Mazda 2 review - Interior, design and technology

Mazda has applied its Kodo design language to the 2, and as a result it looks very much like a scaled-down version of the Mazda 3 hatchback. There’s the familiar trapezoidal grille that features the brand’s chrome-finished ‘wing design’ insert first seen on the Mazda 6 saloon, while elsewhere you’ll spot the bold creases and curves along the car’s flanks, the swooping roofline and the steeply rising waist. It looks a bit heavy-handed and bulbous at the rear, but overall the 2 is a smart and distinctive small car.

All models get body-coloured door mirror housings and a subtle tailgate spoiler, while SE-L models can be identified by 15-inch alloys and front fog lights. Sport cars get larger 16-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights, a gloss black grille and rear privacy glass. The 2017 update included new seat fabrics, a new steering wheel and revised door mirrors.

The eye-catching design continues inside, where Mazda has attempted to push the 2 upmarket. For instance, the neatly styled dashboard gets a trio of eyeball air vents (the fourth is cleverly hidden in the facia below the infotainment touchscreen) that feature controls with an Audi-style, metal-effect knurled finish. Another highlight is the large speedometer flanked by digital readouts for the rev counter and trip computer.

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Yet while the cabin looks smart and is robustly constructed, it can’t match the Volkswagen Polo for premium appeal. There are few soft-touch materials, while the plastics covering the top of the dash and door trims look and feel a little low rent. Also, the rear doors shut with a tinny clang.

On the plus side, soft leather covers the steering wheel and gearlever, while the switchgear feels sturdy in its operation. 

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment 

All Mazda 2 models include a high-definition seven-inch touchscreen and command wheel controller with a clear and intuitive menu system that’s very straightforward to use. Integrated sat-nav is available on all trim-levels, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.