Mazda2 Hybrid gets a unique look of its own for 2024

• New exterior styling
• Interior upgrades
• Starts from £24,130

Mazda’s full-hybrid supermini, the Mazda2 Hybrid, has entered 2024 with a fresh new face, along with some minor changes to its interior and trim lineup. First launched in 2022, the Mazda2 is essentially a rebadged Toyota Yaris hybrid, sharing everything from its engine to much of its interior. The new styling changes for 2024 provide the Mazda2 Hybrid with its own visual identity for the first time, allowing it to stand apart from its Toyota twin in the already crowded supermini market.

It’s important to note that the Mazda2 Hybrid is sold alongside another supermini called the Mazda2, but the two cars share nothing in common other than the name and the badge. The Mazda2 Hybrid is based on the Toyota Yaris, whereas the Mazda2 was a unique, ground-up design from the Japanese brand. The updates for 2024 only concern the Hybrid model as the regular Mazda2 received a facelift last year.

What’s new for 2024 with the Mazda2 Hybrid?

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The biggest changes for the Mazda2 Hybrid can be spotted on the outside. While the previous model was a carbon copy of the Toyota Yaris, save for the badge on the nose, this new version receives a unique front bumper and grille with styling cues shared with other Mazda models. The wheels appear to be new, painted black on this model, and there’s a new body-coloured trim piece spanning between the tail lights below the rear window.

Mazda has given the interior of the Mazda2 Hybrid a light reworking too, with a new touchscreen infotainment display and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. Top-spec models now come with a new digital driver’s display too.

The old model’s Pure, Agile and Select trim levels have been replaced with four new grades, starting with Centre-line and moving up to Exclusive-line, Homura and Homura Plus. The base model starts at £24,130, but upgrading to the Exclusive-line model adds automatically folding mirrors, blind-spot monitoring and front and rear parking sensors. Pay more for the Homura model, and you’ll get the new digital driver’s display, while the top-spec Homura Plus comes with a panoramic sunroof and built-in navigation.

What engines are available for the Mazda2 Hybrid?

As with the outgoing car, Mazda only offers one engine for the Mazda2 Hybrid. It remains unchanged for 2024, the 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor still combining to produce 114bhp. All Mazda2 Hybrids use a CVT automatic gearbox driving the front wheels, pulling the supermini from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds.

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More impressive is the fuel economy, the hybrid system enabling the hatchback to achieve an impressive 74.3mpg when optioned with 15-inch wheels. When starting up, the Mazda2 Hybrid will default to electric-only driving, ideal for low-speed driving around town. If the driver puts their foot down, the car will automatically switch to the petrol engine for extra power. As this is a regular hybrid and not a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the battery is recharged through the car’s onboard energy recovery system, which recuperates energy during deceleration.

How much will the Mazda2 Hybrid cost and when can I order one?

Prices have marginally increased for the Mazda2 Hybrid for 2024, the range kicking off with the Centre-line model at £24,130, increasing to £29,230 for the top-spec Homura Plus. Exclusive-line and Homura models will fall somewhere in between. 

The entry-level Toyota Yaris hybrid starts from £22,630, meaning the Mazda2 Hybrid is the more expensive of the two siblings.

What does this mean for car buyers?

The Mazda2 hybrid is one of the most affordable cars to run in its class, providing strong mpg figures at a lower price than even the cheapest fully-electric superminis. The most obvious competitor to the Mazda2 Hybrid is its own mechanical twin from Toyota, which costs £1,500 less and provides exactly the same driving experience. However, if you’re a fan of the Mazda brand, then that extra cash could be worth it for the new looks.

If you're looking to save money on your car's running costs, be sure to read our list of the top 10 best cheap-to-run cars...