Mazda 2 Sedan 1.5 V (A) Review
06 Apr 2010|23,636 views
The Mazda 2 came onto the scene three years ago at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.
Back then, many held high hopes for Mazda’s latest hatch. And it didn’t disappoint. Journalists from all over reported the little hatch to be an engaging and peppy drive. Not only that, the car was quite a looker too! Sporting similar wind-swept design characteristics with the rest of the bloodline that was an improvement over the previous generation.
Three years on, what do you do with a successful hatchback? Do you re-design it from the ground up and serve it up to the mercy of motoring journalists everywhere? No. Mazda instead opted to throw on a nice rump and get it primed for a brand new market.
The family sedan market that is. For a consumer looking to get a set of wheels for the family chauffeuring duties, he’d be spoilt for choice. To say the local family sedan market is saturated will be a hopeless understatement.
When you talk about the Japanese entries, the Vios immediately comes to mind. But with the recent bad jokes like “Once you drive one, you won’t stop” about Toyota, the Mazda 2 Sedan (M2S) couldn’t have been launched at a better time.
Exterior
The M2S gives its competitors quite a lot to be worried about.
Back then, many held high hopes for Mazda’s latest hatch. And it didn’t disappoint. Journalists from all over reported the little hatch to be an engaging and peppy drive. Not only that, the car was quite a looker too! Sporting similar wind-swept design characteristics with the rest of the bloodline that was an improvement over the previous generation.
Three years on, what do you do with a successful hatchback? Do you re-design it from the ground up and serve it up to the mercy of motoring journalists everywhere? No. Mazda instead opted to throw on a nice rump and get it primed for a brand new market.
The family sedan market that is. For a consumer looking to get a set of wheels for the family chauffeuring duties, he’d be spoilt for choice. To say the local family sedan market is saturated will be a hopeless understatement.
When you talk about the Japanese entries, the Vios immediately comes to mind. But with the recent bad jokes like “Once you drive one, you won’t stop” about Toyota, the Mazda 2 Sedan (M2S) couldn’t have been launched at a better time.
Exterior
The M2S gives its competitors quite a lot to be worried about.
 |
Firstly, it looks quite unlike its competitors. Then again, its competitors having been around for ages, and have been unwittingly ‘uncle-fied’ owing to their popularity with our parent’s generation.
The design brings back memories of the futuristic cars featured in old sci-fi movies I’ve seen. If you recall, the cars in those movies always looked hyper aerodynamic with contoured flowing lines and bulbous canopies.
Mazda have made it obvious where the M2S gets its looks from. In design speak, they call it ‘coordinated movements. I simply call it hip. The car is basically the hatch with an added rump but somehow after laying eyes on the M2S, the hatch version suddenly looks incomplete.
From a side profile, the smooth wind-swept flowing lines of the M2S blend seamlessly into its new rear. Giving an impression that the car is traveling along gracefully even at a standstill.
 |
In the new rear, the M2S gets a rather tall trunk which allows a huge boost in cargo carrying capacity. The gentle tear-drop shaped taillights create a happy expression when viewed as a whole with the rest of the rear. The design excellence of the rear is however marred by the rather awkward placing of the boot release button. Where most cars have their boot release button hidden under a handle, Mazda has decided on a queer awkward placing of a lone circular button that sticks out like an unwanted mole on an otherwise flawless design.
The M2S rides on standard 15 inch alloys. Personally, I feel the car’s design would be better complimented with slightly larger wheels to take up the generous void in the wheel wells. The space is especially evident in the rear wheels.
Interior
Mazda interiors always felt more well-made when compared to its other Japanese competitors. And in the M2S, things are no different despite the fact that production is based in Thailand.
The driving position in the M2S is comfortable and although the steering wheel is only rake adjustable, I still managed to find an ideal driving position. My only complaint though is that the seating position felt a tad high but that only stems from my own preference for sportscar-like driving positions.
From the driver’s seat, everything on the centre console is easily within reach. And the buttons were large and well made. Audio controls for the factory fitted sound system were placed on either side of a large circular MINI-like display. Audio controls are also replicated on the steering with a neat rocker switch for volume control.
The sound system offered enough oomph for most listening duties and even came with a nifty AUX-in jack that was hidden behind a discrete cover next to the handbrake lever with the 12V plug neatly placed next to it.
Another example of Mazda’s quality interior are the well-made steering stalks.
The M2S rides on standard 15 inch alloys. Personally, I feel the car’s design would be better complimented with slightly larger wheels to take up the generous void in the wheel wells. The space is especially evident in the rear wheels.
Interior
Mazda interiors always felt more well-made when compared to its other Japanese competitors. And in the M2S, things are no different despite the fact that production is based in Thailand.
