Mazda 2 Hybrid Review 2024

Until recently, Mazda’s approach to reduced emissions and better fuel consumption was a range of advanced petrol and diesel engines under the SkyActiv brand. But the popularity of electrified powertrains has resulted in the Mazda 2 Hybrid, designed to compete with cars such as the Honda Jazz and very similar Toyota Yaris Hybrid. Read on for our full Mazda 2 Hybrid review.

What is immediately obvious is that the Mazda 2 Hybrid looks quite different to the conventional Mazda 2, and has a lot in common with the Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

Indeed, the Mazda 2 Hybrid is the result of a collaboration between Mazda and Toyota, and is based on the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, with some visual differences.

When first introduced in 2021 these differences were minor, but a facelift in 2024 brought in some greater changes, with the adoption of the Mazda five-point grille, and new designs for the front bumpers and alloy wheels.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid shares the 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor driving the front wheels mated to a CVT gearbox.

It offers a combined power output of 116PS and 120Nm of torque, sufficient to take it to a 109mph top speed and from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds. Mazda also claims a combined fuel consumption of 67.3-74.3mpg combined under WLTP regulations, making it one of the most economical small cars on the market.

It is also worth noting that the equivalent Toyota Yaris Hybrid recently received an upgraded powertrain offering 130PS, but this has yet to find its way into the Mazda 2 Hybrid.

Inside, the Mazda 2 Hybrid benefits from other upgrades also applied to the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. Early examples had a seven-inch or eight-inch touchscreen depending on the trim, while later cars have a nine-inch touchscreen as standard, with higher specification versions getting a 10.5-inch display.

Given its compact dimensions, the Mazda 2 Hybrid offers good interior space, with room in the back for two adults, although the boot capacity is less than with some key rivals.

The driving experience is not untypical of small hybrid cars. The three-cylinder engine is quiet in most circumstances, and although the power output is relatively modest, the electric assistance provided by the motor boosts acceleration, making it feel perky in and out of town.

On the downside, the CVT gearbox does mean that under hard acceleration the engine stays at high revs and produces significantly more noise, although careful use of the accelerator can prevent this from happening too often.

On balance, the Mazda 2 Hybrid offers an impressive all-round package, with a good specification, relaxed driving experience and strong economy, but its biggest issue is the better value offered by the Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

The entry-level version of the Mazda 2 Hybrid starts at £24,135, while the Toyota Yaris Hybrid in lowest Icon spec starts at £22,640 with a very similar specification. Most cost-conscious buyers will likely choose the cheaper option.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid is a small car even by today’s standards, but it makes the most of its footprint thanks to a long wheelbase with the wheels pushed out to its corners, leaving as much space as possible inside.

In the front, there is enough headroom and legroom for six-footers, and although elbow room is less plentiful, few drivers will struggle to get comfortable.

In the rear, space is slightly less generous, and although it can accommodate adults, it is best saved for occasional use rather than regular journeys. As far as storage is concerned, there is a useful space in front of the gear selector and a well-sized glovebox.

Boot capacity is 286 litres, which is understandably the same as the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, but less than what is offered by key rivals such as the Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz.

In practical terms, it should be sufficient for most buyers looking at a car this size, but there are better options in the class.

Buyers demand a high standard of finish from their cars regardless of size, and for the most part the Mazda 2 Hybrid doesn’t disappoint.

As you might expect, the vast majority of the Mazda 2 Hybrid’s interior is carried over wholesale from the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, which means you can expect a well-built and hard-wearing cabin.

It’s sensibly laid out, but lacking much in the way of flair, with shades of grey and black dominating the colour scheme, which is occasionally lifted by flashes of silver trim.

Generally speaking, the materials used are of a good quality, but this is not a premium cabin. It feels built to last rather than built to delight, and there are some plastic elements that are clearly on the cheap side.

However, longevity is arguably more important, and on this front the Mazda 2 Hybrid feels like it will stay in one piece for many years to come.

As a relatively new small car, it is good to see that the infotainment provision is up to the standard that buyers expect.

All versions bar the top spec Homura Plus come with a nine-inch central touchscreen which includes Bluetooth, DAB, six speakers and USB-C input.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard. The display is clear and easy to use, with simple menus and a good response time to user inputs, as well as some hard keys so you can access important functions without having to flick through the menus.

The Homura Plus version adds a larger touchscreen as well as satellite navigation and voice recognition as standard, although the audio system itself is the same as on lower-specification versions.

