IF you’ve ever looked at the Mazda2 Hybrid and thought, “Hang on a minute, that looks suspiciously like a Toyota Yaris,” then congratulations—you have excellent powers of observation. Because it is a Toyota Yaris, just with Mazda badges slapped on the front and back (oh, and one on the steering wheel).
So, what were Mazda up to a couple of years ago? Couldn’t they be bothered designing a small hybrid? Well, I suppose a bit of “why reinvent the wheel?” was going on and since Toyota and Mazda share a lot of tech and resources anyway, why not just take the shortcut?
However, this latest version of the Mazda2 Hybrid has managed to establish its own Mazdariness courtesy of a new front grille and bumper that will make it feel more “Zoom-Zoom” rather than just an in-comer. The rear end has had some work too – a subtle change of profile and a body-coloured panel between the lights.
It is available in four trims: Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line, Homura and Homura Plus. The Centre-Line is the entry-level option, starting from £24,135 but still gets the likes of 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a reversing camera and a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Exclusive-Line (from £25,390) adds 16-inch alloys, climate control, and a smart keyless entry system, while the posher Homura spec (from £27,290) gives 17-inch alloys, sporty styling details, dual-zone air con, sports front seats, and 7in digital dash.
Top spec Homura Plus (from £29,240) will add some leather seat trim, a larger 10.5-inch touch-screen with built-in Sat Nav, a head-up display, larger 12.3-inch digital dash and a panoramic roof with retractable blind.
Both the Mazda and Toyota are priced very similarly, depending on trim levels and deals at the time. However, don’t expect the Mazda to be any cheaper just because it’s in disguise . . . it often isn’t.
Miura or Minger?
Well, if you like the way the Toyota Yaris looks, you may like the Mazda2 Hybrid even more as it has a better front-end design now – less Gru-like pointy nose and more friendly happy-face.
What more can be said? It’s a cutesy, well-established and pleasing shape – no matter which badge is on the front.
How Does It Drive?
Underneath the bonnet, the Mazda 2 Hybrid and Toyota Yaris Hybrid are identical. Both have a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor, producing 114bhp.
It’s nippy enough for city driving and can even hold its own on the motorway, though don’t expect thrilling performance—it’s a small hybrid, not a hot hatch; although a Mazda equivalent of the Toyota GR Yaris would be very welcome indeed.
Fuel economy is excellent at around 70mpg if you drive sensibly (which, let’s be honest, most owners will).
It’s agile, smooth, and easy to manoeuvre, making it ideal for tight city streets and busy town centres. The light steering makes low-speed handling effortless, perfect for weaving through traffic or squeezing into awkward parking spots.
I took a couple of passengers on a trip to Glasgow city centre and the 50-odd mile trip in the Mazda2 Hybrid Homura didn’t involve any grumbles from either passenger – despite them both being over 6ft tall. The rear passenger was sat a little sideways though – something he wouldn’t have been able to do had there been a 3rd passenger.
Despite the trip being in the depths of winter, in the dark and during rush-hour traffic, I found the little Mazda2 Hybrid was a relaxing place to be. Easy to drive with everything where you would expect and physical buttons for the functions that you would want physical buttons for – i.e. climate and volume. Oh, and “Bing-Bongs” are easily switched off without having to navigate deeply into the infotainment screen. Bonus.
There are 3 drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport. You can also select EV if you want to run on battery alone but range is restricted and harder accelerations will kick in the engine (although you’ll hardly notice at lower speeds). On the motorway the ride remained stable, but wind and road noise were more noticeable, albeit perfectly acceptable.
The hybrid system delivers decent acceleration for short bursts, but overtaking on a fast-moving A-road requires a bit of planning. The CVT gearbox, while great for efficiency, can feel strained under heavy acceleration, producing a characteristic drone that’s not exactly music to the ears.
However, if you drive it as it was designed to be driven and leave your lead boots at home, the Mazda2 Hybrid is effortless at getting you from A to B. We managed an impressive 62 mpg on the night and overall, for the rest of the week, around 58 mpg with some very mixed driving.
What’s the Inside Story?
The interior of the Mazda 2 Hybrid is nearly identical to the Yaris, meaning it’s functional if uninspiring, a little plasticky but ultimately well put together and very easy to use.
There’s more storage bins and useful flat surfaces than you might expect and all the modern tech you’ll need. There’s a touchscreen infotainment system that is responsive and simple to navigate around, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard.
The digital dash is configurable, albeit not massively, while the seat and steering wheel are configurable enough to find the perfect driving position. The chunky wheel feels good in the hands and the integrated controls for the likes of media and cruise control are good, solid, physical buttons with none of your haptic, touch-and-slide nonsense.
In terms of safety there is an impressive amount of kit, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and road sign recognition. Visibility is good, and ther A-pillars are thin enough to not cause any problems at junctions. Even the rear view is decent.
As mentioned previously, rear space is okay for a couple of adults if you’re not travelling too far, but would be fine for kids. With the rear doors wide open, I thought the space for climbing in and out of was a little awkwardly shaped and not ideal if you need to be regularly leaning in to adjust child-seats, etc. Could just be my age though . . .
You’re probably not expecting a huge boot space but 286 litres ain’t bad for a smart city car and it’s a well-shaped space with no awkwardness. Don’t expect any space for a spare wheel though – the extra battery and hybrid systems have taken care of that, I’m afraid.
Conclusion
If you love Mazda as a brand and want to drive a smartly-engineered small hybrid, then the Mazda 2 Hybrid makes a lot of sense. However, you’d be crazy not to at least take a look at the current prices of the Toyota Yaris. They’re the same car.
If you can find a good deal on a Mazda 2 Hybrid then go for it; it’s an excellent little car with all the hybrid goodness of the Yaris but with better looks – from the front, at least.
Just don’t expect to feel like you’re driving anything different from your neighbour’s Toyota.
- AT A GLANCE:
- Mazda2 Hybrid Homura
- OTR Price: £27,290
- Engine: 1.5 petrol/electric Hybrid
- Power: 114 bhp
- Transmission: e-CVT Automatic
- 0-62mph: 9.7 secs
- Top Speed: 109 mph
- Combined Economy: 67.3 mpg
- C02: 98 g/km
