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By EWAN KENNEDY
12 December 2005
The
all-new Mazda2 replaced the long running Mazda 121 in December 2002.
Mazda2 is noticeably larger and more refined than the old 121 so the new
name is justified. The Mazda2 has been one of the front runners in the
recent success by Mazda in the new-car sales race. Quite a few are
already on the used-car market and are being snapped up by buyers
looking for a nice combination of style, safety and practicality.
Mazda's well deserved reputation for high build quality and reliability
obviously come into the equation as well.
This Mazda is a spacious small car as the tall body allows good headroom
in all seats. Four six-footers will find themselves more comfortable
than they might have expected. Though the boot suffers some compromise
to make space in the back seat, that seat is adjustable fore-and-aft to
let you juggle between rear-seat legroom and boot space.
Lap-sash safety belts are used on all seats, something that’s not
immediately obvious as the upper part of the centre-rear system is
stowed in the roof when not in use. The big emphasis in the June 2005
mid-life makeover of the Mazda2 was on further improvements in safety.
Dual airbags are standard on all models, while another four are fitted
to the top model, the Genki, and are optional on the others in the
range.
The extra airbags were well priced and are well worth going for in used
cars. You will find them relatively common as Mazda Australia has pushed
hard to have them accepted and many new-car owners have gone for
them.
At its launch the 2 had cheeky styling lines but for some reason the
shape was toned done as part of the mid-2005 makeover. There's still
plenty of flair, though and most owners say the looks are one reason for
buying the car.
All Australian imports of the Mazda2 have a four-cylinder 1.5-litre
engine. It performs pretty well in a car of this size and is economical.
The 2005 facelift saw changes to the engine to fatten out its torque
making it the one to opt for if your budget is up to it.
A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, with a four-speed automatic
transmission an extra-cost option. The automatic does a reasonable job
beside an engine of this size but try it for yourself to see what you
think. Also try the manual overrides to see if you like moving the lever
backwards to change up a gear, rather than the conventional forward for
up.
Steering in the little Mazda2 is quick and precise, though some may find
it a little too sensitive. This is the sort of thing that demands a
decent test drive, not just a quick run around the block. Tell the
salesman how you feel and there should be no problems.
Road grip is high and the smallest Mazda feels stable and comfortable
under all normal conditions. The suspension generally copes well with
rough Aussie back roads, though it can be caught out at times on
corrugated gravel surfaces. Smoothness, quietness and comfort are as
good as in many cars that are a full size up from the Mazda2, showing
the huge strides that have been made in this field in recent
years.
The underbonnet area of the Mazda2 is reasonably spacious and a good
home mechanic can tackle a lot of the routine servicing work. As always,
we recommend leaving safety-related items to the professionals, and
having a workshop manual on hand when you do your own servicing.
It comes as no surprise in a car of this type that the insurance rates
are usually towards the bottom end of the scale. For some reason there
seems to be a bigger spread than normal between companies so it’s
worth shopping around for the best deal. Don’t just look at the cost
of the premiums, also ask about excesses and no-claims bonuses.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The Mazda2 is still relatively new on the market, indeed most used cars
will still have some new-car warranty left on them. Nevertheless, it’s
still important to have the car checked out by a qualified person before
making your decision.
Look for signs of body damage or for repairs having been made. Viewing
the car in good light you should be able to see if the paint matches
correctly from panel to panel and that there's no paint overspray on
windows, mirrors, badges and other unpainted areas.
During your test drive feel for hesitation in the engine and listen for
rattles and squeaks in the cabin.
Check the brakes pull the car up firmly in a straight line and that the
ABS system, if fitted, comes in under high pedal pressures. The pulsing
through the pedal under ABS should be strong and there should be no
locking of any of the wheels.
Look over the condition of the interior trim and the lining of the
luggage area for any signs of tears or stains. Quality is generally good
but rough treatment can wear it down quickly.
CAR BUYING TIP
Small cars spend a lot of their time in hostile carparks at places
like shopping centres and sports arenas. This can result in lots of
little bumps and scrapes in the paint.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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