2020 Mazda 2 facelift detailed: higher-tech, higher price

Mazda has today unveiled a facelift for the ever-popular Mazda 2, the update brings tweaked styling, more tech and all-important safety features, while ushering in a considerable price rise for the dainty sedan and hatch.

Although the updates have moved the 2 upmarket, it still plays against mid-to-top spec variants of the Honda Jazz, Kia Rio and the Toyota Yaris. However, it’s obvious Mazda are now targeting the more premium Volkswagen Polo.

Watch our video walkaround of the 2020 Mazda 2 by clicking ‘play’ above

Styling has been tweaked outside and in, with Mazda exercising seventh-gen Kodo design language, most notably on the nose. The new wider grille looks great with the updated chrome surround flowing more naturally to underscore standard LED headlights. Gone are the circular fog lights too, replaced on the range-topping GT with LED strips that double as daytime running lights.

Pictured here is Mazda’s soul red paint colour which has become a signature over the last few years and is one of the brand’s most popular colours. You can see why in real life, there’s a really pleasing deepness to the metallic ruby red.

All variants now receive a full suite of safety tech including low-speed front and rear AEB, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert, Mazda execs say they have dropped the base model Neo from the Australian line-up as it foregoes these key safety features.

The range now starts at $20,990 (driveaway pricing not yet available) for the G15 Pure manual, that’s a $5,420, or 35%, increase over the now defunct Neo.

However the increased price does mean the G15 Pure variant is now packed with plenty of tech including wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a centrally mounted 7-inch touch-screen with navigation, 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless go, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob connected to a six-speed manual gearbox (the automatic adds $2,000), reverse camera and classy-looking brown cloth appointed seats.

The mid-spec Evolve variant replaces the Genki at $24,490 (driveaway pricing not yet available), adding a six-speed automatic gearbox, 16-inch alloy wheels, navy cloth fabric, climate control, extra chrome exterior trim and traffic sign recognition as standard.

The range-topping $25,990 (driveaway pricing not yet available) GT retains its moniker and is auto-only, with leather and faux-suede appointed seats, front parking sensors, high-gloss 16-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights and radar-guided cruise control, it’s got impressive levels of kit for a Mazda 2.

Both hatch and sedan body-shapes are available in Pure and GT variants, while the mid-spec Evolve is hatch-only.

Along with refreshed interior materials, Mazda claims to have worked on making the front seats more comfortable by adjusting spring rates and cushion placement to create more comfy pews and after sitting in them briefly we reckon they’ve done a great job.

Interior design has been updated slightly too, it looks very contemporary Mazda and fits in with freshly updated 3 and all-new CX-30.

There is now only one engine tune option, a carry-over 1.5-litre Skyactiv G unit producing reasonable outputs of 82kW and 144Nm, but more importantly, we know it’s a revvy and willing little unit. Fuel consumption figures are impressive, with the manual promising 5.4l/100km and the auto boasting slightly more frugality at 5.3l/100km.

For the $5,420 increase in entry price we need to find out how the updated more premium Mazda 2 will fare against some of its toughest rivals, so stay tuned for a full road-test soon.

2020 Mazda 2 Pricing

All prices are before on-road costs

G15 Pure Manual $20,990 (up $2,660)
G15 Pure Auto $22,990 (up $2,660)
G15 Evolve Auto $24,490 (up $1,100)
G15 GT Auto $25,990 (up $1,590)