Mazda2 2005 Review

It has just revealed the all-new MX-5 sports car and is working through updates to the Mazda2, Mazda6 and B-Series workhorses.

The company's all-round health is reflected in the all-wheel drive MPS that will become the headliner for the Mazda6 range, in significant waiting lists for most models and in acceptance of its RX-8 hero car.

Mazda's sales have set month-on-month records this year and its half-year showroom total jumped from 28,813 last year to 33,938.

Mazda3 did most of the hard work and improved from 11,028 last year to 16,440.

In contrast, the baby Mazda2 is up from 2285 to only 2473, partly explaining a mid-life update.

The Two has been one of the class leaders, either alongside or just ahead of the Honda Jazz, since it arrived in Australia.

It did the job with a driver-friendly chassis, perky engine, and the sort of surprise-and-delight features that had been a hit with Mazda owners for 15 years.

Even the radio gave a friendly "Ciao" when you turned it off.

So Mazda did not have to do a lot with the 2005 update, beyond the inevitable cosmetic changes, a quality boost and more equipment.

Still, it added a new automatic gearbox and pushed a safety pack that gives four extra airbags and anti-skid brakes for $1150.

The Mazda2 line-up is still three cars, from the Neo starter car at $15,990 with airconditioning to the Maxx at $19,025 and the fully-loaded Genki at $20,985.

Its biggest rival is still the Jazz from Honda, but the Ford Fiesta has arrived to make life tougher and there are bargain buys in the Hyundai and Toyota showrooms to tempt people.

"The Mazda2 is the start of our facelifts. It's out first and the Mazda6 update is soon. There is nothing for the RX-8 in the short term and the Mazda3 is still only 18 months old," Alastair Doak of Mazda Australia says.

The Mazda2 styling change is fairly minor, with some people – including one friend who owns one – saying it looks a lot like the latest Toyota Corolla. It is smoother and rounder at the front and there are six prominent lamps across the tail.

The radio now says "Hello".

Steering has electric power assistance, an electronic throttle and some engine work to certify the car for the coming Euro III emission regulations.

ON THE ROAD

To be honest, we were hard pressed to pick too many differences in the updated Mazda2.

That's partly because it's been a long time since we drove one, partly because it was so good to begin with, and partly because the changes are relatively minor – no matter what Mazda says.

The car still drives extremely well, with a nice sprightly feel, and it is as good as anything in its class for fit and finish.

We could feel a little improvement in the refinement of the car, which could have come from the stiffer body or the suspension work, but our Genki test car had a few flaws that prevented any genuine judgment. It had a nasty shudder in the clutch, a vibration at 95km/h and a really annoying rattle from the back of the car at anything beyond 60km/h.

None of these problems is typical of a Mazda, and we are sure any competent dealer could have fixed them quickly, but they spoiled our time with the Two.

Even so, other members of the carsguide team have reported a no-change verdict after their time in the car.

Again, that's not bad, but not as good as we had hoped.

Yes, the new steering is sharp, the throttle gives good response and the 82kW engine is still pretty perky. We also got 7.1 litres/100km during some spirited driving, which is good news at the pumps and only a little up on Mazda's claimed economy for the car.

But we have to come back to the Mazda's rivals, particularly the Jazz and Fiesta. The Japanese cars are much as they have been from the start, but the upper models of the new baby Ford are now an equal for the Mazda2.

The Fiesta can be a cheapie if you're spending only $13,990, but the Zetec and Ghia models are winners. They feel just a touch more substantial than the Mazda and just as enjoyable to drive, though none of the Fords have the same practicality inside.

The Two is still over and above the Echo and Getz but, based on our latest test, has to share the light-car crown with the Ford Fiesta.

The Two is still one of our favourites, and definitely at the very top of its class, but has been run down from behind after a facelift that does not deliver as much as Mazda promised.