2024 Mazda 2 Evolve review

As a range of newer, more expensive models fill Mazda showrooms at the family-sized end of the market, is there still room for buyers with a more modest budget? Mazda thinks so, and the perky little Mazda 2 lives on with revised styling and equipment to see it through 2024 and beyond.

While city car rivals like the Toyota Yaris and soon the Suzuki Swift make a move to fuel-sipping hybrids, the Mazda 2 continues as is.

This generation of Mazda 2 isn't new, by any stretch of the imagination, but has been tweaked and updated since it was first introduced nine years ago, and came in for its second styling overhaul during 2023.

Entry-level models get a more fun look, with a focus on body-coloured elements in the grille, while the G15 Evolve trim level here adopts a more serious and stylish visage for a slightly more mature outlook.

With four models to choose from in the updated Mazda 2 range, pricing spans from $22,720 plus on-road costs for the cheapest G15 Pure hatch with a six-speed manual, up to $27,920 for the G15 GT hatch or sedan with a six-speed auto, before options and on-road costs.

The mid-spec G15 Evolve tested here sits in the middle of the pack, with a starting price of $26,220 plus on-road costs. This model is auto-only, with no manual option. Opt for one of the premium paint finishes like the Soul Red Crystal of the car you see here and you'll pay an extra $595.

For that you get an 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic, 16-inch alloy wheels, black cloth seat trim, 7.0-inch infotainment screen, four-door power windows with auto up-down on the fronts, LED headlights and running lights, single-zone climate control, driver's head-up display, push-button start (but remote, not keyless entry).

Around a similar price you could also get into a Toyota Yaris SX ($28,190), a Volkswagen Polo Life ($29,490), a Suzuki Swift GLX ($29,790), or if you were sold on style above all else, a Fiat 500 Dolcevita ($27,220), all before on-road costs.

While the styling may have been tweaked, inside the Mazda 2 little has changed since this model debuted in 2014, apart from some colour and trim options over the years. Tailored to suit singles and young couples, the Mazda 2 range is compact but with still useful seat space up front, and a good degree of seat adjustability.

In the rear, space is much tighter. Fine for short hops but lacking in real knee or leg room for adults, and compact enough to struggle with child seats, without impacting front seat occupants.

In mid-range Evolve trim, there's cloth seat trim with some red contrast details, manually adjusted seats (with height adjustment for the driver), and leather trim on the steering wheel, and gear selector.

The driver faces a racy central tachometer with a digital speed readout, and a pair of LCD displays showing gear and trip/odo info on the left, and trip computer details on the right.

Interior storage doesn't quite live up to the versatile legacy of Mazda 2s (and 121s) of the past. You won't find a centre armrest between the seats, and while there is a regular-sized glovebox, and a bottle holder in each front door, other storage nooks fall short of expectations.

Once you've slotted a couple of takeaway cups or bottles into the console, anything else is free to slide about. The shelf at the base of the centre stack looks like a wireless charger but isn't, and is too narrow for a phone to sit flat on anyway.

Boot space, at 250 litres, is on par with rivals like the Suzuki Swift (242L) and Toyota Yaris (270L), but in the Mazda's case the boot is quite deep with a prominent load lip to clear. There's a hard cargo cover but no bag hooks or tie-down points. Rear seats can be folded to free up more space, but they don't fold completely flat and still occupy a fair chunk of space when folded.

Every model in the 2024 Mazda 2 range comes with a 7.0-inch display. Every model also comes with AM, FM, and digital radio, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a six-speaker sound system. In the high-grade Evolve and GT models, integrated satellite navigation is also standard.

As has been the case throughout the Mazda 2's model run, the screen can be used as a touchscreen when stopped, but while on the move access is via a rotary controller on the console. It's a simple and intuitive system to use, though shorter drivers may find the control dial placed a little too far back to reach easily.

As other brands overhaul their infotainment systems to keep pace with advancing tech, Mazda has let time stand still for its system, which first appeared in Mazda cars almost 10 years ago. Although we experienced no major glitches on test, the graphics and animations can stutter and at first start the MZD Connect software can take a few minutes to boot up, leaving you without access to any of its functions (apart from the reverse camera) until it's done loading.

Mazda has introduced a newer infotainment system on other models in its range, including some that first shipped with this system, but no upgrades have been made to the Mazda 2.

Despite the system name 'MZD Connect', Mazda doesn't have a companion app or any kind of remote connectivity on the Mazda 2 range in Australia.

Mazda 2 models currently on sale in Australia (from January 2023) are officially unrated by ANCAP with no current assessment available. Older models of this generation model did previously carry a five-star rating based on testing to ANCAP's 2015 criteria.

