Just bought the new 2023 facelifted mazda 2. I wanted a manual, and its a shame that the manual only came in the entry level. I have been driving a manual mazda 2 since 2011 and love it dearly. I test drove some other brands/cars, but ended up liking the mazda 2 the most. Its been a super reliable car since my family got it. No issues 12 years on.
Mazda cars are always the best for very reliable and good quality cars and the Mazda 2 also offers a 1.5 diesel engine option and that's great 👍❤ I love Mazda because Mazda has the unique quality of classic modern design and option
We have a 2015 manual of this model. Not powerful or torquey, but still fun, responsive and nimble. Just rev it out. It's actually faster than some SUVs like mitsi asx, and older ford Rangers. Lol Very good second family runabout.
These are probably the new edition of a bulletproof car. The daughter and son each bought a Neo in January 2015, and Max in September 2015 as their first cars respectively. While they don’t do massive kilometres in them and they have a few battle scars of chipped paint here and there, the annual service with the 10,000km, new tyres and a new battery due to the woeful start/stop (which it is in most cars let alone a small, underpowered one), They have been brilliant. A polish and re-application of a ceramic coating every two years means from 10 feet they look new. It’s a shame Mazda hasn’t done at least one generational update.
Going on 5 years on mine. Like it more every year. Slight difference on mine- it's labeled a Toyota Yaris here in the USA , Toyota badging and grill design, but otherwise it's all Mazda 2. (this Mazda/Toyota applies in the USA between 2017 and 2021).
Love Mazda's (particularly old ones) and my family have had them since their first; a 1968 1500. I had a 2 like this for a courtesy car and found the B pillar annoyingly blocking vision when I wanted to change lanes.
The good news is a new model in the range named simply Mazda 2 Turbo. Yes, Mazda has lifted the 2.5 Turbo from the Mazda 3 Turbo of which we don't get here as it's LHD only. This new model will be equipped with AWD for maximum traction. Both manual and auto will be available.
This is untrue. As much as I wish you were on the money, looks like you're mixed up with the Mazda 3 Turbo, which has a 2.5T, not a 2.0. This car will not be getting a turbo or AWD, it's too old for them to bother with such major modifications (if even possible). The only way they'd do that would be on an all new model
Nice review, and agreed on this being such a great little first car! Even better if there was a manual option in the higher grades. Shame also about the pricing being a little on the high side. In any event, how refreshing a car in a sea of needless SUVs. I also hope Mazda keep producing little cars like this.
Shame you dont have the skyactiv D. That 250 Nm is a real handy characteristic. Super efficient - I get 4.0li/100km at 75 mph (120 Kmmh). I am surrounded by CVTs and the 6 Spd auto leaves them for dead at lights. The D is 1.6 secs quicker than the 1.5 petrol. Utterly reliable. 60K km on the front tyres and 100K km on the rears.
I really hope as well that we don't loose the small hatch to the SUV :( In a way, I think it won't happen because they are so cheap an SUV can't match it, but who knows :( But this Mazda 2 is my favorite of this class!
Ideal first car??? Am I so out of touch? When did folks start spending $29,700 on a brand new vehicle for their first car? My first car was a $1,500 14 year old banger, which was pretty normal back in the day (granted that was a few centuries ago)! I would’ve thought a first car buyer would’ve been more in the market for a secondhand 2008 Mazda 2 than a brand new 2023 model.
Excellent review (unpretentious, reasonable, grounded and fair). Thank you for allowing space to an often ignored sector - the small car. Modern car design is uniform, soulless and dominated (as you rightly point out) by the obese monstrosities that are SUV's. Thank heavens for Mazda, a marque unafraid to deviate from the mainstream and to maintain an overall focus on weight reduction and value; as well as faith in the roadster and the small car.
