2008 Mazda 2 - 3 door review
22 May, 2008
37 Comments 
2008 Mazda 2 - 3 door review
Model tested: Mazda 2 - 3 door Maxx
Recommended Retail Price: $17,960
Options fitted: Automatic Transmission - $1650
Great looks, fuel economy, handling, refinement, quality for price
Steering doesn’t self centre properly
CarAdvice rating: 
(4.5)
Photographs and review by: Karl Peskett
Everyone is proud of a new baby. There’s the cards, the flowers, the visits, and of course the photos. Without getting too nostalgic, I remember the day my son was born, like it was ten minutes ago. And as proud parents, we couldn’t wait to show him off to everyone. Now that he’s two, he shows himself off to everyone. But I digress…
A new baby is something that the parents should be rightly proud of, too. It’s a way to carry on the family tradition and heritage. An opportunity to mould a personality in the family’s ways. And if it’s cute, then you’re on a winner.
Location: Home / Mazda, Behind the Wheel / ...
Rate Post: 
(18 votes, average: 3.56 out of 5)
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May 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
*****PRIMO!*****
Its a great car, but WAY to expensive, its almost into the B segmant catagory in price, yet its clearly a A segment sized vehicle.
Needs to be $14999 like all the other rubbish, a Tiida is a better job for around the same coin.
Cheers
F-0
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May 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Speaking of mighty Mazda, what about a test/review on the CX7?
After all you guys @ C/A did promise a test/review on it……..
:-)
Cheers
F-0
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May 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Maybe it just needs a bench seat and LPG option.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
DLR1 -
LOL, thats GOLD!!
E.V.E.R.Y car can benefit from LPG, seen even a Chev Matiz with LPG, its just a [cheap] fuel after all.
Bench seat only required if not rear seat supplied, this has a rear seat, with a APPALLING fabric pattern!
Cheers
F-0
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May 22nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I have to say I think it is too expensive as well.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Great car.
Although for that price the extra safety gear should come standard.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
It is a bit too expensive, i agree too!
CarAdvice (I’ve got you as my homepage now), you could try a small car (hatch 3 door) comparison between lets say………………………Mazda 2, Hyundai Getz, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta & (I know, i know but give it a try) a Holden Barina and a Volkswagen Polo (look I know polo is a bit more expensive than rest but try it and see if its better than rest).
OR/AND
You could do a small 5 door hatch comparison between lets say……………Mazda 2, Hyundai Getz, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Holden Barina, Honda Jazz, Kia Rio, Mitsubishi Colt, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Swift & Volkswagen Polo (i knopw polo is a bit more expensive than others but should see if IT is better than the rest).
Thats always a thought CarAdvice.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
“..and made a space in our hearts.”
Come on… Really? Way Corny.
Hate the fabric pattern. But its a huge improvement on the look of that box style Mazda 2 which looks like it had been designed by the guy that invented the rubix cube.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Although the interior does look fresh & funky I’m not too sure about the tiny display for the stereo system imagine trying to read mp3 tracknames of that as well as the lack of any sort of cloth insert on the doors something found on the hyundai i30 base model not from on of japans finest..
Frugal One Says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
*****PRIMO!*****
Its a great car, but WAY to expensive, its almost into the B segmant catagory in price, yet its clearly a A segment sized vehicle.
Needs to be $14999 like all the other rubbish, a Tiida is a better job for around the same coin.
Cheers
F-0
If you have read many of the reports on the Tiida its universally agreed it is a pretty cheap vehicle for its size but has been quite a dissapointment in the eyes of the many motoring journalists here in Oz
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May 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
^^^^^^^Very true about the Tiida there Jeiz!
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May 22nd, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Its not really that expensive, the base model starts at $15750, standard with a 1.5l engine, the Yaris is $15190 with a 1.3l engine and $16990 with a 1.5l engine. The Mazda 2 is better value for money, better to drive and has the option of ESP and when added on, it is still cheaper than the 1.5l Yaris.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Yeah as Myke said the tested model isn’t the base one, you can get it for over $2000 less than the review car.
Looks a lot better than a Tiida! And seriously, can anyone drive one of those Tiidas without feeling embarrassed after those stupid ads?