The driving position in the M2S is comfortable and although the steering wheel is only rake adjustable, I still managed to find an ideal driving position. My only complaint though is that the seating position felt a tad high but that only stems from my own preference for sportscar-like driving positions.
From the driver’s seat, everything on the centre console is easily within reach. And the buttons were large and well made. Audio controls for the factory fitted sound system were placed on either side of a large circular MINI-like display. Audio controls are also replicated on the steering with a neat rocker switch for volume control.
The sound system offered enough oomph for most listening duties and even came with a nifty AUX-in jack that was hidden behind a discrete cover next to the handbrake lever with the 12V plug neatly placed next to it.
Another example of Mazda’s quality interior are the well-made steering stalks.
Activating the thick signal stalk gave a quality-assuring resistance unlike flimsy stalks found in its competitors.
The quality feel doesn’t stop there. Shift between gears on the automatic box and you will notice the same solid quality feel. The gear shift slipped into place smoothly and surely like those found on a continental sedan.
There is one complaint about the interior though.
As well-made as it is, the glove compartment seemed a little cramped and awkward. Offering little space to store the usual CDs, sunglasses and parking coupons.
Rear seat comfort is adequate for a small car such as this but I wouldn’t recommend tall passengers to sit behind a tall driver as there’ll be little legroom to spare. The rump in the back offers an impressive amount of luggage space for a small sedan such as the M2S. It is large enough to swallow up to at least two golf bags or three suitcases. If more space is required, the rear knock-down seats will avail more capacity.
Driving Impressions
On the roads, the M2S give little indication of its weight. The damping was excellent and didn’t give the usual jostling experienced with a small car. To be honest, it seem to damp out the road’s undulations better than most of its competitors. It was the same story on the expressways at cruising speeds. Road and tyre noise were well-within limits as well.
Like the hatchback, handling of the M2S is still peppy. The steering felt nicely balanced between steering feedback and deadened handling. To be honest, I didn’t attack the bends enough to fully determine its steering characteristics. Unless husbands start requesting for tips on getting the missus and kids barfing in a family sedan.
The quality feel doesn’t stop there. Shift between gears on the automatic box and you will notice the same solid quality feel. The gear shift slipped into place smoothly and surely like those found on a continental sedan.
There is one complaint about the interior though.
As well-made as it is, the glove compartment seemed a little cramped and awkward. Offering little space to store the usual CDs, sunglasses and parking coupons.
Rear seat comfort is adequate for a small car such as this but I wouldn’t recommend tall passengers to sit behind a tall driver as there’ll be little legroom to spare. The rump in the back offers an impressive amount of luggage space for a small sedan such as the M2S. It is large enough to swallow up to at least two golf bags or three suitcases. If more space is required, the rear knock-down seats will avail more capacity.
Driving Impressions
On the roads, the M2S give little indication of its weight. The damping was excellent and didn’t give the usual jostling experienced with a small car. To be honest, it seem to damp out the road’s undulations better than most of its competitors. It was the same story on the expressways at cruising speeds. Road and tyre noise were well-within limits as well.
Like the hatchback, handling of the M2S is still peppy. The steering felt nicely balanced between steering feedback and deadened handling. To be honest, I didn’t attack the bends enough to fully determine its steering characteristics. Unless husbands start requesting for tips on getting the missus and kids barfing in a family sedan.
 |
Power though might’ve been lacking. It is a 1.5-litre engine after all, sharing the same unit from the hatchback derivative. The lack of power though becomes little consequence once the fuel consumption figures are in. At 14.7km/L, the car does slightly better than the other cars in this segment.
Conclusion
You would think that the M2S’s hip design would attract a younger clientele. According to Mazda Singapore however, the M2S’s clientele is currently dominated by the older folks. Most of whom are attracted by the car’s impressive economy.
Conclusion
You would think that the M2S’s hip design would attract a younger clientele. According to Mazda Singapore however, the M2S’s clientele is currently dominated by the older folks. Most of whom are attracted by the car’s impressive economy.
Despite that, I think the younger ‘hipper’ consumers shouldn’t be too concerned. The Mazda 2 Sedan’s hip looks ensures it would be resistant to being named an ‘uncle-mobile’.
There’s very little to discourage consumers looking for a family sedan in the M2S as it offers impressive build quality with better fuel consumption figures.
It would seem that with this added rump, the M2S will drum up the same popularity as its rump-less cousin in the new market.
There’s very little to discourage consumers looking for a family sedan in the M2S as it offers impressive build quality with better fuel consumption figures.
It would seem that with this added rump, the M2S will drum up the same popularity as its rump-less cousin in the new market.
The Mazda 2 came onto the scene three years ago at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.
