IN PREPARATION FOR 2020, Mazda has announced updates for the city-friendly Mazda2, boasting grown-up styling enhancements and high-tech features not previously available in the compact car segment.
Mazda’s Director of Marketing, Alastair Doak, said the updates to Mazda2 reflect changing customer tastes and feedback.
“The 2020 update to Mazda2 adds some premium safety technology never-before-seen in vehicles at this price point in Australia,” said Mr. Doak.
“We added a 360-degree camera in addition to a suite of active safety features, giving customers of our smallest vehicle greater peace of mind and confidence while driving.”
On sale from the start of December, New Mazda2 takes styling cues from its Mazda6 and Mazda3 siblings, wearing a more mature expression of the Kodo design language that favours a clean, stripped back aesthetic (although it isn’t universally loved).
Accentuating Mazda2’s low, wide stance, the wing has been extended to the base of the headlamps and the chrome thickened, encasing a new mesh grille. Front and rear lower bumper sections are more horizontally aligned, with garnishes at the outer edges adding a more premium finishing touch and giving Mazda2 greater road presence.
Fog lamps have been integrated into a new, sleek LED headlamp design with a large cylindrical lighting element giving a sharp expression that falls into the same design family as the rest of the Mazda range.
Finished in a high gloss paint, 16-inch wheels take on an elegant straight spoke design, while 15-inch wheels feature a new silver finish.
Rounding off the exterior updates, Mazda2 hatchback is newly offered in Polymetal Grey Metallic and Deep Crystal Blue Mica paint.
In the cabin, fresh colour palettes add unique character to each grade; G15 Pure is available with Brown cloth, G15 Evolve has dark Navy cloth and G15 GT sports a newly developed Blue Grey leather with Granluxe synthetic suede.
Also improving convenience and safety, Mazda2 adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a host of i-Activsense technologies as standard, including Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane-keep Assist System (LAS) and pedestrian detection for Smart City Brake Support (SCBS).
Mazda2 also picks up a 360-degree View Monitor on G15 GT models, giving drivers peace of mind with four separate cameras working together to provide a complete bird’s eye view of the vehicle, minimising blind spots and avoiding potential dangers.
The highly efficient Skyactiv-G 1.5L petrol engine has been revised too, with updates made to quicken response, reduce harmful substances in exhaust emissions, and improve power and torque output. Power is boosted from 79kW to 82kW, while pulling power increases from 139Nm to 144Nm.
Mazda has also applied the principles of its new generation Skyactiv-Vehicle Architecture to the update, introducing a new seating structure that better supports the natural S-curve of the spine for improved comfort. The latest Skyactiv-Vehicle Dynamics technology has also been deployed, with G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) helping to improve handling and vehicle stability.
The updated Mazda2 is available in a choice of sedan or hatchback and in three model grades, G15 Pure, G15 Evolve and G15 GT, with manual and automatic transmissions both offered.
Mazda2 comes with Mazda’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and five-year Mazda Premium Roadside Assistance as standard.
Once we have tested and assessed the new Mazda2, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.