Mazda 2 Hybrid: price, specs, release date
- 116PS petrol electric hybrid
- Fuel economy of plus-70mpg
- On sale spring 2022
The ‘new’ Mazda 2 has been revealed and don’t worry you’re not going mad, it is basically a Toyota Yaris that has been rebadged.
2022 Mazda 2 price and release date
The Mazda 2 Hybrid hits UK showrooms in spring and will likely cost from around £20,000. That’s a lot of money for a small car – a Volkswagen Polo starts from £18,285 – expect Mazda to redress the balance by cramming the 2 Hybrid with lots of kit.
2022 Mazda 2 Hybrid range and performance
So the Mazda 2 Hybrid gets one out of 10 for originality but should get close to 10 out of 10 in most other departments – because the Yaris it’s based on is one of the best small cars currently on sale, capable of mind-boggling fuel economy.
The Toyota's hypermiling has not been lost on Mazda. It needs to drop its corporate CO2s by 50 per cent for 2030 – not easy to do when you don’t sell any full hybrids and only one EV – an example of which is currently being run by our own Dan Harrison.
The Mazda 2 Hybrid will make a big dent on that target. Its combination of a 93PS petrol engine and a 59kW electric motor equates to a 116PS total output for 0-62mph in less than 9.7 seconds.
More importantly, it means the Mazda can briefly run up to motorway speeds on electricity alone and in town will spend most of its time in EV mode.
Mazda is quoting official fuel economy of between 70.6-74.3mpg. Our experience of the Yaris tells us you’ll have to be going some to get that figure to drop below 60mpg. Impressive fuel economy even for a small car.
2022 Mazda 2 Hybrid interior
The Mazda 2 Hybrid's interior is exactly the same as you’ll find in a Yaris, but that’s no bad thing. Plastic quality won't quite be up to Volkswagen standards, but it should not far be off and the Mazda arguably has a more attractive design thanks to a mixture of layers and shapes.
Admittedly, the infotainment screen that sprouts from the top of the dash jars a little, but it’s well positioned so you don’t need to take your eyes off the road. It will likely have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto fitted as standard so your phone’s apps and voice recognition system operate seamlessly on the car’s big screen.
The Yaris will have space for four tall adults, however it won’t feel quite as roomy in the back as a Volkswagen Polo or Hyundai i20 and its 286-litre boot is also smaller.
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The Yaris will have space for four tall adults, however it won’t feel quite as roomy in the back as a Volkswagen Polo or Hyundai i20 and its 286-litre boot is also smaller than in its rivals.
The Mazda 2 Hybrid is based on the Toyota Yaris and goes on sale in the middle of 2022.
If you're looking for a small hybrid, the Mazda 2 is one of the best. It uses petrol-electric power to produce strong performance and fuel economy that rarely drops below 60mpg.
The downside of hybrid cars is that they tend to be more expensive than conventional petrols, although you do get your money over time thanks to their improved fuel economy.
Can you recommend any 'self-charging' hybrids?
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