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LIGHT ENTERTAINER
Universally praised for reversing the tide of ever weightier superminis, the Mazda2 loses a couple of doors and a few more kilograms to gain even more dynamism.

Launched a year ago, the Mazda2 has enjoyed great critical success: Car of the Year awards in six European countries, a back catalogue of group test victories and the World Car of the Year gong for 2008. It’s also been a hit with buyers with nearly 7000 finding homes in the UK. Mazda are hoping to capitalise on this success with the launch of the new 3-door version, which they anticipate will be the version of choice for up to half of buyers.

This is actually Mazda’s first crack at a 3-door hatchback since the quite rightly unloved 323 of the mid-90s. That car was about as attractive and desirable as Ann Widdecombe. Thankfully the 3-door banishes those memories, building on the considerable appeal of the already lithe and athletic looks of the 5-door version. It shares the dimensions of the 5-door, but losing those rear doors makes for a sportier profile, the smaller and shallower rear side window emphasising the distinctive rising beltline.

Impressively, practicality hasn’t been sacrificed at the altar of style; barring the loss of 25mm rear shoulder room, the interior is as capacious as the 5-door, with plenty of space up front and a rear bench that can accommodate a couple of 6ft adults. A handy tilt and slide function on the passenger seat combined with longer and wider opening doors means you don’t need to contort yourself into some awkward position to get in either.

The dash remains the same too, so you still get a simple, logical layout and a steering wheel seemingly pinched from the MX-5. The driving position is spot on with a conveniently high-mounted gear level and comfortable seats which conspire with the dash to make you feel as if you’re sitting in the car as opposed to the baby MPV feel of some rivals. The only downside is the less than premium appearance of some of the cabin plastics, although there’s no doubt it’s built to last the distance.

Under the skin, there’s the familiar 1.3, available in 75 and 86bhp flavours, a 1.5 petrol plus the 1.4 diesel as fitted to the test car. It produces a not particularly inspiring (on paper at least) 68bhp. More impressive is the 118 lb ft of torque. This lowly power output shouldn’t be too much of an issue as the Mazda2 owes a significant part of its appeal to its light kerb weight and the benefit it brings in handling, economy and emissions.

The 3-door weighs in between 5-10kg lighter than the equivalent 5-door, meaning the diesel slips in under the ton at 970kg. Hit the road and those benefits are immediately obvious. Over the narrow, sinuous roads of the Swedish countryside, the Mazda2 proved to be a delightfully entertaining companion.

Its agility stands out the most, the lack of inertia really telling during quick changes of direction. Allied to this is sharp steering which offers up a decent amount of feedback and a slick, willing gearbox. It adds up to a fun, confidence inspiring drive, no mean feat for a small hatchback destined to spend time pounding city streets. In fact, those characteristics are what make it such a hoot to throw around its natural habitat of the suburbs.

A 0-60mph time of 15.5 seconds and a top speed that just cracks the ton isn’t going to worry any hot hatches, but decent low-rev torque makes it encouragingly peppy around town and, as long as you think ahead, perfectly adequate for motorways and country roads. The price to pay for all this friskiness is that you’ll hear more engine, wind and road noise than in the likes of a Vauxhall Corsa or Peugeot 207.

Perhaps of more relevance for buyers of this type of car is purchase and running costs. Here the Mazda2 is more than competitive, the entry level TS model coming in a quid under £9k, significantly below the equivalent Clio or Corsa. Equipment levels are fairly basic, but you do get the requisite safety kit (the 5-door version gained the highest 5-star NCAP rating for occupants), central locking, electric windows and a CD-player with a natty auxiliary port between the seats for easy ipod docking. The extra £1500 asked for the TS2 (as tested) buys a/c, alloy wheels and a host of little upgrades such as a cow hide for the steering wheel and gear knob.

A combined fuel economy figure of 65.7mpg is among the best, as is the fact that it spits out a measly 114g of CO2 per kilometre, low enough to comfortably qualify for the £35 per annum car tax band in the UK.

Overall, there’s little between this new 3-door and the established 5-door other than looks and £500 for the extra pair of doors. Both are brilliant small cars. If you need a sober, grown up feel and swathes of soft touch plastics, this is not the car for you. However if you want something to put a smile on your face by simply looking at it or to delight you with it’s joie de vivre as you carve through town, there’s nothing to touch it right now.

Verdict

FOR: A frisky, entertaining drive, dynamic looks and solid eco credentials
AGAINST: Not the best at delivering that big car feel
CONCLUSION: A great little entertainer

Spec

ENGINE: MZR 1.3-litre in-line 4cyl DOHC 16V
Co2 (g/km)/tax: 114
POWER: 68bhp @ 6,000rpm
TORQUE (lb/ft): 118lb ft @ 3,500rpm
0-60mph (sec): 15.5
TOP SPEED: 117mph
MPG: /-/-/65.7 (urban/extra-urban/combined)
TRANSMISSION: 5 speed Manual
WEIGHT: 970 kg
PRICE: £8,999
RIVALS: Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Nissan Note, Mitsubisi Cult, Peugeot 207