FIRST DRIVE: Mazda2 3-door:With tax changes next month going in Mazda's favour, now is an ideal time to launch the cheaper, yet sportier three-door 2, writes Shane O'Donoghue.
THOUGH IRELAND'S new car tax regime will in general favour diesel models with low CO2 emissions, the small car sector won't be as affected as others. Small cars are on the whole more efficient, and utilise low-capacity petrol engines to good effect.
This observation is supported by the price drops already announced by Fiat and Mazda in particular, with regard to small cars, with the petrol versions of the Mazda2 between €900 and €2,200 cheaper after the July 1st changeover.
Coinciding with the price drops, Mazda is launching a three-door version of the 2, as well as a new diesel engine, which will be available only in the five-door model.
At €500 less than the five-door equivalent, the three-door Mazda2 becomes the cheapest model in the line-up, but not necessarily the least appealing. On paper, the changes to the body are relatively minor, with longer doors and a redesigned rear side window. Though the overall profile of the 2 is unchanged, the three-door undoubtedly looks sportier in its new guise.
Mazda has not altered the interior, other than to fit tilt-slide front seats. It's claimed that the aperture through which you climb to reach the rear is as big as the best in class, and it's pretty good, though the seats don't reset to the same position they were in beforehand. Other than the lack of opening rear windows, occupants in the back have to put up with 25mm less shoulder room than in the five-door, but in reality, three-door buyers don't generally expect a high level of practicality at this price point.
Buyers are looking for value for money though, and against its real competitors, such as the Toyota Yaris, Seat Ibiza and VW Polo, the Mazda2 is priced competitively, though we'd expect the majority of purchasers to opt for the Comfort SE trim level, as the entry-level models do not feature air conditioning. There are cheaper rivals - Chevrolet's Kalos to name one - but few are as desirable as Mazda has managed to make its 2.
The only drawback of the Mazda2 range is the lack of choice. Though the five-door model can be had with three different engines and four specifications, the new three-door range is limited to a single engine choice (albeit in two tunes) and three trim levels.
This may simplify the buying process, but if Mazda is to appeal to younger buyers, it needs to look at the success of the MINI and Fiat's 500 when it comes to allowing customers to personalise their cars.
There's nothing wrong with the 1.3-litre petrol engine that is the sole choice in the three-door, though if you're going for a test drive, make sure the model you try out is representative of your likely purchase, as the Touring version is more powerful. In either state of tune, the engine is commendably refined, and more than up to the task of propelling the little Mazda along.
It never feels out of depth, whether you're battling with town traffic at rush hour, or cruising along the motorway.
Indeed, on the open road, the Mazda2 feels remarkably grown-up, with well-developed damping and body control endowing the supermini with the manners of a larger car. The 2 is comfortable, yet also quite agile when it comes to cornering. Mazda's continuing quest for lower weight helps in this regard, but so does a stiff body shell. For the class, engine, wind and road noise are well suppressed at speed too.
The same can be said for the new diesel model, though this engine is more audible at low speeds than the petrol alternatives. Unlike the recent outbreak of high-performance diesels, this 1.4-litre unit is tuned for economy and low emissions, rather than petrol-chasing grunt. The upshot is 1.1 litres less fuel per 100 kilometres (on the benchmark combined consumption cycle) and a laudably low CO2 emissions figure of just 114g/km.
That puts the 1.4-litre Mazda2 into the cheapest road tax bracket, saving buyers €50 per year over the 1.3-litre petrol model. To put the fuel economy savings into perspective, a quick calculation (taking the difference in fuel prices into account) shows that the diesel model could save its driver €100 per year over 10,000 kilometres. Given the €1,000 premium the diesel model attracts, a driver would have to rack up the miles at quite a rate to justify the extra cost.
It's not as if the turbodiesel is better to drive either. Despite packing significantly more torque even than the 1.5-litre petrol model, it never feels as lively as the 1.3-litre option, which is undoubtedly the best choice, regardless of your preferred number of doors.
Factfile Mazda2 three-door
•Mazda2 1.3 three-door Comfort/Comfort SE
Price:€14,495/€15,195
Engine:Four-cylinder petrol engine
Peak power:74bhp at 6,000rpm
Peak torque:121Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission:Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 14.0 seconds
Top speed:168km/h0-100km/h:
Emissions:129g/km CO2
Combined cycle fuel economy:5.4 L/100km
•Mazda2 1.3 three-door Touring
Price:€16,195
Engine:four-cylinder petrol engine.
Peak power:85bhp at 6,000rpm
Peak torque:122Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission:five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance 0-100km/h:12.9 seconds
Top speed:173km/h
Emissions:129g/km CO2
Combined cycle fuel economy:5.4 L/100km
•Mazda2 1.4D (five-door only)
PriceComfort:€15,995 /Comfort SE: €16,695 /Touring: €17,495
Engine:four-cylinder diesel engine
Peak power:67bhp at 4,000rpm
Peak torque:160Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission:five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Performance:0-100km/h: 15.5 seconds
Top speed:163km/h
Emissions:114g/km CO2
Combined cycle fuel economy:4.3 L/100km