New look for Mazda2 hatchback

Mazda’s smallest car, the Mazda2, has been handed a miniature makeover, complete with a ‘sportier’ new front grille and sharper bumpers.

The Mazda2 is the most affordable car in the Japanese firm’s stable, sitting alongside the similarly-named but not-to-be-confused-with Mazda2 Hybrid, which has a self-charging hybrid powertrain, very different looks, and has much more in common with the Toyota Yaris.

And while Mazda is taking a fairly hands-off approach to rejuvenating the Mazda2 - arguing that it was already a brilliant little car to begin with - there are a few key changes.

Firstly, the front end looks completely different, coming with redesigned bumpers and a new grille. The rear bumpers have also been restyled.

This was before...

And this is the new look for 2023, as featured on the entry-level 'Centre-Line' model: 

A Mazda spokesperson tells us: “The 2023 Mazda2’s new grille sees the signature Mazda wing surround pass beneath rather than below the number plate, leaving space to accentuate the new sportier lower bumper trim and shape. Additionally, to give a sharper look, the signature wing grille surround cuts into the leading edge of the headlight rather than passing underneath, while asymmetrically placed colour accent tabs feature on the front grille and rear bumper across all models.”

The choice of engines remains the same as previously.

There’s a regular 1.5 litre petrol engine, with power of 75 PS, or there’s a 1.5 litre petrol engine powertrain that’s supported by mild-hybrid technology and which has power of up to 115 PS.

The trim levels have also been tinkered with for 2023.

The old ‘SE-L’, ‘Sport’, GT Sport’ and ‘GT Sport Tech’ have been ditched in favour of four brand new grades: ‘Centre-Line’, ‘Homura’, ‘Exclusive-Line’ and ‘Homura Aka’.

The Centre-Line and Exclusive-Line have a front-end design that features a large coloured panel that spans the lower section of the grill and is said to give the Mazda2 an ‘unmistakable’ look, according to Mazda.

Depending on which paintwork you choose, that new grille panel is either body-coloured or jet black.

And when you step inside the car, a new dash panel for the cabin also corresponds to the shade of colour on the exterior.

The Homura and Homura Aka Mazda2, meanwhile, take a different approach - and are said to be the Mazda2 at its sportiest.

A Mazda spokesperson adds: “The Homura has a black honeycomb grille with a red accent tab, matched to gloss black door mirrors, 16-inch black alloy wheels and a black shark fin roof antenna. At the back, the red accent sits on the lower right hand side of the black bumper trim strip. At the top of the range, the Homura Aka has the same black honeycomb grille with red accent and black mirrors, but features 16-inch black and silver metallic machined alloy wheels and a gloss black roof to further enhance the sporty colour contrasting look.”

The range-topping Homura Aka models also get half leather seats with red accents and a heated leather steering wheel.

Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director Mazda UK, said: “The Mazda2 may be the smallest car we produce, but it has at its heart the same values of style, driver involvement and quality that mark out all our vehicles.”

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