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May 22nd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Like the others have said before, a comparo between the small cars currently on the market would be awesome. For my money, i would definitely get the 2 over any other simply because of the way it drives, looks, quality, saftey. Its all worth it in my opinion. At least after i’ve spent the money on it, i won’t have any regrets.
Oh and Frugal One, i too would like a review of the CX-7 and also the CX-9. But how about you go and take one out for a test drive and get first hand experience and knowledge of it?
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May 22nd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Fanstastic little car……… I want one in black one with brembos all round, 17 inch bbs ch rims and a hks muffler and i`ll be happy!!! Beats the shit out yaris!!
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May 22nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
To me like really it is toooooooooooo curvy everywhere and less is better. Then upside it sweeps up and all gels not as hot as a Yaris. The Yaris looks trendy, cute and not overkill and wins me period!
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May 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
The mazda2 is expensive. I’d like to see anyone try and get it for under 20k DRIVEAWAY. Maybe in a year or so the demand will die down, but nor right now.
The best value car in the class is the Swift. Its reasonably priced and one of the better cars to drive, definitely craps over the yaris in terms of driving involvement and enjoyment. And is arguably better in the looks department, which I don’t think the mazda2 is a real winner, its too curvy, and the nose looks out of place on a car that size.
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May 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Looks better than the brick it replaced. But when I test drove both old and new, the old was built better.
Interior quality was much better. It felt like a more expensive car. The new one really defies the typical high quality that Mazda seems to put in (now) all their other models.
SteveC
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May 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Price is a little up there, but you get what you pay for and with Mazda that’s a whole lot.
I’m not sold on the seat pattern or external colour on this one, but the car overall looks the goods - especially the three door - and is HEAPS better than the Yaris in my opinion.
No doubt like most Mazdas it also drives good, looking forward to a spin now ;)
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May 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Obviously to each there own….but those rear tailights so upturned smiling massively is too much. Too much curves all over and that hooter snout is tooooooo much for a small car!
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May 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
Geezzuzzz some of you ppl are once again dribbling diarrorea. Mazda2 price starts off at $15750 plus on roads for a Neo 3 door manual. Wooooppy doooo if a dog bone Barina is $12990+ or a Getz Fudged is $13990+ or whatever. What do you want? Decent Japanese build quality and reliability? Or death trap poor resale Korean garbage?
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May 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Mazda all the way,
great car to drive
Ads are great.
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May 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
BAJI -
“Oh and Frugal One, i too would like a review of the CX-7 and also the CX-9. But how about you go and take one out for a test drive and get first hand experience and knowledge of it?”
NOT for the sake of trying, the weird thing is C/A said that they WOULD be reviewing it but have not.
I would be happy to work with C/A team and drive and test the CX7 with them.
Have not tested it myself [what are you going to gain in a 5min. drive anyway?]gone cold on it anyway.
RATHER alarmed that its average fuel use is 18L+/100km, oh and thats with PULP thats required!Have spoken to a few owners and SELLERS, and the fuel use figure is confirmed.The also state 350/400km range.
It needs the V6 out of the Tribute in it and ditch the turbo.
Its the nicest SUV on the market, BUT i think i am over it now.
Looking more and more like the updated Corolla [rear elec. windows and ESP as std. on Accent?]
Cheers
F-0
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May 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
F-O, FYI, Mazda doesn’t have any CX-7s or CX-9s on its press fleet anymore, so a road test won’t be happening anytime soon.
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May 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I own a 4door 2 Genki with DSC and its a great little car far better than the others in its class. It wouldn’t have won so many awards if it was rubbish…and I stepped down from a 4×4 dual cab ute…
Well done Mazda and make sure the MPS 2 comes at the end of next like all the rumours have been tossed around..
There will be fresh up on the CX7 in a months time so maybe Car could hang out till then..
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May 23rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Hey Frugal One, the corolla doesn’t even come with ESP as an option. I reckon you should go with a Mazda 3
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May 24th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Thats a bit of a big rump on this, having seen them in the flesh i’d save my dosh for Fords forthcoming Fiesta. Much nicer balance on the bodywork.
Also the dash on this seems really plasticky and cheap and quite spartan.
6.8litres/100. A 2.0litre diesel Mondeo will better that, come on get a 1.4diesel in it and do 4’s/100km. OK Iknow it would cost more before you say it.
