- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.5i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
82kW, 144Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 5.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
5 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2023 Mazda 2 review: A young driver’s view
The compact Mazda 2 hatch soldiers on with a mild facelift and a few little tweaks, but where it may have once been a sharply priced P-plate staple, does the entry-level Mazda still have enough to entice the next generation of drivers?
- Getting back to basics isn't a bad thing for this market
- All the kit and caboodle young drivers, and their parents, are looking for
- Easy and comfortable to drive
- Can be frugal on fuel but generally isn't
- Expired five-star ANCAP rating
- At nearly 10 years old, has it passed its prime?
2023 Mazda 2 Pure manual hatch
The current-generation Mazda 2 hatch has been a mainstay of Australia's small car scene for almost a decade now. The DJ Series Mazda 2 arrived in 2014, won its sales category the year after, and remained on the top-three podium for the small-car sales race until 2020, when a raft of safety and assistance technology upgrades also upgraded the price by 35 per cent.
Since then, the cheery little Mazda 2 has been through two more price increases, although this time it comes with a mild facelift, new paint choices, and a fun little colour block offset on the front and rear bumper, but it hasn't regained its sales ground against more cost-effective alternatives.
There are still plenty of compact cars and SUVs more affordable than the $22,410 plus on-road costs Mazda 2, with some including on-road costs or an automatic transmission (or both) in their price tags for a cheaper overall on-the-road price. Budget-conscious buyers can pick from the Kia Picanto, Kia Rio, MG 3, MG 5, MG ZS, Suzuki Swift, Suzuki Ignis, Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic) with the Mazda 2 struggling to keep up with the top-selling MG 3 in the year-to-date VFACTS tally (10,642 v 3548 unit sold to the end of August).
Even more telling is the dealership performance of the Mazda CX-3, the little SUV that is based on the Mazda 2, priced above it (from $26,800 before on-road costs), and outselling it by a factor of around three-to-one (with 10,708 sales).
Perhaps it would seem, then, the Mazda 2 has run its course.
The thing is, the little hatch still has plenty to offer, if not for buyers of today but for drivers of tomorrow.
It's funky, equipped with all the key features, well built, easy to drive, and while still not as affordable as it once was, not outrageously expensive. Especially when you consider a litre of milk, which cost an average of $1.55 in 2015, is now up to $2.80.
To find out if the Mazda 2 has enough to take future Australian drivers along the road to personal freedom and road-trip playlist nirvana, I've asked a future Australian driver (my teenage daughter, Ava) her thoughts on key elements of the little Mazda 2 and what's important for someone in her (not quite) driving shoes.
How much does the Mazda 2 cost in Australia?
The 2023 Mazda 2 range starts from $22,410 (before on-road costs) for our entry-level Pure manual hatch. You can have the same trim but with a six-speed automatic for $2000 more, and add some larger 16-inch alloys, a shark-fin antenna, and a bunch of black trim elements (including a faux carbon-fibre roof) for another $800 by way of the Pure SP.
Mazda expects the $25,910 Evolve to make up the bulk of sales, as here you get LED running lamps, a head-up display, climate-control air conditioning, integrated satellite navigation, traffic sign recognition, and a dimming rear-view mirror. Topping off the range is the $27,610 Mazda 2 GT that adds leather and faux-suede seats, keyless entry, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors and unique alloy wheels.
There is a sedan available in Pure and GT trim for the same list price as the hatch.
All cars use the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and are all front-wheel drive. The Mazda 2 is built in Thailand.
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Rolling back to our Pure, the list of standard equipment is strong with items like automatic wipers, power-folding mirrors, automatic LED headlamps, cruise control, a 7.0-inch touch-screen media interface, and a host of driver assistance technology all standard.
The 2023 update includes a new front fascia that incorporates a slimmer grille with a new panel that is colour-coded on the Pure and Pure SP and mesh on the Evolve and GT. Call me crazy, but I quite like the colour extension on the Pure/SP the most.
There's also a fun, offset colour tab on both the front and rear bumper that simply adds interest to the presence of the little Mazda. Once again, Pure and Pure SP get yellow, where Evolve and GT score red, regardless of your exterior paint colour.
