Gone are the days when the main feature you wanted your car to have is electric windows and a radio. The features of the past are now standard and now there are loads of new features which a new car buyer would certainly want to have.
Since I get to drive different cars, I have put together a list of what I would want my personal car to have. It can be hard to find exactly what I you want but the Mazda 2 definitely ticks all the boxes.
So for a week I drove the 2015 Mazda 2 Dynamic Auto and I had the chance to play around with all its nifty features. The Mazda 2 won the car of the year, in its class, and I will now tell you why!
Mazda have used the ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design in their latest range of vehicles. According to Mazda a car isn’t simply a mass of metal. Mazda believes their cars are like a living creature. Through their design, Mazda hopes to create an emotional bond between the driver and the car. Looking at the front of the Mazda 2, you will feel like the grille is about to pounce forward like a wild animal. The curves run up the bonnet and along the side which adds to the overall pounce effect.
The rear of the Mazda 2 has sharp edges and a single chrome exhaust. I really like the rear of the Mazda 2, though others will be looking at it more than you 🙂
We all love shoes and the mags of a car are always looked at. The black and silver mags really suit the Mazda 2 sportiness.
So getting back to that list. The first for me is the sound of the car. The Mazda 2 has a really good sound too it. It kind of sounds like a sports car but you have the benefits and fuel efficiency of a hatchback. The 1.5 Liter engine with up to 88 kW of power and 145Nm of torque gives a really nippy ride. I must say I totally was taken a back with the amount of oomph the vehicle has. The first time I walk up to the vehicle I admired the outside but didn’t know what to expect. Once I turned on the ignition, using the start button, which is another must have on the list, I knew I was in for a ride. I once had four passengers with me and they were really impressed that the Mazda 2 stood its ground even with more weight.
Getting into the vehicle is easy. With the key in your pocket, simply press the button on the door handle and the car simply unlocks. This is another one to add to the list!
Being a music lover, the radio console is an important one for me. I need to be able to easily browse music on my USB drive and have an overall great DJ and music experience. Out of all the cars I have driven, the Mazda 2 interface has to be the best. It takes a couple of minutes to figure out the setup but once you have it, you will be able to easily browse and play your tunes using the 7-inch touch screen! The 6 speakers provide an excellent audio experience. Music can be played via an aux cable, USB or via a mobile phone using Bluetooth. You can also use the center console as a hands free kit to answer calls safely while driving. The steering wheel also has various buttons which allow you to change volume and songs etc. as well as answer calls.
The black interior with silver and carbon fiber detailing makes you feel like you are in a sports car. The leather seats with red detailing are comfortable and keep you in place. The leather detailing on the steering wheel, hand break and gear knob give a nice touch to the driving experience.
While Manuel can be fun when you first start driving you will soon realize the benefits of an automatic. The Mazda 2 has a trip tonic gearbox which allows you to shift the gear into Manuel mode and then you can change gears manually. Since there is no clutch, the gear changes are much quicker than a normal Manuel. So this is another feature to add to the list!
Lastly, I always prefer to push in my mirrors so other vehicles or cyclists do not knock them. Having self-folding mirrors really saves loads of time. Yet again, this is another one to the ad to the list.
The Mazda 2 has to be one of the best priced vehicles in its class. Starting from R188k and up to R259K for the highest model, the Mazda 2 provides the most bang for your buck.
As you can see there are loads of nifty features that the Mazda 2 has that are important to have in a vehicle. From the sounds of the engine to the easy to use center console, the Mazda 2 is a great vehicle to drive. It has a really good price point and you will not get another vehicle with all its features and performance for the same price. The Mazda 2 ticks all the boxes for me and I am definitely looking at getting one for myself in the near future.