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May 24th, 2008 at 9:13 am
I thought the Tiida was in the same class as the focus, astra, mazda 3 etc?
Not the Mazda 2 class.
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May 24th, 2008 at 9:31 am
^The Tiida is in the class of Mazda 3, Corolla etc. but the Tiida isn’t that good.
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May 24th, 2008 at 10:19 am
We bought a Ford Fiesta two months ago. On our list of potential buys were the Mazda 2 Genki, Toyota Yaris YRX and the Ford Fiesta. Essentially, the Yaris was overpriced. The Mazda, had our budget been just a little higher, would’ve have been the car we eventually bought, but it was the Ford that got the money. It’s a cracker to drive, as was the Mazda. The toyota, while build quality is high (all 3 cars seemed to have high build quality), is to dead to drive. Totally unengaging. The mazda was a hoot to drive, but i just couldn’t justify the extra cost. Not wanting to sound like i’m justifying my purchase, the Ford isn’t that bad a car. Its the best small car in the class to drive. Engine is rather tractable. All the other doodads that come with it are good. The doors feel like those of an Accord Euro. They shut with a reassuring thunk. Super easy on fuel when i drive conservatively (780 kms per tank), and it isn’t half ugly (maybe 1/3rd ugly). What ever floats your boat really. The mazda, as CA writer states, is a pretty fine car for the bucks. Shop aound though, and don’t buy blind.
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May 24th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Actually I felt a little disappointed after driving this new Mazda 2 today. Small, underpowered and expensive, engine was not that responsive. The driving dynamic of this car might be good but for average users, there are other more important factors to be considered, such as comfort, price, warranty, maintenance, etc. Different people have different feeling when doing test drive. You really need to look beyond a car brand and all those perceptions associated with it when looking for a new car. Do test drive by yourself and get the feeling by yourself, and compare specifications carefully.
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May 24th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I much prefer the Mitsubishi Colt with the CVT box…. feisty little engine, great fuel economy and tons of space…
The Jazz is quite nice too, just waiting for the updated second generation model to be launched in australia in a couple of months!
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May 25th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Definitely worth the extra money, especially over the Swift. The Suzuki’s steering, pedal travel and interior switches are too light, too short and too fiddly respectively.
Besides which, if you look at the Mazda2 Genki and the Yaris YRS, they’re practically on par for price.
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May 26th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Duck…
I totally agree, the new corolla is even nicer to drive than the tiida.
It has no chance against the focus, astra, golf or Mazda 3.
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July 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I just bought a Mazda 2 Maxx 5 door (manual) a couple of days ago, and I absolutely love it. The car is quite responsive, the steering very precise, and it looks great, both inside and outside. I mainly bought it for my daily commute to work, so petrol bills should be lower. My wife was sold on the 6disk stacker - she didn’t really care about what car it was anyway. Interior is great and quite functional, thought I’m still discovering things as I go - I’ve had too much fun driving it to look around. Even though the boot is small, it has plenty of space for our thursday night shopping run. Back seat is comfortable enough for passengers, but then again, I wasn’t after a people mover.
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I was just in at mazda today and test drove the 2 door Neo.
I got quoted $19990 on the road for the Maxx with fog lights. I couldn’t stretch for the safety pack though :(
I loved the feel of it, one downside for me though is that there are a couple of blind spots on it.
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October 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
OMG, EVERY Car has a ‘few” blind spots, unless you drive a convertible…
Remember ALL you knockers out there, THIS Mazda 2 won ,
WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR 2008..
Judged by motoring journalists from ALL over the world.
NO other small cars comes close for driving dynamics and value.
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December 13th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I test drove the Mazda 2 (5 door ) today and didn’t like it at all…despite the hype. I think the doors look cheap and thin, like a toy car. Driving on a 80kph zone in the rain was scary. When you test the acceleration it jumps gears with a clunk. The brakes are over-responsive, and the rear visibility is poor for lane changes. It has lots of ZOOM-ZOOM as they advertise, but it’s like a racecar trapped in a hatchback body. It feels unsafe. Too much power with not enough protection. The doors would probably blow open in the wind, they are so light. I decided on a Honda Jazz VTi instead, feels more solidly built, fantastic vision with the big van-like front window, and much roomier inside (exactly the same price, 22k, for auto option + safety).
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