Speaking of which, premium paint attracts a $595 price bump on all trim grades, and there are nine choices available across the range.
Our car is Jet Black Mica (the only colour not available on the black-pack Pure SP for obvious reasons), which is one of the shades (along with Snowflake White Pearl, Air Steam Blue, Platinum Quartz, Aero Grey and Aluminium) to come at no additional cost.
Model | Body | MSRP | Step from lower grade |
Mazda 2 Pure manual | Hatch | $22,410 | - |
Mazda 2 Pure | Hatch or Sedan | $24,410 | $2000 |
Mazda 2 Pure SP | Hatch | $25,210 | $800 |
Mazda 2 Evolve | Hatch | $25,910 | $700 |
Mazda 2 GT | Hatch or Sedan | $27,610 | $1700 |
Arguably, the slightly larger $19,690 Kia Rio S manual offers a better value proposition, and the $22,290 Kia Stonic S a more trendy one (both before on-road costs). The sub-$20K MG 3 hatch is the real sales winner here, though, with over 10,000 units moved year-to-date, the $19,990 drive-away with auto MG is well ahead of all the other sharp-priced offerings, regardless of body style, showing that ultimate value still plays a strong hand.
To that end, the Mazda 2 feels better placed at its sharper price points if aimed at first-time buyers or younger family drivers, but still makes sense in the Evolve trim if you want something a little more gadgety.
What did my teenage buyer think of the range breakdown?
Ava: I don't really know what all that stuff is, and I would use my phone for navigation anyway. Right now, everything sounds expensive, but when you hear what other cars cost, anything under $30,000 sounds like it is pretty well priced. I like that there are some nice colours for free, and I like the black and the light blue. In terms of value, though, if Mum and Dad were helping me buy this, it feels affordable. It's not like it's a new Range Rover. But you only have one child, so the way I see it, Dad will be paying for it anyway.
We'll see about that.
Key details | 2023 Mazda 2 Pure manual hatch |
Price | $22,410 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Jet Black Mica |
Options | None |
Drive-away price | $26,247 (Melbourne) |
Rivals | Kia Rio | Suzuki Swift | MG 3 |
How much space does the Mazda 2 have inside?
For a small car, the Mazda 2 does a good job of feeling roomy inside. Well, in the front at least.
For taller drivers, there's a heap of head room, and unless you pack it full of rugby players, enough space in the cabin for the car to feel bigger than its size would suggest.
The back seat is another matter, and with the driver's seat in my position, I was not able to fit comfortably behind. If your children are ruling the local basketball scene, then perhaps look elsewhere, but Ava (who is still tall for her age) was able to adjust the driver's seat to a point where she could also fit in the back reasonably well.
There are five seatbelts but stick to a maximum of four riders and you should be okay.
Our entry-level Pure has black and grey cloth seats, but they are smart and comfortable enough for most tastes and work well to underscore the car's affordable positioning.
Part of the MY23 update includes trim pieces that change inside, as the front fascia panel does on the outside. This time the trim corresponds to your paint colour, with red, white, quartz and Polymetal Grey scoring white trim, black and the other greys and silvers get black, whereas the new Air Steam Blue gets mint. Nice teenage market alignment!
The rest of the interior is unchanged. The Mazda 2's dash is simple but smart and uncluttered with easy-to-use manual air conditioning controls and minimal switchgear. The controls for the MZD Connect infotainment system are on the lower console behind the transmission lever.
In terms of storage, there's a handy tray in front of the transmission, two cupholders, good door pockets and a usable glove box for storage. Rear passengers have access to a storage tray between the seats that I'm told would be used exclusively to keep hair ties.
The 250-litre boot is a decent size (for a light hatch), the seats fold easily (60:40) for flexibility, and there is a space-saver spare tyre under the floor.
Ava: It's comfortable, but I'd be worried about keeping the cloth seats clean. I think the size is fine, both in the boot and back seat, and everything is easy enough to use. Inside, it looks nicer than I thought it would, but I think it needs an armrest to be a bit more comfortable, both as a driver and passenger.
Conveniently, you can add a centre armrest as a genuine accessory when you buy your Mazda 2. Less conveniently, it costs $520, which is two per cent of the price of the whole car... for an armrest.
