2015 Mazda 2 Sedan

8 December, 2015   By: Alex Forrest

The desperation of some car makers to find new market niches can sometimes result in hilarity.

You know, such as when they come up with a compact luxury activity crossover utility vehicle, or some other car with an adventurous-sounding name. Mazda on the other hand, has made an entirely sensible addition to their light car range and simply called it the Mazda2 sedan.

It’s not a new idea. In fact, the sedan was invented after Caesar found his chariot to be a little too sporty.

So the Mazda2 sedan won’t be a game-changer, because that was done by a Roman Empire builder a couple of thousand years back.

It’ll account for about 20 per cent more Mazda2 sales by providing a little extra choice for consumers who want a reliable, well-built and attractive light car, but not a hatchback.

In terms of practicality, Mazda2 sedan’s best asset is its gigantic boot. With a capacity of 440 litres, it’s actually 32 litres bigger than the Mazda3 sedan’s boot and only 55 litres smaller than a Holden Commodore’s.

The sedan’s boot isn’t as tall as the Mazda2 hatch’s, but it is wider and deeper, which is helped out by the longer wheelbase of the sedan. Yes, it can hold a huge amount of gear.

This isn’t the first time a Mazda2 sedan has been sold in Australia – the previous one was axed in January 2011 due to slow sales, but going back even further, Mazda had huge success with the 121 ‘bubble’ car of the early 1990s.

August update

The launch of this sedan in August coincided with an update to the whole Mazda2 range, which saw the addition of cruise control and rear parking sensors to the entry level Neo.

Disappointingly, a reversing camera is still not standard on any variant in the Mazda2 range though – you’ll have to shell out an extra $778 for that.

The Mazda2’s impressive build, finish and refinement is what really sets it apart from some of its rivals, although the Volkswagen Polo also emulates the Golf’s build quality in a similar way.

Though of course, there’s no Polo sedan. The Mazda2’s biggest rival among the light sedans is the Honda City, which is based on the still-hugely popular Jazz.

Engines

The drivetrains in the Mazda2 sedan are exactly the same as those in the hatch, which means it gets a 1.5-litre petrol, non-turbo engine in two states of tune. The 1.5 in the entry level Neo has a 79kW and 139Nm, while the mid-spec Maxx gets the 81kW/141Nm version. The Genki is not available in sedan guise.

Both versions of the 1.5 use high compression ratios and special exhaust manifold designs to minimise fuel consumption. The entry level Neo engine runs a ratio of 12:1 and a four-into-one exhaust manifold, while the Maxx engines run a 13:1 ratio and have a more expensive but more efficient four-into-two-into-one manifold.

The result is the Maxx is more expensive, partially due to that pricier manifold, but it’s also more efficient and powerful than the drivetrain in the Neo.

On the road, your backside-o-meter can’t tell the difference between the two engines because their outputs are so close.

However, with consumption figures for the automatic Neo at 5.5L/100km and the auto Maxx at 4.9L/100km in the ADR test, the difference in thirst is notable for those counting the dollars going into the tank.

Both these engines use slightly less fuel than the Honda Jazz auto (5.7L/100km).

Transmissions

Gearbox choices comprise a six-speed auto and a six-speed manual.

We tried the manual, and have driven the auto previously in the hatch. The auto utilises a conventional torque converter and has been optimised for fuel efficiency. This would be the more practical of the two in everyday city driving.

That said, the manual is an absolute delight to use, with a clean and positive shift action. The clutch is well-weighted but won’t turn your left leg into a tree trunk. Really, the manual is far more fun than this sensible-looking sedan would suggest.

Interior

There’s plenty of room inside for a car in this segment, and if you haven’t sat in a light car for a few years, you’ll be surprised at the quality of the interior materials and how they’re screwed together.

There’s a large information screen mounted high and in the centre of the dash, and controlled by a rotary dial between the two front seats, near the handbrake lever. It works well and keeps your eyes up high when using it.

Mazda’s MZD Connect system is also one of the better vehicle communications systems, both in terms of its interface and its reliability. Other systems we’ve tried are less user-friendly and can drop the Bluetooth connection randomly.

Conclusion

An excellent package overall. If Mazda could make a rear camera standard on the top of the range model and reduce the engine noise, no other light sedan in the market will touch it.

This vehicle qualifies for RAC's Less Emissions Mission rewards.