Back then, many held high hopes for Mazda’s latest hatch. And it didn’t disappoint. Journalists from all over reported the little hatch to be an engaging and peppy drive. Not only that, the car was quite a looker too! Sporting similar wind-swept design characteristics with the rest of the bloodline that was an improvement over the previous generation.
Three years on, what do you do with a successful hatchback? Do you re-design it from the ground up and serve it up to the mercy of motoring journalists everywhere? No. Mazda instead opted to throw on a nice rump and get it primed for a brand new market.
The family sedan market that is. For a consumer looking to get a set of wheels for the family chauffeuring duties, he’d be spoilt for choice. To say the local family sedan market is saturated will be a hopeless understatement.
When you talk about the Japanese entries, the Vios immediately comes to mind. But with the recent bad jokes like “Once you drive one, you won’t stop” about Toyota, the Mazda 2 Sedan (M2S) couldn’t have been launched at a better time.
Exterior
The M2S gives its competitors quite a lot to be worried about.
Back then, many held high hopes for Mazda’s latest hatch. And it didn’t disappoint. Journalists from all over reported the little hatch to be an engaging and peppy drive. Not only that, the car was quite a looker too! Sporting similar wind-swept design characteristics with the rest of the bloodline that was an improvement over the previous generation.
Three years on, what do you do with a successful hatchback? Do you re-design it from the ground up and serve it up to the mercy of motoring journalists everywhere? No. Mazda instead opted to throw on a nice rump and get it primed for a brand new market.
The family sedan market that is. For a consumer looking to get a set of wheels for the family chauffeuring duties, he’d be spoilt for choice. To say the local family sedan market is saturated will be a hopeless understatement.
When you talk about the Japanese entries, the Vios immediately comes to mind. But with the recent bad jokes like “Once you drive one, you won’t stop” about Toyota, the Mazda 2 Sedan (M2S) couldn’t have been launched at a better time.
Exterior
The M2S gives its competitors quite a lot to be worried about.
|
Firstly, it looks quite unlike its competitors. Then again, its competitors having been around for ages, and have been unwittingly ‘uncle-fied’ owing to their popularity with our parent’s generation.
The design brings back memories of the futuristic cars featured in old sci-fi movies I’ve seen. If you recall, the cars in those movies always looked hyper aerodynamic with contoured flowing lines and bulbous canopies.
Mazda have made it obvious where the M2S gets its looks from. In design speak, they call it ‘coordinated movements. I simply call it hip. The car is basically the hatch with an added rump but somehow after laying eyes on the M2S, the hatch version suddenly looks incomplete.
From a side profile, the smooth wind-swept flowing lines of the M2S blend seamlessly into its new rear. Giving an impression that the car is traveling along gracefully even at a standstill.
|
In the new rear, the M2S gets a rather tall trunk which allows a huge boost in cargo carrying capacity. The gentle tear-drop shaped taillights create a happy expression when viewed as a whole with the rest of the rear. The design excellence of the rear is however marred by the rather awkward placing of the boot release button. Where most cars have their boot release button hidden under a handle, Mazda has decided on a queer awkward placing of a lone circular button that sticks out like an unwanted mole on an otherwise flawless design.
The M2S rides on standard 15 inch alloys. Personally, I feel the car’s design would be better complimented with slightly larger wheels to take up the generous void in the wheel wells. The space is especially evident in the rear wheels.
Interior
Mazda interiors always felt more well-made when compared to its other Japanese competitors. And in the M2S, things are no different despite the fact that production is based in Thailand.
The driving position in the M2S is comfortable and although the steering wheel is only rake adjustable, I still managed to find an ideal driving position. My only complaint though is that the seating position felt a tad high but that only stems from my own preference for sportscar-like driving positions.
From the driver’s seat, everything on the centre console is easily within reach. And the buttons were large and well made. Audio controls for the factory fitted sound system were placed on either side of a large circular MINI-like display. Audio controls are also replicated on the steering with a neat rocker switch for volume control.
The sound system offered enough oomph for most listening duties and even came with a nifty AUX-in jack that was hidden behind a discrete cover next to the handbrake lever with the 12V plug neatly placed next to it.
Another example of Mazda’s quality interior are the well-made steering stalks.
The M2S rides on standard 15 inch alloys. Personally, I feel the car’s design would be better complimented with slightly larger wheels to take up the generous void in the wheel wells. The space is especially evident in the rear wheels.
Interior
Mazda interiors always felt more well-made when compared to its other Japanese competitors. And in the M2S, things are no different despite the fact that production is based in Thailand.
The driving position in the M2S is comfortable and although the steering wheel is only rake adjustable, I still managed to find an ideal driving position. My only complaint though is that the seating position felt a tad high but that only stems from my own preference for sportscar-like driving positions.