Mazda have lost their minds asking $30k for an entry level car and BMW SUV prices for the CX 60. For $26k you can get an i30 with a bigger engine and more room. I have owned a Mazda 3 and 2, and will not buy from Mazda again because their pricing is unreasonable
- No armrest again really? - It's pretty cheap to offer manual only at entry level - Screen seems very dated in 2023 - Head up display does not project into front window like in Mazda 3 and requires an extra ugly pop-up screen - No upmarket sound system like in Mazda 3 etc. On the other hand liking the atmospheric engine as usual. A higher powered warm edition would've been great. But 2 as of now doesn't seem as compelling as a package as its bigger brothers.
Yes these cars are great little things to drive but in todays day and age its much easier to hop in and out of an suv with much higher ride quality and space to offer over a small city car that youll need to be 1m and a tik tak in height to feel comfortable in.
Test drove one today. Its a dog. Laggy and not sharp at all. Looks overdue for a visual update. As a mazda 3 owner i wasnt impressed. Its uninteresting, stale, drives ok but the engine and response is terrible. Clutch is too light with way too much travel. Noisy too
I'm sure you are right.... the Skoda is a different class of vehicle! It will be interesting to see how the Skoda/VW DCT and turbo hold up over 10 years... I own a 2012 Mazda 2 Neo (5 speed manual). It's approaching 200,000 km, has taught two children how to drive (properly), and has never missed a beat (even the clutch is original). My most recent tank of petrol (mostly urban driving) returned 6.3 l / 100 km. And - being a manual - it's still fun to drive.
Your 2022 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is also $10,000 more expensive and not based on a 9 year old car. And according to reviews it has a hard ride thanks to it's sports suspension and 18' wheels. With all due respects I'm not sold on the name Monte Carlo either but hey if it was good enough for Chevrolet to use it for nearly four decades it's good enough for Skoda to use it now.
every mazda model has exactly the same front, suv's micros wagons sedans, bloody lazy designing and its the elephant in the room NO reviewer ever mentions
You can see this for yourself; it's not up to us to explain whether styling is good or bad (subjective). 'Family' fascias are common in motoring design (see Audi, Mercedes for contemporary examples); Mazda is perhaps more consistent than most. Again, whether that is good or bad is not a point for us to decide on.
But between 2017 and 2022 you could buy one here as a Toyota Yaris. We have two, a hatch and a sedan. Both Mazda 2s but superficially badged Yaris. Has Mazda labels tucked all over the car.
My wife who is anti SUV loves hers we got a Genki auto in early 2019 for $21250 drive away bit more exxy now. Never had an issue since we bought it.
Just bought the new 2023 facelifted mazda 2. I wanted a manual, and its a shame that the manual only came in the entry level. I have been driving a manual mazda 2 since 2011 and love it dearly. I test drove some other brands/cars, but ended up liking the mazda 2 the most. Its been a super reliable car since my family got it. No issues 12 years on.
I bought top spec in 2022 (1 year before facelift) in europe. I am glad I did. It is pleasure to drive.
Mazda cars are always the best for very reliable and good quality cars and the Mazda 2 also offers a 1.5 diesel engine option and that's great 👍❤
I love Mazda because Mazda has the unique quality of classic modern design and option
I've been driving this car for 6 years now. Mostly reliable, fun in corners. The only let-down is the engine - it's a bit dull and lazy.
We have a 2015 manual of this model. Not powerful or torquey, but still fun, responsive and nimble. Just rev it out.
It's actually faster than some SUVs like mitsi asx, and older ford Rangers. Lol
Very good second family runabout.
These are probably the new edition of a bulletproof car. The daughter and son each bought a Neo in January 2015, and Max in September 2015 as their first cars respectively. While they don’t do massive kilometres in them and they have a few battle scars of chipped paint here and there, the annual service with the 10,000km, new tyres and a new battery due to the woeful start/stop (which it is in most cars let alone a small, underpowered one), They have been brilliant. A polish and re-application of a ceramic coating every two years means from 10 feet they look new. It’s a shame Mazda hasn’t done at least one generational update.
bought my 2019 mazda 2 GT for $21,000 in 2021, think i got a pretty good deal
Going on 5 years on mine. Like it more every year. Slight difference on mine- it's labeled a Toyota Yaris here in the USA , Toyota badging and grill design, but otherwise it's all Mazda 2. (this Mazda/Toyota applies in the USA between 2017 and 2021).