2023 Mazda 2 Pure manual hatch | |
Seats | Five |
Boot volume | 250L |
Length | 4085mm |
Width | 1695mm |
Height | 1495mm |
Wheelbase | 2570mm |
Does the Mazda 2 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The Mazda 2 uses a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen on all variants and supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through a wired connection.
In our Pure, there is no native navigation function (despite there being a button for it), but if your phone is connected the system is smart enough to use the navigation there, otherwise, it will show you a compass heading. And you thought a manual transmission would be unfamiliar to young drivers!
As with the majority of Mazda MZD Connect implementations, the system restricts touchscreen access while on the move, requiring you to use the jog-wheel control on the console to interact with the menu system. This is easy enough with Mazda's native software, but endlessly frustrating and distracting while using Apple CarPlay.
The sound system has six speakers, a DAB digital radio tuner and iPod-compatible USB port as standard equipment. There are two USB ports, both in front of the gear lever.
Ava: I'm happy with the stereo and also that it has Apple CarPlay. I would never use anything else, so I don't need the built-in navigation and, for the record, I know what a compass heading is. I noticed that you can use the touchscreen when stopped at lights, which is the only time I would use it anyway, so I think Dad is just used to cars with screens that he can press all the time. I would never really use the wheel control, just CarPlay and just when stopped, so I quite like how it all works.
Is the Mazda 2 a safe car?
The Mazda 2 was crash-tested by ANCAP in 2015 and was awarded five stars. That rating expired at the end of 2022, and so the Mazda 2 is currently sold unrated. As previously reported by Drive, Mazda Australia has no intention to retest the car under new ANCAP criteria.
Since the original 2015 test date, ANCAP has added or updated a number of side impact and pole tests, and advanced driver assist systems tests, making it impossible to compare previous results with newer five-star scores.
2023 Mazda 2 Pure manual hatch | |
ANCAP rating | Unrated |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Mazda 2 have?
Part of the big update the Mazda 2 underwent in 2020 included the addition of a range of modern driver assistance and safety technology systems.
The car includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert with rear collision braking function, lane-keep assistance, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and six airbags (front, side and curtain on both sides).
For convenience, our Pure has a low-resolution rear camera and rear parking sensors.
The only thing I noticed it didn't have was traffic sign recognition, which is available on the Evolve. That said, if you are navigating using Apple Maps or similar, the current speed signs are displayed there, so it's not a glaring omission.
All the key functions worked well on our drive, without any overbearing intervention or annoying beeping.
Ava: Again, I don't really know enough about how all these things work, and because I'm not driving yet, I don't know what they do and when I need them or even why I need them. I understand from Dad they are there to help make driving safer, and from that point of view it's a good thing the car has them, mainly so that parents feel their kids are driving a safe car.
How much does the Mazda 2 cost to maintain?
Mazda offers capped-price servicing across the Mazda 2 range, but where the manual transmission costs $2000 less to buy, over five years it costs $139 more to service, due to the requirement of a transmission fluid change at the five-year or 60,000km mark.
Your Mazda 2 will set you back $1256 to service for the first three years, and either $2255 or $2116 (manual vs auto) to service over five years. That's an average of between $423 and $451 per year. Not crazy cheap, but not an outlier with a non-turbo Suzuki Swift costing $1157 and $1955 over three and five years respectively, and a Kia Rio manual a bit less at $1059 and $1979 for three and five.
Our standard insurance quote, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW, came to $1031.23 for annual comprehensive cover.
But we're talking about young drivers here, so we also ran the same profile with an additional 19-year-old female driver added to the policy ($1988.70) and for just the 19-year-old female as the primary driver ($2335.87). That's a 130 per cent increase for a fresh-faced, new driver. Yikes.
Remember that insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances. Before adding younger drivers to your policy, or even letting them drive the car as it is covered now, make sure you check any restrictions, premium increases or excess differences.
Ava: I guess it's reasonable to service? I have no idea. You would service it for me, your only daughter, wouldn't you? I forgot that having a car means I have to pay for insurance. Maybe I'll just drive your car? When you add up all these costs, plus petrol and snacks, driving a car is expensive. I'll need a job.
