Mazda 2

Official distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, Bermaz Motor, has introduced the upgraded Mazda 2 for the 2023 model year.

Fully-imported (CBU - Thailand), the B-segment model comes in two body styles (Sedan, Hatchback) and one variant (1.5L High). 

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 108,670, included is a five-year/100,000 KM manufacturer warranty, and a five-year/100,000 KM free scheduled maintenance. 

Six exterior colours. Soul Red Crystal (MYR 500), Snowflake White Pearl, Platinum Quartz, Aero Grey (Sedan), Polymetal Grey (Hatchback), and Airstream Blue (Hatchback).

The new Mazda 2 has a tiered dashboard design that is simple, practical, and premium-looking with high levels of build quality. 

Draped in soft- and hard-touch panels, it gets a black theme with red accents (stitching - suede middle section, surrounds - air-conditioning vents).

Button accessibilities for the overall layout are well put. Seamlessly-integrated, driver-oriented and non-cluttered with easy reachability.

Installed is a standard analogue speedometer, featuring a centre tachometer flanked by two digital displays.

A five-seater, the interior is upholstered in leatherette and suede combination, finished in black with red stitching.

The front sees standard seats with manual adjustments (driver - six-way, passenger - four-way). The rear gets a bench seat with a 60:40 split-fold configuration.

Cabin space is comfortable. Plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms, providing front and rear occupants enough mobility.

Overall space is sufficient and borderline generous, considering it to have a sedan and hatchback body styles.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door and back seat pockets, glove box, partitioned and caverned centre console spaces, and armrest pockets.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel, finished in black with silver trimming.

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, audio, cruise control), paddle shifters, and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic).

Steering is aided by an Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system.

Provided are four cup holders. Two located at the front and two located at the rear.

Multiple charging ports provided. E.g., one 12 V socket and two USB ports.

Accessing its powered-tailgate (remote-operated - key-fob) opens up to 220-Litres of boot space. 

Weighing in at 1,118 KG (Sedan) and 1,091 KG (Hatchback), the new Mazda 2 stands at 4,355 MM (Sedan) and 4,080 MM (Hatchback) long, 1,695 MM wide, 1,470 MM (Sedan) and 1,495 MM (Hatchback) tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,570 MM.

Sleek and sporty, the upgraded exterior parades a compactly-solid stance, and blends smooth surfaces with sharp creases.

The front-end sees Mazda’s wing trim in black cradling a new black honeycomb insert grille with red accent, and a new bumper with a downturn-look lower intake.

Sporty and rounded, the rear-end further complements the refined design with smooth and seamless surfaces.

The Sedan sees a clean fitment and a thick bumper trim (red accent). The Hatchback sees a roof-edge spoiler, a shark fin antenna, and a slim bumper trim (red accent).

Framed angularly sharp and slim, the inward-tilted headlamps project a focused and athletic look. 

Incorporated are full LED units with signature illumination, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), and auto On/Off and levelling functions.

Wrapped-around, the eye-drop-esque tail lamps are in an angularly slim and roundly sharp style.

Standard are bulb combination units. Paired to the layout is a set of fog lamps (bulb - Sedan, LED - Hatchback).

The body-coloured side mirrors are electronically-powered (adjust, auto-fold) with turn indicators. 

Mounted is a setup of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) brake discs, utilising the standard handbrake system.

Fitted is a set of 16-Inch multi-spoke black and chrome alloy rims, wrapped in 185/60 R16 (front, rear) Dunlop Enasave EC300+ tyres.

The new Mazda 2 gets a standard set of safety systems. 

Incorporated are Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), and Hill Launch Assist (HLA).

Passive safety comprises two airbags (driver, passenger), seat belts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (anchors, top tethers), auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, parking sensors (rear - four), parking camera (reverse - guidelines), engine-immobiliser with anti-theft system, auto-door-lock, and walk-away-lock.

One drive mode available - Sport.

The Mazda G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) technology helps improve steering response, in turn, making the driving more proficient and intuitive. 

Paired with the accompanying safety systems, cruising through the city or speeding through the highway will be a more relaxing experience.

Installed is a 7.0-Inch Mazda Connect TFT LCD digital touchscreen infotainment system, supporting multi-function commander control, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and navigation. 

Sound is channelled through a standard six-speaker setup.

Harbouring in the new Mazda 2 is Mazda’s SkyActiv-G 1.5-Litre, naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder 16-valve, DOHC with VVT petrol engine, producing 114 HP at 6,000 RPM and 149 NM of torque at 4,000 RPM. 

Fitted is Mazda’s SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic with manual shift mode transmission.

Power is sent to the front wheels (2WD). 

Fuel tank capacity is 44-Litres, and fuel consumption figure is 5.3 L/100 KM/H.

The new Mazda 2 features the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry with engine Start/Stop button, walk-away auto lock function, powered-tailgate (remote-operated - key-fob), single-zone automatic air-conditioning, steering wheel (column adjustments, paddle shifters, multi-function, EPS), Apple CarPlay, auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror, parking sensors (four - rear), parking cameras (reverse - guidelines), auto headlamps (On/Off, levelling), and wipers (intermittent, rain sensing).

Spacious and comfortable, the overall ride quality is good with a handling that is refined and sturdy. 

Incorporated is the SkyActiv-Chassis (lightweight) and SkyActiv-Body (light, rigid, robust). Suspension setup is MacPherson struts (front) and torsion beam (rear). 

Sound insulation is adequate with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress unwanted wind, road and tyre noises well, and make them barely noticeable.

Parading a subtly upgraded exterior and interior, the new 2023 Mazda 2 is well equipped with enhancements.

Quality of equipment installed inside and outside, impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing. 

Ultimately, it is a pretty decent build, offering good fuel economy, a refined ride quality and a stylish body design altogether.