An excellent review of a very adequate little car. 👍
Thanks! 👍
*Your best 1st car should not be a brand new car. Good review. 👍🏻*
Best 2nd car.
Best Car Review. You have a subscriber.
I love madza 2
Love Mazda's (particularly old ones) and my family have had them since their first; a 1968 1500. I had a 2 like this for a courtesy car and found the B pillar annoyingly blocking vision when I wanted to change lanes.
Lot of cars have thick b pillars these days due to crashworthiness requirements
Need a little MPS pocket-rocket version, like the Yaris GR
Been asking the same for a while (minus the GR turbo). A high revving miata engine would've been great in 2.
@@khelgarironfist3301 Top spec Mazda 2 does 6500rpm.
Light and micro cars are doing more than the giant EV SUV UTE Sector to save the planet.
makes more sense in the city and for those who live in apartments..
The good news is a new model in the range named simply Mazda 2 Turbo. Yes, Mazda has lifted the 2.5 Turbo from the Mazda 3 Turbo of which we don't get here as it's LHD only. This new model will be equipped with AWD for maximum traction. Both manual and auto will be available.
This is untrue. As much as I wish you were on the money, looks like you're mixed up with the Mazda 3 Turbo, which has a 2.5T, not a 2.0. This car will not be getting a turbo or AWD, it's too old for them to bother with such major modifications (if even possible). The only way they'd do that would be on an all new model
@@Clove_Parma My mistake yes I meant 2.5 Turbo this will be a 2024 model
Good reviewer - thanks.
Thanks for watching!
This thing with our Canadian 2.5L would be an absolute mad lad!
Agreed. A great first manual car.
Nice review, and agreed on this being such a great little first car! Even better if there was a manual option in the higher grades. Shame also about the pricing being a little on the high side. In any event, how refreshing a car in a sea of needless SUVs. I also hope Mazda keep producing little cars like this.
Shame you dont have the skyactiv D. That 250 Nm is a real handy characteristic. Super efficient - I get 4.0li/100km at 75 mph (120 Kmmh). I am surrounded by CVTs and the 6 Spd auto leaves them for dead at lights. The D is 1.6 secs quicker than the 1.5 petrol. Utterly reliable. 60K km on the front tyres and 100K km on the rears.
If they had a sports version with the 2.0 litre that would great? We have a 2023 Mazda 3 sedan with the 2.5 that is fun to drive.
I really hope as well that we don't loose the small hatch to the SUV :( In a way, I think it won't happen because they are so cheap an SUV can't match it, but who knows :(
But this Mazda 2 is my favorite of this class!
The facelift #1 or the facelift #2 doesn't work well with the hatch. But it works well for the sedan.
Ideal first car??? Am I so out of touch? When did folks start spending $29,700 on a brand new vehicle for their first car? My first car was a $1,500 14 year old banger, which was pretty normal back in the day (granted that was a few centuries ago)! I would’ve thought a first car buyer would’ve been more in the market for a secondhand 2008 Mazda 2 than a brand new 2023 model.
The new Kia Picanto although smaller will fill many buyers needs.
Here in Cairns the GT starts at $31 000
Excellent review (unpretentious, reasonable, grounded and fair). Thank you for allowing space to an often ignored sector - the small car. Modern car design is uniform, soulless and dominated (as you rightly point out) by the obese monstrosities that are SUV's. Thank heavens for Mazda, a marque unafraid to deviate from the mainstream and to maintain an overall focus on weight reduction and value; as well as faith in the roadster and the small car.
Source from japanese magazine the nex-gen likely to get the new rotary-ev
Why no A-named top trim? Akula maybe?
As for me, safety isn’t a concern. My car is from the 90s and it only has seatbelts. I also, ride a motorcycle.
