Mazda 2 review

There’s a good range of adjustment to the seat and steering wheel, including driver’s seat-height adjustment on all versions, so even tall drivers should be able to get comfortable. Some people will want more lower-back support on long journeys, however.

Adjustable lumbar support can’t be added as an option on any Mazda 2, but that’s in line with most of its rivals. At least the pedals line up nicely with the driver’s seat so the driver isn’t forced to sit at an awkward angle.

The Mazda 2’s windscreen is a good shape and size meaning forward vision is very good. Similarly, the side windows are large enough and the 2’s window line low enough that there isn’t much neck-craning needed at roundabouts and T-junctions. Rear visibility is less generous, because the 2’s sloping roofline and styled rear end means smaller rear windows and a smaller-than-average rear screen. Unfortunately rear parking sensors aren’t available as an option on the two lower trims, but they are standard on the top two. Range topping GT and GT Sport cars get a rearview camera as standard, too, but front sensors don’t feature at all.

One of the 2’s best features is its fantastic infotainment system, available on SE-L versions and above. It consists of a rotary dial between the front seats and a 7.0-inch touchscreen. You can control the system either via the touchscreen, in which case scrolling around the various menus is extremely easy, or the rotary controller. Entry-level cars get a simple monochrome display controlled via rotary dials and buttons instead.

Choose SE-L trim or above, and you’ll be rewarded with a great-looking cabin. The dashboard is a lot cleaner and less cluttered than many rivals’. Round, Audi-style air vents help it to look stylish, too.

The soft-touch materials on the dashboard feel surprisingly classy, although some other bits of the interior feel rather low-rent, particularly the area around the USB socket in front of the gearlever, and the fake carbonfibre on the inside of the doors.