Mazda2 hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2

With seemingly every other car manufacturer using small turbocharged petrol engines that are much more efficient than what they've replaced, Mazda goes its own way. It employs what it calls Skyactiv-G technology to get the most out of its relatively large 1.5-litre petrol engine. In comparison, the turbocharged Ford EcoBoost engine range starts at just a 1.0-litre capacity. For this facelifted model, Mazda has introduced mild-hybrid technology on most manual cars, with a 24-volt electrical system supporting the engine and allowing the stop-start system to engage sooner. It saves a little bit of fuel but doesn’t offer any electric-only driving.

Rather confusingly, there’s also a separate model called the Mazda2 Hybrid, which has a bigger battery and can run on electric power in town. It’s not just the same car with a different engine; the new Mazda2 Hybrid is a rebadged Toyota Yaris. While it’s more expensive to buy, it promises to be more economical than the car reviewed here, offering up to 74.3mpg according to official figures.

Mazda2 MPG & CO2

The Mazda2 offers three versions of a 1.5-litre petrol engine, producing 74bhp, 89bhp and 113bhp respectively. Impressively, the middle option promises up to 60.1mpg, with the 74bhp and 113bhp engines not far behind on 58.9mpg and 56.5mpg respectively. However, the absence of turbocharging means the power is only available at high revs, so you may struggle to reach those figures in real-world driving.

CO2 emissions stand at 107-109g/km for a 74bhp or 89bhp car with a manual gearbox, giving a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band for company-car drivers. Only the 89bhp engine can be chosen with an automatic gearbox and this reduces fuel economy to 52.3mpg, while CO2 emissions increase to 122g/km, putting the car in a higher BiK bracket.

Insurance group

Insurance groups for the Mazda2 range from 13 for the entry-level petrol to 16 for the top-of-the range models. This is quite high for a supermini as its chief rival – the Ford Fiesta – sits in insurance groups five to 15.

Warranty

Mazda’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty is average for the industry, with Kia offering full cover for seven years or 100,000 miles. Mazda will extend the duration of the warranty, but the cost is specific to the car you wish to cover.

Servicing

Mazda offers fixed-price servicing and covers the car for three years or 37,500 miles. The company also has service plans that let you pay for your car’s maintenance in monthly instalments arranged with your dealer.