1.5 Sport 5dr Hatchback

When it's good it's great but when it's bad it's awful.

The first thing that struck me about the Mazda 2 is how quick it feels. The 1.5 engine once run in is very keen to rev and generally feels much quicker than the on paper stats let on. I am no speed freak but I like the occasional blip of the throttle to entertain myself from time to time. The little Mazda does not disappoint and can easily brighten the mundane commute to and from work with ease. When pressing the throttle beyond half way and stepping down a gear, it is lovely to hear the induction sound coming from the engine. Gives the impression of a much sportier car. There is no turbo so you do need to use the gearbox to find the torque. I'm pleased to report that the box feels lovely and slots into gear with a machined like precision.

That said much of my time is spent on a dual carriageway with the cruise control set to 60 mph. I have driven the car over 40,000 miles and the average fuel consumption is reading 44.3 mpg against an official figure of 49.6 mpg. The steering is sharp and precise requiring little correction in corners. Feels well weighted and offers enough feedback to know whats going on at the wheels.

The car has been very reliable over the time I have owned the car. Took it in once because the steering just didn't feel quite right somehow. Turned out it just needed a bit of grease and all has been well since. Mazda has a very good reliability record my experience has done nothing to detract from that reputation.

Inside there is just enough leg and headroom in the back for me to sit behind the drivers seat whilst it set in my driving position. I am 6 feet tall so I am overall quite impressed by this in such a small car. The boot is average for a car of this size and has step when the seats are folded down so not the most practical for longer items. With the seats up I can fit 2 rows of 4 bags from the supermarket.

The car is very well equipped for something that sits at the low-mid price point in this category. All the basics are covered plus some. I find the cruise control is probably my must used toy in this car for a couple of reasons. Which brings me onto the negatives about the 2.

The steering is only adjustable for rake and not reach. I have a compromise, either get a comfortable distance for my feet on the pedals or a comfortable distance for my arms. I choose to favour the arm distance for two reasons. Firstly the seats are not very comfortable for long distance as there is little in the way of lumbar support. I find I have to angle the seat back a bit further to spread the load a little bit more evenly. The means I have to move the seat forward so I can comfortably reach the steering wheel. The consequence of this means my legs are too close to the pedal to be comfortable for any length of time. To counter this I tend the leave the car in cruise so I can limit the time I spend with my feet on the pedals. A problem that could have been almost eliminated if they had just put in reach adjustment for the steering wheel.

The other thing that lets the car down is the interior plastics. I can't be too harsh on Mazda for this as given the price of the car. One of the key differentiating between a car at this price point and one that is £2-3000 more is interior plastics and it's a compromise you make to save money. The car is pretty much hard plastic everywhere. Some texturing has been applied to give the look of something more supple but it's just an illusion. One thing I can't forgive though is the rattles. Both the headlining and the and the passenger seatbelt cover have an intermittent tap which I find very distracting.

The rattles are no doubt worsened by the harsh ride. I'm not sure if it is the suspension, the 195/45 tyres or a combination of both but it has the capacity to turn what looks like a smooth road into one that feels like it was cobbled. Road and wind noise is also very audible at all speeds so if you are trying to have a conversation with a passenger it can be a little strained at times.

In conclusion I have to say the car does have a lot to offer, It is definitely set up more for sporty handling at the cost of comfort. The seats could be more comfortable and the steering wheel should have reach adjustment. The car is fun to drive and will get you where you want to be with a smile on your face.

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