“I’ve got a massive…soft spot”
Mazda have lost their minds asking $30k for an entry level car and BMW SUV prices for the CX 60. For $26k you can get an i30 with a bigger engine and more room. I have owned a Mazda 3 and 2, and will not buy from Mazda again because their pricing is unreasonable
Well, the pricing is excessive for the Mazda 2...but that CX-60 truly is a work of art and easily the equal of any BMW SUV
Premium brand, quality and reliability. Crapundai’s are cheap for a reason
Best first car is a 2.7L toyota Hilux double cab 4x4, or at least a 2 door 4.7L toyota landcruiser series 70 both in petrol.
Cute. Profile could be an Alfa Romeo, front on looks like it has a moustache.
- No armrest again really?
- It's pretty cheap to offer manual only at entry level
- Screen seems very dated in 2023
- Head up display does not project into front window like in Mazda 3 and requires an extra ugly pop-up screen
- No upmarket sound system like in Mazda 3 etc.
On the other hand liking the atmospheric engine as usual. A higher powered warm edition would've been great. But 2 as of now doesn't seem as compelling as a package as its bigger brothers.
Yes these cars are great little things to drive but in todays day and age its much easier to hop in and out of an suv with much higher ride quality and space to offer over a small city car that youll need to be 1m and a tik tak in height to feel comfortable in.
This or swift?
Why are first cars small death traps, with minimal / the minimum safety gear?
Extremely pricy, almost as much as mzd 3. That price would be okay if it was a new gen product.
And doesn't even have an armrest at the front lol. I'd just get a year old Mazda 3 instead.
Test drove one today. Its a dog. Laggy and not sharp at all. Looks overdue for a visual update. As a mazda 3 owner i wasnt impressed. Its uninteresting, stale, drives ok but the engine and response is terrible. Clutch is too light with way too much travel. Noisy too
my 2022 skoda fabia monte carlo will eat that for breakfast
Out of interest, how much did you pay for the Skoda?
@@COB86 $38000
Thx for the info@@deangreen3370
I'm sure you are right.... the Skoda is a different class of vehicle!
It will be interesting to see how the Skoda/VW DCT and turbo hold up over 10 years... I own a 2012 Mazda 2 Neo (5 speed manual). It's approaching 200,000 km, has taught two children how to drive (properly), and has never missed a beat (even the clutch is original). My most recent tank of petrol (mostly urban driving) returned 6.3 l / 100 km. And - being a manual - it's still fun to drive.
Your 2022 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo is also $10,000 more expensive and not based on a 9 year old car.
And according to reviews it has a hard ride thanks to it's sports suspension and 18' wheels.
With all due respects I'm not sold on the name Monte Carlo either but hey if it was good enough for Chevrolet to use it for nearly four decades it's good enough for Skoda to use it now.
It's old, expensive for what it is and gutless. I'm also not a fan of the looks.
@@nigelbritton964 I have driven one… it’s not a bad thing, but given its age and asking prices it does not work for me.
Looks 10years old already.. mazda are kidding themselves surely.. chinese offerings utterly obliterate this underwhelming product.. none will sell
every mazda model has exactly the same front, suv's micros wagons sedans, bloody lazy designing and its the elephant in the room
NO reviewer ever mentions
You can see this for yourself; it's not up to us to explain whether styling is good or bad (subjective). 'Family' fascias are common in motoring design (see Audi, Mercedes for contemporary examples); Mazda is perhaps more consistent than most. Again, whether that is good or bad is not a point for us to decide on.
Oh just to add up another brand that has the "same" front facia is BMW with their kidney grill design.
I would never buy one of these.. Too many big cars around to feel safe in a small car :(
Sadly the Mazda 2 is not available in the USA.
But between 2017 and 2022 you could buy one here as a Toyota Yaris. We have two, a hatch and a sedan. Both Mazda 2s but superficially badged Yaris. Has Mazda labels tucked all over the car.
Have only seen up to 2020, and manual only in the sedan....
Its sold as 2020 Toyota Yaris. This is what I have currently.
The Mazda 2 in Europe has been replaced by a rebadged Toyota Yaris.
Thats a separate model naming. With “hybrid” behind it
Yes there is a Mazda 2 Hybrid (based on the Toyota Yaris) and the Mazda 2. Bit confusing.@@Zoranurai13