SIMPLICITY and reliability go hand in hand with the 2020 Mazda2 G15 Pure sedan, with the latest model featuring a refreshed look and feel, making it a worthy potential daily driver, that’s also well priced.
Starting at $23,990 for the automatic and $21,990 for the manual, drive away, the Mazda2 is an excellent little package, despite a small price hike. Our test vehicle came in Machine Grey Metallic, offering a simple, quality driving experience.
Sure it doesn’t have the same sporty body lines as a super car or the opulence of a luxury car but frankly, it just doesn’t need those things. The Mazda2 excels at achieving a lot with very little; it’s a quiet achiever if you will.
Once you’ve taken a seat inside, you’ll notice it’s packed with features, including a leather steering wheel with telescopic tilt and adjustment, a start/stop button, a 7-inch infotainment unit and plenty of other neat extras you wouldn’t expect.
You will still find a conventional lever-handbrake though, rather than an electronic push-button brake. The cloth/mesh hybrid seats are quite comfortable, apart from the strange ridge that will give you the feeling you’ve sat on your phone or wallet.
The interior panels and dashboard are put together well with little to no gaps. There’s a bottle holder in each door plus two cup holders in the centre console, as well as some other storage slots dotted about the cabin.
Boot storage isn’t an issue in the sedan either, with 440-litres on offer before folding the rear seats down. The ride is smooth and comfortable too, with decent leg room on offer, unless you’re genuinely tall.
The suspension works well with the 15-inch alloy wheels to dampen some of the atrocities that litter our roads. Even around corners the car feels planted thanks to the electronic brake distribution and dynamic stability control.
Inside, there’s little tyre noise so there’s more time to enjoy your music from the high quality 6-speaker sound system. The 7-inch touchscreen doesn’t feel like it’s just been super-glued to the dash either.
You can also control it with a joystick-like knob in the centre console for ease of access. It’s reminiscent of BMW’s infotainment controls. DAB+ digital radio and internet radio also feature, as does Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The only downside is the lack of in-built satellite navigation, which is an optional extra. A minor detail considering your smartphone is equipped with navigation, and screen-mirroring is the new black.
Mazda have also added a bit of power to the 1.5-litre inline 4-cylinder engine, which now makes 82kW of power and 144Nm of torque, a decent amount considering the car weighs just under 1,100kg.
This power unit can be paired to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, and both carry the “SKYACTIV” badge. Mazda claims a combined fuel economy of 5.4-litres/100km but we were only able to achieve 6.7-litres/100km.
It’s still pretty impressive and although the Mazda2’s power plant is naturally aspirated, you’ll find the 1.5-litre engine doesn’t need forced induction for extra power and torque, because it simply doesn’t require it.
We were cruising around in the automatic version and it was quite glorious. Mazda has employed a traditional gearbox rather than cost-cutting for a CVT, making for a very pleasant change.
It didn’t fail to put power to the ground either, and the Mazda2 is quite nimble and zippy, even under heavy acceleration. Put it into sport mode and the transmission mapping changes to hold the gears longer, should you need a bit of extra power and torque.
The Mazda2 comes with a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, thanks to features such as blind spot monitoring, dynamic stability control, electronic brake distribution, emergency braking assist, lane-keep assist and lane departure assist.
There’s also a multitude of airbags, two ISOFIX anchor points and two top-tether points. Mazda provides a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assistance.
Overall, it’s an excellent package, and you know it’s a winner when you see so many of them on the road. Mazdas we mean. Whether its a CX-3, or a CX-5, or a Mazda3, they’re everywhere. The car maker has definitely upped its game and it shows.
Sure it seems like its target market is young adult females, but the G15 Pure is everything you need in a compact daily driver, no matter who you are. It’s perfect for those learning to drive and perfect for those looking for a first car.
Our 2020 Mazda2 G15 Pure was supplied by Mazda Australia. To find out more, contact your local Mazda dealer. Images courtesy of J_Hui Design/Photography.
