
• Digital speedometer
• LED daytime running lights
• Satellite navigation
• Traffic sign recognition
• Mesh front grille
• Black cloth with red inserts
• Auto-dimming rear mirror

Finally, above the Evolve sits the GT (both sedan and hatchback are available, auto only – $27,610 +ORC or around $32,000 drive away) and that adds:

• Unique 16-inch alloy wheels
• Smart key access
• Leather and suede upholstery
• Suede dashboard strip, front parking sensors
• 360-degree camera
• Adaptive cruise control

Colour options for the 2024 Mazda2 range include:

• Soul Red Crystal ($595)
• Polymetal Grey ($595)
• Machine Grey ($595)
• Jet Black
• Air Stream Blue (new)
• Aero Grey (new)
• Platinum Quartz
• Snowflake White
• Aluminium

Performance & Economy: 8/10

Under the bonnet of the 2024 Mazda2 range is the same ‘G15’ 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine as the pre-facelifted model, but choosing the automatic variant lowers the outputs – and increases fuel efficiency – to 81kW of power (at 6,000rpm) and 142Nm of torque (at 3,500rpm), versus 82kW/144Nm (at 6,000rpm and 4,000rpm respectively) for the six-speed manual that’s only available as a Pure hatch. 

While the engine in the Mazda2 is not new, it’s still a sweet unit that’s been refined over the years. It’s now quieter than before, and while it’s no firecracker, it’s more than adequate for its intended use. While Mazda doesn’t quote a 0-100km/h time, it feels like it’ll hit the mark in the nine second bracket, which is more than quick enough for this segment of car. The newly-tuned engine for the automatic has its peak torque hitting 500rpm lower than before (and the manual) at 3,500rpm, which makes it more driveable and more efficient, according to Mazda. Of course, a VW Polo hits peak torque at just 2,000rpm, but the engine in the 2 is more enjoyable to rev out, if you’re after that sort of thing.

Both the six-speed manual and six-speed automatic are sweet in their operation. Mazda makes some of the best manual gearboxes on the new car market and the 2’s is no exception thanks to its lovely shift action. If you’re choosing between the two, get the manual, in our opinion. The automatic is pretty good as well, however – it’s typically Mazda intuitive, and didn’t put a foot wrong on our launch drive. Activating sport mode gives sharper throttle response and makes the transmission hold gears longer for sportier driving stints and it actually makes it feel somewhat warm hatch-like.

The claimed fuel consumption for the 2024 Mazda2 range depends on the transmission selected – the six-speed manual is rated at 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle, while the six-speed automatic officially sips 0.4L/100km less at 5.0L/100km with CO2 emissions ranging from 117g/km for the auto to 125g/km for the manual. On the launch, which included some urban driving but also highway and country driving, we saw consumption of around 5.2L/100km for the automatic and around 5.5L/100km for the manual. The 2 can run on 91RON regular unleaded, while it has a 44-litre fuel tank.

Ride & Handing: 8/10

As we’ve discovered previously, the 2024 Mazda2 continues to be one of the most fun driving experiences that can be had for under $30,000 – but thanks to a series of constant updates since it was released, it’s also reasonably mature as well. The launch program of the 2 saw us driving through the Dandenong Ranges, south east of Melbourne, which offered up some pretty fun roads. Thankfully, despite advancements made in the 2’s refinement, it’s still a fun car to drive with a lovely chassis, quick and direct steering and a well tuned ride that’s typically, for Mazda, a touch firm but with great rewards.

Mazda has also been keep to emphasise that many 2s will be bought as first cars and designed a number of challenges for Australian media to undertake on the launch, including acceleration and brake tests, reverse slaloms, a skid pan, a parking test and even a full driving test to show off how nimble and well suited it is to both urban conditions and first time drivers. Put simply, it did quite well and we all had a ball trying to get the gold medal. Helping further is that the 2’s well tuned active safety kit, much of which is standard equipment across the whole range.