At a glance | 2023 Mazda 2 Pure manual hatch |
Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Servicing costs | $1256 (3 years) $2255 (5 years) |
Is the Mazda 2 fuel-efficient?
If you read the brochure, yes, the Mazda 2 is very fuel-efficient.
Mazda claims a combined-cycle fuel consumption of 5.4L/100km and a highway cycle claim of just 4.7L/100km.
This looked promising on our first drive, with a commute from Mazda's head office in Mulgrave to Drive's office in the city, in peak hour, returning 5.5L/100km. The digital tachometer offers you a gear suggestion as you build revs, and will err to a more economical outcome, at times recommending sixth gear at a touch over 60km/h.
This type of mid-speed driving favours the Mazda's non-turbo engine, and on a mild day where the air conditioner wasn't needed, and longish cruising stretches between traffic lights (where the car's automatic stop/start system would activate), we kept the little Mazda in a very friendly consumption zone.
Note that the i-Stop function kills the air conditioner, so in summer you will use more fuel as both you and the car try to keep cool.
Changing up this driving style with lots more first-and-second gear quick changes in traffic, and hurrying a little bit more in short bursts along back streets, we stepped things up to almost 9.0L/100km use.
Even a moderate freeway cruise to return the car to Mulgrave the following day wasn't enough to realign the average to anything better than 7.5L/100km.
While 7.5L/100km isn't that high (especially given the car can be fed 91RON fuel), and despite the optimal conditions allowing us to meet the consumption claim, your regular driving probably won't.
Not with the manual anyway.
Fuel Consumption - brought to you by bp
Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 5.4L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.5L/100km |
Fuel type | 91-octane unleaded |
Fuel tank size | 44L |
What is the Mazda 2 Pure manual like to drive?
Assessing a car that works for young drivers requires looking through a slightly different lens. Things that I may take for granted, or wish to see for my driving style, are different to what someone very green to the roads may want.
But for the Mazda 2, a fresh set of eyes works in its favour, as finding an effortless simplicity to driving it as a 'first car' is far more important than looking for nimble handling and throttle response.
In fact, the car's 'easy' response was one of its highlights for me, in thinking that the last thing a new driver would want is a jerky or urgent car if their application of the throttle was less than smooth. Which, in our brief driveway-bound driving lesson, it was.
Pull into traffic, do anything but slam the throttle against the floor, and the Mazda 2 pulls away cleanly and smoothly, with very linear and predictable behaviour. The clutch is light and the shift gate easy enough to live with, but also mechanically engaging enough for drivers to learn about take-up points and vehicle feel. Plus, for bragging rights, the manual scores an extra kilowatt and two newton metres over the auto – a win in anyone's book.
Sure, most new drivers will never touch a three-pedal car, and Ava is only interested because of my influence, but I still feel it is a much better way to understand the physicality of driving as opposed to a golf-buggy-like stop-go approach of an automatic.
The Mazda's little four-cylinder isn't a numbers engine by any stretch, 82kW and 144Nm are small change in today's market, but it's flexible enough to manage poor gear selection, albeit until a more appropriate cog is selected. The late onset of torque is again a new driver's friend, allowing them to think about what they are doing before the car is approaching any hint of pace.
It's not slow, but it's not fast. And that's what is important.
As noted above, the gears are short and you'll find you'll get ample clutch-pedal practice as you row through all six to 60km/h. I'm still a 'handbrake-neutral' at lights type of driver, and found the little Mazda quite relaxing to potter around in, despite the constant shifting.
The 15-inch wheels and 65-profile tyres keep the ride comfortable, and for a little car it manages main road commuting as well as many larger ones do. Speed humps are also easy fare provided you keep your approach speed in check. The Mazda settles well over bigger bumps, never disguising its compact size but certainly managing it as well as any.
The fact it has to pull off being a $30K-plus car in the GT trim makes the lower-spec car feel better too. It may be small, but it does feel well made and quite solid on the road. It's not the ideal drive-to-Sydney car, but it's happy at freeway speeds should you ever want to hit the open road.
The simplicity of the Mazda 2 is what works most in its favour through this lens.
