The Mazda 2 shows that you can still have a ‘grown-up’ feel in a compact car. With its refined on-road manners, the Mazda 2 is comfortable and easy to drive, while its range of engines provides the 2 with a decent level of performance alongside efficiency that will make this car very cheap to run. The 2’s on-sale run ended in 2025, but there’s still plenty of good availability for this car on the used market today.
The refinement that you get from the Mazda 2 helps this compact car to stand out as something a little different. Coupled with its well-made interior and usefully broad range of engines, it helps to make the 2 a compelling option.
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioMazda took the 2 off sale in 2025, meaning that there aren’t any new examples available. Confusingly, there is a Mazda2 Hybrid model, but this shares its platform with the Toyota Yaris and is a completely different car inside and out from the standard 2. However, the Mazda 2’s popularity means that there’s good availability on the used market, with lots of options at a variety of price points.
At the top end of the scale are 2024-year cars with a 1.5-litre Skyactiv G petrol engine and around 11,000 miles on the clock, while £15,695 will be enough to get you a 2023 Mazda 2 GT Sport with 5,500 miles on it. All of these are available currently on AA Cars.
Throughout its time on sale, the Mazda 2 has been available with a good range of engine options. Early examples of the 2 could be acquired with a diesel engine and while it does bring a high level of efficiency, it was never a natural fit for this around-town car, which is why it was phased out from the 2 line-up in 2019.
However, what remained was a good suite of petrol engines. Much of them are based around a 1.5-litre engine, though available in a variety of outputs. Separately from the later Mazda2 Hybrid, these engines could also be equipped with mild hybrid technology. Look for Skyactiv-G engines for your regular petrol, or e-Skyactiv G for mild-hybrid versions. You can also get the 2 with either manual or automatic gearboxes, with the latter being available on more powerful variants.
The Mazda 2 brings a level of refinement that you just wouldn’t expect from such a compact car. At greater speeds, it’s quiet and comfortable, yet it’s still easy to drive around town. Because of its compact size, it’s more than manageable when navigating a tight multi-storey car park and visibility isn’t too bad either.
One of the standout aspects of the 2’s on-road character is its gearbox. A common theme throughout Mazda vehicles, the 2’s manual gearbox is smooth and pleasant to use. It gives a sense of sportiness to the whole vehicle, but also means that the 2 remains a breeze to drive around town. The automatic still does a good job of moving smoothly through the gears, so there’s not too much of a downside for those who need it.
To drive, the Mazda 2 feels akin to a much larger car. That’s not because it’s tricky to park or feels cumbersome, but because it is quiet, refined and settled no matter what speed you’re doing. Even on the motorway, the 2 is more like a compact SUV or crossover in the way it gets down the road.
It’s not as exciting to drive as something like a Ford Fiesta, but it combats this with an easy-going nature that makes it a breeze to drive around town. The ride is ever-so-slightly on the firm side of things, but it’s never uncomfortable and it’s only even the very largest of potholes which disrupt the 2. Earlier diesel-engined models are more vocal under harsh acceleration, though later petrol versions feel smoother and quieter overall.
Like many recent Mazda vehicles, the interior of the 2 is made solidly with lots of good materials. There are some harsher plastics found here and there, but that is to be expected at this price point. Also, while they may not be the most pleasant to interact with, they’re hard-wearing and won’t scratch or mark as easily as some more premium alternatives. There’s plenty of adjustment for the person behind the wheel, too, so it’s easy to find the right position for you. All seat adjustment is done manually - rather than with electric assistance - but this isn’t out of the ordinary for this area of the car market.
Ergonomically, the Mazda 2 puts many more modern cars to shame. There are nice, chunky rotary controllers for the heating and ventilation and they’re easy to use, even when you’re wearing gloves on a cold day. Even the large, circular air vents are cleverly designed to make adjusting them as simple as can be. The central screen is controlled via a rotary dial next to the handbrake, too, which again is intuitively placed.
For such a small car, the Mazda 2 does a great job in terms of practicality. There are plenty of storage areas dotted throughout the cabin, as well as a dedicated cubby for your phone. In terms of overall spaciousness, those up front get the best seats in the house thanks to good levels of headroom. In the rear, things do start to tighten up and though taller passengers will be able to sit in the back, things might feel like a squeeze. Certainly, getting three adults sitting abreast in the back would be a push, and the 2 is best seen as a four-seater with an ‘occasional’ middle row seat in the back.
At 280 litres, the boot in the Mazda 2 is smaller than the ones you’ll find in either the Skoda Fabia or Vauxhall Corsa. That said, it is quite deep - so it can accommodate chunkier items - but the high loading lip means that putting heavier items into the boot, or taking them out, could prove to be a challenge. You can, of course, fold the rear seats down to extend the loadspace, but there’s quite a ‘step’ left which could prevent larger items from easily being placed inside.
Mazda has always equipped its cars with a good range of standard features and the 2 is no different. On the most recent car, even entry-level ‘Centre-Line’ cars incorporate automatic LED headlights and cruise control as standard, bringing all of those features that can help to make day-to-day driving easier.
The standard eight-inch infotainment screen equipped to the latest versions of the 2 is good, as well, and gets media functions as well as both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can also operate it via touch when you’re parked up, but this facility blocks once you’re on the move and you’ll need to operate the rotary controller in order to change anything. It’s a good feature, though, as it means you’re focusing more on the road ahead.
When it was taken off sale in 2025, the Mazda 2’s trim levels were made up of Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line, Homura and Homura Aka. All cars get 15-inch alloy wheels as standard, though these are upgraded to 16-inch versions when you opt for Exclusive-Line. Homura adds a reversing camera to help make parking even easier, as well as heated and electric folding wing mirrors. Head to Homura Aka and you’ll get heated seats and a heated steering wheel for a big boost of comfort in winter.
The Mazda 2’s range of colours is dominated by whites and blacks, though you could also get it in Mazda’s fantastic ‘Soul Red’ which looks special and gives the 2 an extra level of class.
Mazda has a rock-solid reputation for reliability and the 2 should prove no different to this. It’s a small, relatively simple car and though mild-hybrid technology has been introduced, it won’t be enough to turn this car into a reliability nightmare. As with all cars, look out for a full service history to make sure any car you’re buying has been looked after well.
Over time, Mazda improved the on-board safety equipment available with the 2. Newer models get features such as Lane Keep Assistance and autonomous emergency braking, which were left out of older models. As a result, we’d advise going for later versions of the 2 if you’re after a version with the greatest level of safety equipment.
Regardless of the engine, you’ll find that all models within the 2 range are good in terms of efficiency. Later 1.5-litre petrol engines should return well over 50mpg, with most getting closer and above the 60mpg mark. It’ll mean that these cars won’t cost much to fill up. It’s worth noting that the last Mazda 2s on sale came with a 1.5-litre engine, with all but the base car getting mild-hybrid assistance to help boost efficiency. Older diesel-powered cars could get closer to 80mpg, overall, though these figures were generated under the less stringent NEDC testing cycle, meaning real-world results are likely to be lower.
Across the board, the Mazda 2 is a low-emitting model. Emissions range from 82g/km in diesels (albeit under older NEDC tests) to 122g/km. Earlier models - those made before 2017 - can benefit from incredibly low rates of tax, with certain models costing just £35 to cover annually.
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