As the safety body evolves its testing procedures and required safety systems over time, an earlier rating may not be the equivalent of a more recent result.

Across the updated Mazda 2 range, forward autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, rear park sensors, rear cross-traffic alert with rear collision braking function, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and six airbags (front, side and curtain on both sides) are all standard. A rear-view camera and cruise control are also fitted to all models.

The Evolve tested here adds features like traffic sign recognition and a flip-up head-up display. If you were to go one grade higher to the GT you'd also get front park sensors, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system.

Mazda's suite of safety tech looks comprehensive but some features are missing – like lane centring and driver fatigue monitoring. The lane-assist system is a little slow to react and capable of letting the car drift out of its lane with minimal intervention.

Mazda vehicles come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, plus five years of roadside assist that can come to your rescue for things like flat tyres, breakdown assistance, flat batteries, locked-in keys and more.

There's a capped-price service plan, letting you see what you're in for at each service for up to seven years. Services are due every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.

Servicing costs aren't some of the cheapest in the market, but aren't excessive either. Over three years you'll pay $1256, up to five years will cost $2116, and if you hang onto your car for seven years you'll pay $3037.

An insurance quote from a leading Aussie insurer came to $1053 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Hybrid cars like the rival Toyota Yaris offer truly tiny fuel bills – as low as 3.3 litres per 100 kilometres, and the new-generation Suzuki Swift arriving later this year is also set to adopt a hybrid powertrain. In the case of the Mazda 2, there's no hybrid, just a start-stop system that shuts the engine down when stationary.

The result is a higher claimed consumption figure of 5.0L/100km. In the real world, sitting in peak-hour traffic from the 'burbs to the city on hot days with the air con earning its keep, we recorded 6.8L/100km. That's still fairly thrifty for the conditions, but not benchmark-setting. For instance, last time I took a Suzuki Swift GLX out, it returned a similar 6.6L/100km, but a Yaris Hybrid returned 4.0L/100km.

Still, even as a city commuter, the Mazda 2 should cover over 640km on a single fill with the consumption recorded on test.

Whereas some city cars and SUVs have been caught up in the downsizing trend, with three-cylinder turbocharged engines in place of four-cylinder engines previously, Mazda sticks to a more tried and true path.

The Mazda 2 range has a relatively simple and sensible 81kW/142Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. The only transmission in the Evolve spec is an automatic. It's a good combo for easy and perky running about town, and a well-proven one too, having been in the Mazda 2 range since it launched in 2014 with only minor tweaks along the way.

The Mazda 2 range has very nice handling for a city car. It's not a hot hatch, and doesn't try to be, but the steering is quick and direct. It offers a bit of feel, but isn't heavy nor twitchy. It's a just-right balance.

The same goes for ride quality. Just a little firm, but not too much. The result is a ride that's everyday sporty, and handling that's composed, stable, and secure through the bends.

The six-speed is good at smooth starts, and being a 'traditional' automatic it doesn't jump or jolt off the line, or when pulling away on an incline. It's easy to make slow-speed parking manoeuvres and three-point turns, but can be a bit more sluggish when it comes to performance at higher speeds.

Around town it's fine accelerating through the gears, but if you push hard on the accelerator for a burst of speed, it feels too slow to react. On the other side of the coin, at speeds around 80–110km/h it will flutter from sixth to fifth gear (and sometimes fourth) constantly as it tries to maintain speed, even on a steady throttle.

Refinement is decent, though some other city cars like the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia are more refined – but also more expensive. The biggest blight on refinement comes from pushing the engine hard, where it can get buzzy and feed vibrations back into the cabin.

Although the Mazda 2 may not be the newest city car available in Australia, the ongoing enhancements and updates have helped keep it looking and feeling fresh.

It would be nice to see Mazda invest more heavily in the infotainment system, which is feeling out of touch against more modern systems. On the other hand, a perky on-road feel and a reasonably plush interior, for the light car class, mean that the Mazda 2 isn't out of its depth against competitors.

For young urbanites or discerning downsizers, the Mazda 2 Evolve could be well worth making the shortlist, though rivals like the Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo mean there's plenty of pressure on Mazda's smallest model.

With four models to choose from, the Mazda 2 line-up offers a lot of choices, but the Evolve model tested here, while really well equipped, probably isn't the pick of the range. The best value can be found in the base Pure or sporty-looking Pure SP models.

Mazda Australia says there's no wait for stock, with a range of cars available in all trim grades ready to go at dealers. You can also find Mazdas for sale at Drive.com.au/cars-for-sale. Or locate your nearest dealer here.

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