Everything works just how you expect it, but you get what you get and nothing more. Take the young driver or first-car buyer goggles off, and you still have a sensible compact hatchback, but it's one that has been stretched to its absolute limit, with no real path for improvement.
Ava: To be clear, I didn't drive the car, I don't have my Learner permit yet, but I did try to start moving in the driveway as I've never tried to drive a manual before. The first attempt wasn't great, but I was able to get used to the pedal movements pretty quickly. It doesn't feel hard to drive, but I'm still a long way from feeling comfortable out on the road with all the other cars.
Watching Dad drive, it was smooth and easy and he said it was very light, which I could feel and I like that. If I was learning in this, and eventually driving around with my friends, then yes, this is the sort of car I know I would be able to manage and would like. I'll let you know how I go after some lessons in the school holidays, though. I might not like it and just catch Ubers or get Dad to drive me everywhere!
Key details | 2023 Mazda 2 Pure manual hatch |
Engine | 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol |
Power | 82kW @ 6000rpm |
Torque | 144Nm @ 4000rpm |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Six-speed manual |
Power-to-weight ratio | 75.6kW/t |
Weight (kerb) | 1085kg |
Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
Tow rating | 900kg braked 500kg unbraked |
Turning circle | 9.4m |
Should I buy a Mazda 2 Pure manual?
If you want a basic small hatchback on a budget, then the MG 3 can't help but look like a good deal. If you want a compact Mazda on a budget, then you're probably already looking at a CX-3; a car that is just as old as our Mazda 2, but manages to pull it off a little bit better due to being an SUV.
If you want a good learner car, then the Mazda 2 ticks the boxes, but probably because it is old rather than despite it.
The Mazda 2 is a nice little car to drive and a great little first-car platform, but I feel only because as a parent I would like my daughter to learn to drive in a car that is similar to what I learned to drive in. The circle of driving life.
It's still a strong little car, and a worthy consideration option irrespective of the age of the driver. The facelift is a nice refresh, but that's all it is. Nothing can hide the fact the Mazda 2 is at the end of its life. Before too long, we'll start seeing compact EVs, and a total lack of manual transmission options, so if you want a new car that feels just like an old car, you'd better nab one while you still can.
But this is all through my eyes rather than those of a young driver. We can talk about tech and feel, but when you boil it down, what is really important for a younger driver?
Not surprisingly, it's not response, body control or even maintenance cost, it's functionality.
Ava: I am not a driver yet, but I do think about it and it sort of scares me. I want to have a lot of lessons and really feel confident before driving everywhere myself. When I think of what I want from a car, of course, I think of how my friends will fit, where I'll put stuff and what music I'll listen to, because that's what I want driving to be about. To be fun.
The scary thing is not knowing the car and worrying that I'll not be able to control it, so having a car that isn't fast or jerky, and is easy to steer and easy to see out of, is what would make me feel better. I don't know what I don't know, so I would want something simple to learn how to drive first, then work out what I like or want in my next car that works best for me.
I'd like to learn to drive manual, just so I can drive your cars when I'm older, but also because it looks like fun. And if I don't want to drive, I'll just get an Uber... that you pay for. I like this car and would drive it if we had one, but I'd definitely tell you to get the blue one.
How do I buy a Mazda 2 – next steps?
While there are four variants in the Mazda 2 line-up, we are very much of the opinion that the little car is better served lower in the range. The Pure is the only car available as a manual, which makes the decision easy if you want to self-shift, but the $2800 jump from here to a Pure SP (with automatic) isn't really worth it for different exterior trim.
Mazda expects the $25,910 Evolve to carry the bulk of sales, and at least here the $3500 step from the basic Pure adds climate control, head-up display, traffic sign recognition and a few other goodies... but we'd still suggest the Pure, especially if the majority of the driving will be done with L or P-plates.
Mazda says there's good stock in dealers across all model grades, with no extended wait times initially. You can also find Mazdas for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale.
We strongly recommend taking a test drive at a dealership before committing because personal needs and tastes can differ. If you are thinking that younger members of the family may also be driving this car, we'd very much suggest taking them along to have a look too.
If you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to the Mazda 2 since our review, you'll find all the latest news here.