The audio quality is decent rather than outstanding, but the generally low noise levels and easy smartphone integration mean that either system will likely be more than sufficient for the majority of buyers.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid starts at £24,135 for the Centre-Line model, rising to £29,020 for the highest specification Homura Plus variant.

This makes it slightly more expensive than the near identical Toyota Yaris Hybrid, which starts at £22,640 and rises to £28,935. The more spacious Honda Jazz starts at £28,085, but also comes with a good specification.

There are fewer used examples available than Toyota Yaris Hybrids, but those that are on the market represent good value. Expect to pay around £16,000 upwards, for a 2022 model with around 10,000 miles.

A small car with a hybrid powertrain should prove to be cheap to run, and the Mazda 2 Hybrid’s official combined fuel consumption of 67.3-74.3mpg promises low fuel costs, even if actual real-world figures are a little lower than this.

Insurance groups are pleasingly low too, ranging from 13 to 15 depending on the specification.

And although the Mazda 2 Hybrid does not benefit from a reduced VED rate, it should prove to be one of the most cost-efficient small cars you can buy.

Most buyers looking for the efficiency and quiet driving experience of a hybrid are unlikely to be too concerned about scintillating handling, but everyone can benefit from a car that drives with precision and breeds confidence, and the Mazda 2 Hybrid does just that.

The ride quality is slightly on the firm side, but it is only over the worst bumps that this becomes too apparent.

The wheel size varies depending on the trim, and inevitably it is the lowest specification car running on 15-inch wheels that performs best.

However, even the Homura models on 17-inch wheels still do a good job, and in most conditions it offers comfort and respectable control over undulating roads.

In terms of handling, the Mazda 2 Hybrid is geared towards ease of use rather than exhilaration. The steering is lighter than ideal, which means it is simple to manage in town, but on faster, twisty roads it does not offer as much weight as the best systems in the class.

Even so, it is accurate and easy to place on the road. Grip levels are more than sufficient for this type of car, and should you choose to hustle the Mazda 2 Hybrid with a little more pace, it is happy to play along, even if it would rather you drove at more conventional speeds.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid is available with a single engine and gearbox option: a 1.5-litre petrol unit with a 0.7kWh battery pack to allow hybrid and pure electric running, mated to an e-CVT gearbox driving the front wheels.

With 116PS and 120Nm of torque, it appears modestly powerful on paper, but in truth the Mazda 2 Hybrid has more than enough get-up-and-go to suit most eventualities.

It responds well to demands for acceleration, automatically balancing input from both the petrol engine and the electric motor depending on the circumstances. Although it does not have a significant torque output, it rarely feels lacking when a burst of pace is requested.

Push the accelerator hard and it can result in a high-rev drone as the engine sits at its peak output until the desired speed is reached. However, driven with a little care and anticipation, this can be mostly avoided. For many buyers this is an acceptable compromise for the additional efficiency that a hybrid car provides.

Happily, most of the time the hybrid powertrain provides quiet and refined progress, particularly at lower speeds where the Mazda 2 Hybrid can operate in electric mode.

There is also the option to select EV mode, where it will try to run on electric power alone for as long as possible.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid was tested by Euro NCAP in 2020 and received the maximum five-star rating.

It achieved an impressive 86% for adult occupant protection, 81% for child occupant protection, 78% for pedestrian mitigation and 85% for safety assist, an impressively consistent set of results in all categories.

All versions offer a comprehensive selection of safety systems, including driver attention alert, lane tracing assist and pre-collision assist.

Exclusive-Line models and above also get blind spot monitoring, while Homura and Homura Plus versions benefit from parking support braking and rear cross traffic alert.

All versions of the Mazda 2 Hybrid offer a towing capacity of 450kg for both braked and unbraked trailers.

Mazda 2 Hybrid Centre-Line models are equipped with electric heated door mirrors, automatic high beam, reversing camera, 15-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, a leather steering wheel, nine-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, speed limiter, air-conditioning and radar guided cruise control.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid Exclusive-Line adds power-folding door mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, 16-inch alloy wheels, blind spot monitoring and keyless entry.

Stepping up to the Mazda 2 Hybrid Homura adds LED front foglights, LED headlights, LED rear lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch digital instrument display, sports front seats, height-adjustable passenger seat, wireless phone charger, dual zone climate control, ambient lighting and parking support braking.

The Mazda 2 Hybrid Homura Plus adds a panoramic glass roof, 12.3-inch digital instrument display, 10.5-inch infotainment system, navigation, voice recognition and head-up display.