Interior & Practicality: 7/10

The cabin of the 2024 Mazda2 has not changed much compared with the pre-facelifted model – and indeed when this generation was first released in 2014 – but it remains a good quality, comfortable and nicely featured place to spend time. We think that while it is starting to feel a bit dated on the inside, it’s still an enjoyable and characterful cabin to spend time in.

Material quality in the Mazda2 is reasonable for the segment – there are no soft touch plastics that a VW Polo offers, though the new trim pieces have livened it up a bit and the usual good quality Mazda switchgear – like the lovely leather steering wheel – features prominently. Still, we would like to see more of an update inside the cabin like a new driver’s display to make it feel more modern.

Storage inside the 2’s cabin is not its highlight, but there are some good points like big cup holders, reasonable door bins, a tray underneath the centre console with two USB-A ports and a 12V socket and some other small storage trays. Annoyingly, there’s no covered storage and no centre armrest though – one is available as a dealer-fit accessory, but we think it should be standard equipment.

What dates the 2’s cabin, however, is the 7.0-inch touchscreen that sits in the middle of the dashboard. While it’s fine for a light car, it’s fairly unchanged from when the current shape 2 was released in 2014. While it’s slick to operate, the screen quality isn’t great and the screen itself is a touch small. Thankfully, it has (wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, as well as FM/AM/digital radio, while satellite navigation features from the Evolve and up. A larger 8.0-inch screen features in some overseas markets, and we’d like to see it offered in Australia – or, better yet, Mazda’s newer Mazda Connect system.

The back seat of the Mazda2 can fit two six-foot adults, with reasonable headroom in the hatchback (we are yet to try the sedan), though legroom is pretty tight. In terms of features, there’s one map pocket and a little storage tray for a bottle at the rear of the centre console, but that’s it – no second map pocket, cup holders, bottle holders, charging ports, etc. The VW Polo or Skoda Fabia are more practical if the rear seat is used more than occasionally.

The boot of the 2024 Mazda2 hatchback measures 250-litres with the seats up, and over 800L with the seats folded – the sedan offers a healthy 440L space with the seats up. Under the boot floor is a space saver spare wheel, but that’s it for features – no dual-level boot floor, hooks, nets, etc.

Service & Warranty: 8.5/10

Like the wider Mazda range, the 2024 Mazda2 is covered by a five-year/unlimited km warranty with five years of roadside assistance. Mazda is gradually lengthening the service intervals of its cars and the 2’s service intervals are now 5,000km longer at 15,000km/yearly, and five years/75,000km of servicing costs $2,116 ($423 per year).

Competitors like Toyota, Suzuki and Volkswagen also offer five-year/unlimited km warranties with their new cars, while MG pushes that up to seven years. Service pricing for competitors ranges from lower to higher than the 2 – the Yaris costs just $1,250 to service over five years/75,000km, while the Polo costs $3,095 to service for the same duration ($619 per service – though a service pack lessens that to $2,300 or $460 per service).

The 2024 Mazda2 DiscoverAuto Launch Rating: 7.8/10

Overall, while the 2024 Mazda2 has its negatives, it’s hard not to be won over by its charming nature – particularly if you’re a keen driver. Yep, it’s now more expensive than it used to be, its back seat and boot aren’t huge, its interior feels a bit dated and it’s not the cheapest car to service, but it still has a lot going for it. It drives quite well for the segment with a really fun feel from behind the wheel, it’s quite well equipped, no matter which model you choose, it’s quite mature for the segment from behind the wheel and despite its age, Mazda has managed to add some freshness with this update.

We were very happy to come away from the 2’s launch knowing that the small car has lots of life left in it, especially for those not interested in an SUV. For enthusiasts such as ourselves, it’s comforting to know that despite the death of cars like the Ford Fiesta ST and soon-to-be-dead Kia Picanto GT, a fun to drive option exists under $30,000 – especially one with a sweet manual gearbox. It’s not the cheapest or most practical small car, but we still think that the 2024 Mazda2 is an absolute charmer.