Big features, tiny car

The first thing that hits you is how good the Mazda2 looks, despite just having halogen headlamps instead of the fancy-schmancy projector headlamps that adds more fierceness to the little car. In any case, Mazda still manages to find space for daytime running lights; although that’s only a small part on what makes the car truly pop. The hatchback still follows closely to the still-praised KODO design language.

But what really makes the Mazda2 standout is the interior. Like the bigger Mazda6 and the Mazda3, the Mazda2’s dashboard is one that’s quite devoid of buttons and switches. However, unlike the bigger cars, the Mazda2 completely deletes the buttons that usually tell you where to switch from radio to your iPod; only the three round dials of the air-conditioning are found on the centre stack. The rest has been digitised to only appear on the seven-inch LCD screen, of which is controlled by an iDrive/COMAND-esque knob on the transmission tunnel. It’s called Commander Control. Moving on… Mazda has somehow found space for a head-up display (first in the segment), reverse camera, engine push start button, i-Stop, Drive selection and a steering wheel that’s adjustable for reach and rake. Yet, only two front airbags exists within the leather-wrapped living quarters.

Other safety devices that come with the car include Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System, EBD with brake assist and hill launch assist.

A 1.5-litre SkyActiv petrol engine paired with a six-speed automatic shoulder the responsibility to put motion to the 16-inch front wheels. The engine outputs 114bhp at 6000rpm and 148Nm at 4000rpm. That said, the more interesting engine would be the SkyActiv-D, which uses diesel, which appeared during the launch of the Mazda2. No plans to release the car to the Malaysian market as yet, the hatchback is still undergoing tests to see if it could endure our diesel quality. Don’t hold your breath.