New Mazda2: price, release date and specs

Next year is set to see one of the biggest small hatchback launches for some time, when the rejuvenated Mazda brings us the brand new Mazda2. The Mazda Hazumi Concept, which was shown at the Geneva Motor Show, gives us an excellent idea of what we can expect.

Mazda has a record of previewing new models with close-to-production concepts. Step forward the Mazda Miangi Concept, which closely mirrored the production Mazda CX-5 and the Mazda Takeri Concept – a near-carbon copy of the new Mazda6.

Lose some of the fancy touches on the Hazumi, then – including the expensive-to-manufacturer wing mirrors, door handles and show-car interior – and what’s left will be very similar to the car that will go on sale next year.

It uses the same Kodo design language that has been applied on the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6, so it gets a striking pentagonal grille, sharply styled headlights, pronounced wheelarches, and a sloping roofline.

That means we’re not only going to get a smart-looking new hatchback, but also one that offers class-leading space thanks to the new car’s bigger dimensions.

Mazda2 price and release date

The new Mazda2 is set to make its full debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, which means it’s on schedule for an on-sale date in the first half of next year.

Mazda’s classy new models – including the CX-5 and Mazda6 – have seen the company position itself above manufacturers such as Ford and Vauxhall, and the Mazda2 is expected to be priced closer to the Volkswagen Polo, which starts from around £10,500.

Mazda2 specification & engines

Anyone that’s kept up with Mazda’s recent model launches will know we could be in for quite a treat with the Mazda2. The company has been rolling out segment leaders – in the form of the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 – and the Mazda2 is to continue this excellent form.

Mazda is telling us that the Mazda2 will be the most spacious car in its class and the Huzumi concept is bigger than the old model in every department. It’s the car’s wheelbase – the space between the front and rear wheels, which governs interior space – that gives us the biggest clue. It’s longer than a Ford Fiesta’s, for more rear legroom, and the car's added length should also mean it gets a bigger boot.

As with the rest of the range, the Mazda’s interior will be constructed from high-quality plastics, with a driver-focussed dashboard

The 2 will use Mazda’s SkyActiv engine technology, which gives strong economy and low CO2 emissions figures, at seemingly no cost to performance.

The Huzumi Concept features a new 1.5-litre diesel engine that will mean the new Mazda2 is free to tax, capable of more than 80mpg, and also conforms to tough new emissions regulations.

The car should also get the 1.5-litre petrol that features in the Mazda3 range. It would give nippy performance, return more than 55mpg, and cost £30 to tax per year.

Mazda has told Carbuyer that it has no plans to build a fast hot hatchback version, but you can expect the new model to be fun to drive, as the company plays on the image forged over the years by the Mazda MX5 sports car.

Mazda2 tech

The new Mazda2 will get Mazda’s MZD Connect voice recognition, which aims to give the driver control of systems such as the car’s stereo and sat-nav. The same technology can be used to dictate text messages and have inbound messages read aloud.

Safety will also be top of the Mazda2’s agenda, and from 2015 new models will need autonomous braking fitted across the range to gain a coveted five-star rating from Euro NCAP.

Find out more about the current Mazda range, by reading the Carbuyer Mazda reviews page.