From the driver’s seat, everything on the centre console is easily within reach. And the buttons were large and well made. Audio controls for the factory fitted sound system were placed on either side of a large circular MINI-like display. Audio controls are also replicated on the steering with a neat rocker switch for volume control.
The sound system offered enough oomph for most listening duties and even came with a nifty AUX-in jack that was hidden behind a discrete cover next to the handbrake lever with the 12V plug neatly placed next to it.
Another example of Mazda’s quality interior are the well-made steering stalks.
Activating the thick signal stalk gave a quality-assuring resistance unlike flimsy stalks found in its competitors.
The quality feel doesn’t stop there. Shift between gears on the automatic box and you will notice the same solid quality feel. The gear shift slipped into place smoothly and surely like those found on a continental sedan.
There is one complaint about the interior though.
As well-made as it is, the glove compartment seemed a little cramped and awkward. Offering little space to store the usual CDs, sunglasses and parking coupons.
Rear seat comfort is adequate for a small car such as this but I wouldn’t recommend tall passengers to sit behind a tall driver as there’ll be little legroom to spare. The rump in the back offers an impressive amount of luggage space for a small sedan such as the M2S. It is large enough to swallow up to at least two golf bags or three suitcases. If more space is required, the rear knock-down seats will avail more capacity.
Driving Impressions
On the roads, the M2S give little indication of its weight. The damping was excellent and didn’t give the usual jostling experienced with a small car. To be honest, it seem to damp out the road’s undulations better than most of its competitors. It was the same story on the expressways at cruising speeds. Road and tyre noise were well-within limits as well.
Like the hatchback, handling of the M2S is still peppy. The steering felt nicely balanced between steering feedback and deadened handling. To be honest, I didn’t attack the bends enough to fully determine its steering characteristics. Unless husbands start requesting for tips on getting the missus and kids barfing in a family sedan.
The quality feel doesn’t stop there. Shift between gears on the automatic box and you will notice the same solid quality feel. The gear shift slipped into place smoothly and surely like those found on a continental sedan.
There is one complaint about the interior though.
As well-made as it is, the glove compartment seemed a little cramped and awkward. Offering little space to store the usual CDs, sunglasses and parking coupons.
Rear seat comfort is adequate for a small car such as this but I wouldn’t recommend tall passengers to sit behind a tall driver as there’ll be little legroom to spare. The rump in the back offers an impressive amount of luggage space for a small sedan such as the M2S. It is large enough to swallow up to at least two golf bags or three suitcases. If more space is required, the rear knock-down seats will avail more capacity.
Driving Impressions
On the roads, the M2S give little indication of its weight. The damping was excellent and didn’t give the usual jostling experienced with a small car. To be honest, it seem to damp out the road’s undulations better than most of its competitors. It was the same story on the expressways at cruising speeds. Road and tyre noise were well-within limits as well.
Like the hatchback, handling of the M2S is still peppy. The steering felt nicely balanced between steering feedback and deadened handling. To be honest, I didn’t attack the bends enough to fully determine its steering characteristics. Unless husbands start requesting for tips on getting the missus and kids barfing in a family sedan.
|
Power though might’ve been lacking. It is a 1.5-litre engine after all, sharing the same unit from the hatchback derivative. The lack of power though becomes little consequence once the fuel consumption figures are in. At 14.7km/L, the car does slightly better than the other cars in this segment.
Conclusion
You would think that the M2S’s hip design would attract a younger clientele. According to Mazda Singapore however, the M2S’s clientele is currently dominated by the older folks. Most of whom are attracted by the car’s impressive economy.
Conclusion
You would think that the M2S’s hip design would attract a younger clientele. According to Mazda Singapore however, the M2S’s clientele is currently dominated by the older folks. Most of whom are attracted by the car’s impressive economy.
Despite that, I think the younger ‘hipper’ consumers shouldn’t be too concerned. The Mazda 2 Sedan’s hip looks ensures it would be resistant to being named an ‘uncle-mobile’.
There’s very little to discourage consumers looking for a family sedan in the M2S as it offers impressive build quality with better fuel consumption figures.
It would seem that with this added rump, the M2S will drum up the same popularity as its rump-less cousin in the new market.
There’s very little to discourage consumers looking for a family sedan in the M2S as it offers impressive build quality with better fuel consumption figures.
It would seem that with this added rump, the M2S will drum up the same popularity as its rump-less cousin in the new market.
Photos by Benjamin G, Kline
Also read our comparison article on:
Mazda2 Sedan 1.5 (A) vs Toyota Vios 1.5E (A)
Car Information
Mazda 2 Sedan 1.5 V (A)
CAT A|Petrol|14.7km/L
Horsepower
77kW (103 bhp)
Torque
135 Nm
Acceleration
-
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Mazda 2 Sedan
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