Mazda’s rebadged version of the Toyota Yaris will be sold alongside the existing Mazda 2 supermini and offers up to 74.3mpg
The new hybrid-engined Mazda 2 supermini is on sale in the UK now, with prices starting from £20,300. It’s a new car to Mazda’s line-up, but it should look very familiar to buyers as it’s essentially a rebadged version of the latest Toyota Yaris Hybrid.
The supermini was launched as part of a collaborative venture between Toyota and Mazda, which has the aim of advancing the latter company’s electrification strategy. It’ll become the first full-hybrid model in Mazda’s range when deliveries start in May.
Buyers have a choice of three specifications, called Pure, Agile and Select. Standard equipment for the base-model includes 15-inch steel wheels, automatic windscreen wipers, air-conditioning and a seven-inch infotainment system. There’s also a decent amount of safety equipment, such as a traffic sign recognition system and lane departure warning.
The mid-range Mazda 2 Hybrid Agile has a starting price of £21,150. Improvements over the cheaper Pure specification include 15-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, keyless entry and an eight-inch infotainment system.
This variant can also be upgraded with Mazda’s optional Comfort Pack, which adds £980 to the car’s sticker price. The package adds a range of styling and technology upgrades, such as gloss black bumper trims, a black grille and LED headlights and fog lights. Inside, buyers also get sports seats, synthetic leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control.
The range-topping Mazda 2 Select builds on the Agile model’s equipment with 16-inch alloy wheels, electrically folding door mirrors, a wireless smartphone charger and interior ambient lighting. There’s also some more standard safety technology, such as blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors and parking assist.
New 2022 Mazda 2 Hybrid: design and powertrain
The new Mazda 2 Hybrid will be built by Toyota but marketed by Mazda, helping the latter firm save on development costs yet benefit from reduced fleet average CO2 emissions. The existing, petrol-powered Mazda 2 – which was recently updated for the 2022 model year – will be sold alongside the new hybrid model to offer “customers in the supermini segment the choice of two distinct models, depending on their needs.”
Like the Yaris Hybrid, the Mazda 2 Hybrid is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and a 79bhp electric motor for a total system output of 114bhp. That’s sufficient for a 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds, plus a WLTP-certified combined fuel economy figure of between 70.6mpg and 74.3mpg, with CO2 emissions as low as 87g/km depending on spec.
The Mazda 2 Hybrid will also share the Yaris Hybrid’s capability of running on electric power alone for short periods, blending the two power sources together in normal driving. Regenerative braking helps keep the hybrid system’s small battery topped up during deceleration and braking.
Mazda claims that the 2 Hybrid offers “comfortable accommodation for up to four adults” and a 286-litre boot (which is the same as the Yaris Hybrid). A five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating is also quoted.
Now read about Mazda’s electrification strategy from now until 2025…
Keyword: New 2022 Mazda 2 Hybrid available to order now from £20,300