The
UK is the first European market to get the facelifted 2020 Mazda2, which brings
refreshed styling, a mild-hybrid system and improved handling and refinement. Already in UK dealerships, the Japanese
supermini is available in five trim levels: SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport Nav and GT
Sport Nav. Priced from £ 15,795 (US$ 21,050), the base Mazda2 SE-L offers decent
standard equipment including LED headlights, climate control, cruise control,
rear parking sensors and 15-inch alloy wheels.
The
engine is a 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G naturally aspirated petrol unit rated at 75 PS and offered exclusively with a six-speed manual. Customers opting for
the SE-L Nav, Sport Nav and GT Sport Nav trim levels also get the 7-inch Mazda
Connect navigation with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Front Smart City Brake
Support and Lane-keep Assist.
They
also get the more powerful version of the Skyactiv-G 1.5 engine as standard. It
delivers 90 PS and it can be had with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed
automatic transmission.
In
combination with the manual gearbox, both engine variants offer the Mazda M
Hybrid 24-volt mild-hybrid system. Using a belt-integrated start generator
(B-ISG) and brake regeneration, the tech is said to boost engine torque and
improve fuel efficiency. Manual versions of the 2020 Mazda2 emit 94-95 g/km of
CO2, depending on trim level.
Mazda
made subtle updates to the supermini’s driving characteristics as well,
including the use of a urethane top mount in the rear dampers and revisions to
the power steering to improve response and feel.
Furthermore,
the G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) system has been added. GVC-Plus
improves cornering characteristics by using the brakes to apply direct yaw
movement control, in addition to the previous system’s engine control.
