Mazda 2. A smart choice for a big city
Mazda 2 is a B-class subcompact car from the Japanese automaker, Mazda. It has been produced as a sedan and a 5-door hatchback. But the very first Mazda 2 had a 3-door hatchback body.
As for 2020, there are 3 generations of Mazda 2 on the market, each of which has its own restyled version. It is considered to have been released for the first time in 2003. But, to be precise, the production of Mazda 2 for the Japanese market began back in 1996, and then this car was known under the name ‘Mazda Demio’.
The first generation
Since a number of Mazda’s shares belonged to Ford, a joint decision was made in the 2000s to develop a common platform for B-class cars. And the initiative came from the Ford division in Brazil, which urgently needed a new B-class car. This is how the completely redesigned Demio appeared. It was presented in 2003. The model was based on the DY platform, a joint development of the Japanese and Americans. The same platform, based on the Mazda’s DY platform (called the ‘B3’ by Ford), was used to build the Ford Fiesta. And the ‘first’ Mazda 2 was produced by the Spanish plant of the Ford company, located in Valencia.
The ‘Demio’ name was retained in the Japanese market, but for other countries this name was changed to Mazda 2. Since its debut in 2003, the sales of the Mazda 2 were great, and it ranked 7th on the list of best-selling cars in Japan. And this year is considered to be the starting point of the first generation Mazda 2, produced until 2007. In 2005, the first generation Mazda 2 was restyled for the first time. This restyling was primarily focused on the exterior and interior of the car.
The second generation
The second generation Mazda 2 entered the market in 2007 and was produced until 2014, while its restyling took place in 2010. The ‘second’ Mazda 2 was built on the DE platform, just like the 6th generation Ford Fiesta. The DE platform used lightweight materials, thereby reducing the weight and size of the vehicle. In 2008, the ‘second’ Mazda 2 was presented as a sedan for the first time. The compact car turned out to be beautiful, bold and dynamic, and deservedly won the Best Car of 2008 Award. The second generation Mazda 2 had an improved interior, a redesigned body style and a higher level of driving comfort. By the way, interestingly, Mazda 2 was ranked second among the most reliable used cars of 2019 in the rating of the German Association for Technical Supervision (VdTUV) in the age category ‘from 10 to 11 years’.
Mazda 2 was ranked second among the most reliable used cars of 2019 in the rating of the German Association for Technical Supervision (VdTUV) in the age category ‘from 10 to 11 years’.
The third generation
The third generation Mazda 2 was presented in 2014, while its restyled version was released in 2019. The modern Mazda 2 is available as a sedan and a 5-door hatchback. The latest generation is distinguished by a high level of safety, having received 86% for the safety of an adult passenger, 78% for a child and 84% for pedestrian safety during the Euro NCAP crash test.
Thanks to its compact size, the Mazda 2 is the best choice for big cities. Stylish, modern and dynamic, the new Mazda 2 has the compact head optics with lenses and LED inserts, neat headlights, flat roof, sloping hood and large wheel disks. The interior of the restyled Mazda 2 of 2019 is spacious and ergonomic. The manufacturers have correctly placed the seats and used improved materials for their finishing.
