Certain things happened in the Mazda 2 which cannot be blamed on the Mazda 2. Epoch-defining traffic, a parking nightmare, a trip the wrong way down a one-way street (stupid sign), discourteous lateness (mine): the only way this driving week could have been worse is if I’d been arrested.
Nevertheless, I blamed the car, which was roughly 10% justified. The engine felt a bit harried and over-revved, though the way the gear stick is mounted, in a high, unusual position, makes the actual shifting pretty comfortable. It’s a 1.5 litre, popular with driving schools because it doesn’t tempt you into rash exuberance, but is capable of high-risk behaviour, should you so choose it. It just seemed to need a shade more attention than other cars, and that – with the slow, not very intuitive satnav and poor visibility (the window struts interfered with peripheral vision) – amped up the anxiety.
The pearlescent paint and “light stone” leather seats: I’m sure there are people who get a thrill from such things, but for me they reflect an 80s sensibility, like a shiny tracksuit.
There’s a funny duality in the design, gangster touches like “privacy glass” (not blacked out, but smoky and mysterious) on the one hand, respectable credentials like a 105g/km CO2 rating on the other. The combined mileage is great, even though the tank isn’t big, so you don’t go miles without having to fill up. Huge amounts of thought and effort have gone into reducing weight to achieve that efficiency and give it an engaging agility. Then they stick on a ridiculous rear-roof spoiler to fool the older driver into thinking the boot is still open. It occupies this curious space between mischief and seriousness, as though it were designed for a trainee mobster.
Having said all that, it is free of almost all the moans that usually go with a small car: it is not noisy on the motorway, and never rattles. The steering is dependable but sharp, and the car never felt as though it could be tugged by a gust of wind. It feels zingy but not boisterous – and fun, especially in cities, where its size and punch get the better of pretty well every other vehicle you’ll meet.
I’m not sure what question this car should answer: is it on a quest for ethical sportiness? I like to think of it carrying its own slogan, borrowed from the world of booze: “Please be a petrol head, responsibly.”
Mazda 2
OTR price £17,350.24
Top speed 114
Acceleration 0-62 in 9.4 seconds
Combined fuel consumption 62.8mpg
CO2 emissions 105g/km
Eco rating 8/10
Cool rating 7/10
