Compact & Fun / Mazda 2.

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Compact & Fun
Mazda's much-awaited hatch pulls the right strings in most cases - if it is understood that it's not a versatile alternative to the Honda Jazz
Published: "Bangkok Post". 27/11/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Motoring.
 
There could be a reason behind the hooplah surrounding the Mazda 2 in Thailand given that the sub-compact (B-segment) hatchback has been on sale in most markets overseas for nearly three years.



You see, ever since Toyota joined the B-car fray three years ago with the Yaris to rival the successful Jazz from Honda, there has been no other credible alternative to the duo that belong to two of the country's biggest selling passenger car brands.

While the Chevrolet Aveo is still being offered only as a saloon, imported models like the Citroen C3 and Peugeot 207 got undeserved attention due to their high price tags nudging B1.5m.

Which could exactly be the reason why Thais have keenly waited for the 2 - perhaps also spurred by a long famine for an affordable practical hatchback in Thailand. If it were Europe or Japan, such a product introduction would have been treated as just another event.

You could say it's better late than never. Better even are the imminent launches of the Suzuki Swift next month and Ford Fiesta early next year.

In fact, the Swift has been around in Thailand for quite some time, but it was only available in imported form from Japan at over B1m. The updated one will come from Indonesia duty-free with prices to match those of the existing players.

In order to keep the 2 fresh in Thai showrooms, Mazda has given it a mid-life facelift which effectively helps lift the car's presence against the current competition.

Sharp-looking louvres in the front bumper and pronounced front wheel arches make the 2 stand out on the road. But elsewhere about the car, the 2 looks quite ordinary but usefully compact.

Actually, this is a point that Mazda wishes to stress in the 2 which is aimed more directly at the Yaris rather than the Jazz, for the latter stresses more on a versatile interior.

You don't need to glance at the 2's dimensions to get a grasp of things. Behind the front seats are rear benches that are just spacious enough for people not taller than six feet.

The small C-pillars also point to a boot that's merely commodious for hand-carry bags rather than suitcases. Also, the 2's rear seats don't fold flat to create a completely functional cargo area like in the Jazz.

If there was one thing the 2 does better inside over its two rivals, it would probably have to be up front where a neatly designed dashboard is sited. Although some plastics feel tacky, the overall effect the dash gives to the driver is positive.

To put it another way, the driving position and the environ feel very natural and relaxing. Because of this, the 2 feels very much a driver's car rather than a family-mover.

Such a perception is also justified when driving it on the road the 2 behaves more like the Yaris than the Jazz - just the right thing when you consider the concept of driving agility and compactness.

You don't need to suspect whether the 2 is an easy to car drive. With a short body and direct steering, the 2 handles without fuss in city-driving.


The suspension setting is just about right at low speeds, although the secondary ride is not completely free of vibrations over ruts and potholes. Even so, the ride overall can never be described as uncomfortable.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine and four-speed automatic gearbox just about deliver with ample shove at city speeds and transmission responsiveness. The same goes for the simple stoppers that do their job well enough.

Don't treat the 2 merely as a city car. The most surprising aspect of the 2 outside city areas is handling.

There's a good amount of body control when cruising at highway speeds. As well, the 2 eats into corners with a neatness rarely found in this class, bar the Swift from Suzuki that's another good car to drive.

And even though performance is never a strong point in the 2, there's enough poke to drive it swiftly in rural areas. Special thanks also go to the 2's relatively light body.


There's nothing sophisticated in the technical setup of the 2, but Mazda has done a reasonably good job in honing conventional technology such as the traditional suspension and drivetrain components.

This is exactly where the 2 edges the Yaris, which seems to have rougher edges around its technical credentials such as a cruder engine and less refined road manners. And yes, the 2 is a better car to drive than the Jazz, if not by a big margin.

As it sips petrol (or E10/E20) via common technology, the 2 is neither thirsty nor frugal as evident from the 13.7kpl average Motoring notched during a drive in the North mixing city and country roads.

Of more concern to potential buyers would be the price. Since pricing in the B-segment is utterly challenging due to small profit margins and the nagging presence of the Jazz whose bigger body adds up showroom appeal, Mazda has been quite prudent with the 2.

 

The range-topping 2 as tested here in Maxx Sports trim costs B690,000, fractionally cheaper than its Jazz and Yaris counterparts by some B10,000-20,000, although the core-seller is likely to be the stripped-out Groove Sports priced a good B120,000 lower.

Going for sheer price comes at the expense of no passenger airbags, immobiliser, anti-theft system, six-disc sound system, steering-mounted remote switches, 16-inch wheels (15-inchers instead) and various exterior and interior cosmetic touch-ups.

Talking about equipment in general, there has been no apparent attempt to raise the safety bar. That clearly shows how difficult it is to price a car in the B-segment, and it remains to be seen who will have the nerve to be the first to up the ante.

As a whole there is still much to like about the 2 if you clearly understand its concept. The 2 is priced to take on the Yaris and completes its mission of being a better car to drive.

But if that's the sole purpose of going for the 2, then there is every good reason to wait and weigh the two oncoming players that are equally adept in the game of driving dynamics and agility.

It appears that competition has only started to intensify.