Mazda 2 Hatchback

1.5 Skyactiv-G SE-L Nav 5dr [2020]

2 TO THE POWER OF 3

We loved the much-improved second generation Mazda2. The third generation car looks a big step on again. Jonathan Crouch reports

The Mazda2 is a strong option if you're looking for a quality supermini and has been usefully improved in his upgraded form. This update brings torque vectoring for extra cornering precision, plus greater refinement from the slimmed-down engine range and a slightly smarter cabin. As before, this model packs in some big car features into a pertly-styled body and features a classy 1.5-litre petrol SKYACTIV engine that makes great real-world economy. It's a real contender to the likes of the Fiesta, Corsa, 208 and Clio.

The Mazda2 is going places. The first Mazda2 sold 410,000 units between 2003 and 2007. The second generation model had a seven year run at the market, but had already eclipsed its predecessor's total midway through 2010. Both cars owed a lot to Ford's strategic partnership with Mazda, effectively being rebodied Fiestas which, as anyone who's ever driven a modern Fiesta will happily admit, is no bad thing. For the third generation version, this current car, launched in 2015, Mazda went it alone, this MK3 model '2 riding on its own SKYACTIV chassis technology. At launch, that looked quite a gamble but Mazda has its tail up at the moment after the success of the latest '3, '6 and MX-5 models and had no hesitation in showcasing what it could do with this supermini contender. Now, they've further updated the car.

Buyers now choose from two versions of the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol unit with 75 or 90ps on tap. Power is transferred to the front wheels via five and six-speed manual transmissions as well as a six-speed automatic. All are recently developed compact, lightweight versions of the acclaimed gearboxes offered on other new-generation Mazdas. Mazda says that a lot of changes have taken place with regard to this car's driver-focused dynamics. A clever 'G-Vectoring Control' system has also been introduced which varies engine torque to optimise loading on the wheels when cornering to indiscernibly provide more precise handling and improve comfort. A lot of work has gone into improving refinement too. As before, the suspension has been set up to be Volkswagen-firm which you'll feel on poor surfaces but the flipside of this is that the Mazda2 offers reassuring body control in corners. The steering is an electrically-assisted system, so don't expect bucketloads of feedback, but you can count on clean response and perfect accuracy. For this lightly revised model, front and rear damper settings have been revised to enhance ride quality, while to improve body control, the front anti-roll bar bushing has changed and the structure of the front lower suspension arm has been modified. Additionally, a small recalibration of the electric power steering is supposed to result in improved steering feel. Overall, with a sporty feel and easy manoeuvrability, the Mazda2 is more than just a city scoot. It's got a welcome element of long distance versatility too.

All around the world, there are languages dying out but Mazda's designers seem to have one all of their own when they start describing the Mazda2. To most people, the 'KODO - Soul of Motion' design doesn't really mean a lot. Suffice to say it looks quite a bit like the existing CX5, Mazda 3 and Mazda6, which means a flowing blend of curves, lots of shape in the flanks and a gaping front grille. It looks better than it sounds, especially when specified with a decent set of alloys. The interior's probably the biggest surprise. We expected the cabin to be boldly-styled but built out of some shiny plastics and with ergonomics that were a bit hit and miss. It's anything but. In fact, the design is relatively clean and conservative, but the colour combinations that Mazda offers are a knockout and the materials quality is genuinely surprising - especially in this revised model form. All models now feature smarter seat fabrics, a restyled steering wheel and sleeker door mirrors with wraparound indicators. It's spacious inside too. By stretching the wheelbase by 80mm over the previous generation Mazda2, the designers have delivered a decently-sized passenger cell for a five-supermini. There's a big glove box and door pockets that can hold large bottles. The boot's deep and boasts 280-litres of room with the seats in place or 960-litres when they're folded.

Prices now start from just under £13,000 and range up to around £17,500 bracket - that's fairly standard pricing for better-quality superminis in this segment. Mazda claims that the range sets new standards for infotainment, in-car connectivity and equipment levels in the segment with the SE-L Nav models featuring a 7-inch colour touch-screen, a rotary Multimedia Commander infotainment control, MZD Connect, DAB radio, and a satellite navigation system as standard, whilst Sport Nav models also benefit from the addition of 16-inch alloy wheels, smart keyless entry and climate control air-conditioning. The Mazda2 features the ingenious Active Driving Display - the first head-up display in this class - and certainly isn't short of the sort of safety features normally found only in bigger cars. These include an auto braking function, blind spot detection, a lane departure warning system and high beam control that automatically dips the lights so as not to blind oncoming vehicles. The front, side and curtain airbags have all been redesigned to offer better occupant protection while the front end crash structure has been improved markedly. Due to all of this, Mazda is confidently predicting a five-star EuroNCAP rating.

The petrol-engined versions of the Mazda2 are interesting in their own regard. Most of Mazda's rivals have opted for downsized turbocharged petrol units that, in effect, cheat the NEDC economy test and tend to result in fairly ordinary fuel economy in real world driving conditions. Mazda's 75 and 90ps 1.5-litre normally-aspirated SKYACTIV-G petrol engines get between 60.1 and 62.8mpg on the combined cycle, which certainly isn't bad, but we'd be willing to wager that in typical real world conditions, they'll fare better than Ford's 1.0-litre Ecoboost unit, the one that's found in a Fiesta. Emissions translate to between 105 and 110g/km. The lightweight SKYACTIV chassis helps keep weight down, with the entry-level petrol models tipping the scales at just 970kg. As for peace of mind, well given the reliability of Mazda products, you'd have thought the company might have wanted to improve upon its usual three year/60,000 mile package and take on the Korean brands. Not so. That familiar standard warranty remains in place for this car. Still, the cover provided does continue to include three years of European roadside assistance.

Good things often come in little packages. Here's one of them. It's a small car that's been developed with an extraordinarily large amount of care and as a result, remains a class act. Arguably, no other rival offers a better all-round blend of performance and efficiency, plus this improved third generation Mazda2 delivers smart looks, reasonable pricing and an interestingly-styled cabin offering premium segment features and some lovely quality touches. The bottom line is that if you thought all superminis were the same, it's well worth trying one of these. Life, you might find, is full of surprises.