Mazda 2 2019

Mazda Philippines launched the Mazda2 Sedan, along with its hatchback brother, in April 2015 at the Manila International Auto Show. Since then, the ‘2’ hatch has become a staple choice for car buyers who want a good-looking small city slicker. 

Under the hood is a 1.5L SKYACTIV-G 16-valve engine that produces 108 hp with 139 Nm of torque. It’s coupled to a SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode that can be turned on with a flick of a switch near the shift knob.

The Mazda2’s suspension setup is McPherson struts in the front and torsion beam axle at the back. Front and rear brakes are ventilated discs and solid discs, respectively.

The 1.5L SkyActiv gasoline engine inside the Mazda2 sedan’s bonnet matches the engaging feel behind its steering wheel. Granted, its 107 hp and 139 Nm of torque are less than what its rival, the Honda City, can produce. However, the six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission did its job well to send that power to the front wheels with precise timing.

In terms of handling, the Mazda2 sedan has a light steering feel, which makes it very maneuverable within tight city streets. That loose steering feel tightens as you reach 60 km/h and above, which, in combination with the car’s G-Vectoring control, accounts for more precise steering. It made driving on winding roads feel safer and more comfortable. Braking, on the other hand, was a cinch with its front and rear disc brakes.

The Mazda2 Hatchback’s 7-inch floating touchscreen infotainment is navigation-ready and works passively in the background. It displays upcoming intersections on the top of the screen, while road speed limits are detected and also displayed on the head-up display (HUD), together with your current speed. Convenient driver-assist features are present, too, such as automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, backing camera, rear proximity sensors, and speed-sensing door locks. 

The Mazda2 follows the Kodo design language that’s observed on every Mazda vehicle. An aggressive set of halogen reflector headlamps light up the road ahead and bring visual interest to the prominent grille that is flanked by a pair of fog lamps. The rear is equally as interesting as the front, thanks to a swooping roofline coupled with a set of slim taillights. 

The Mazda2’s interior elements match the car’s price as it’s filled with soft plastics and polyurethane trims for the standard variants. The Mazda2’s ergonomics are well thought out. Space inside the Mazda2 Hatchback is a bit limited for individuals taller than 5’6”. 

The G-Vectoring Control technology from Mazda keeps the ride stable and reduces the car’s body roll, all of this while the driver is kept cradled in the updated interior design that makes the sedan classier and premium-looking. On top of that, you get good practicality thanks to the decent trunk space that could accommodate a good amount of cargo. 

The sedan tens to have quite a bit of road noise from the tires creep into the cabin. This will depend on the kinds of tires that the dealer fits the model with. Another con that can be said for lower-trim models, is the lack of a tachometer in the manual variant of the sedan.