2024 Mazda 2 G15 GT review

The Mazda 2 GT is the Queen (or King) of the Mazda 2 range.

It sits tall and pretty with its sporty interior and exterior finishes, but comes with a price tag when compared to other rival top-spec models.

It has certainly had plenty of rivals over the years – we can’t forget the car is almost 10 years old. Mazda seems to just keep adding new bits to an old car.

I couldn’t look past the head-up display, small infotainment display and laggy software, but there is also a lot to love about this pint-sized hatch.

I will admit the Mazda 2 commands a presence on the road that very few similarly sized cars have. On the road It also feels confident and able at high speeds. I even dared to take it on some seriously questionable dirt roads (thanks to Melbourne’s rain) and I was able to pull through without any hassle.

Being at the launch of the Mazda 2 gave me a feel for the entire range; however, having a two-week stint in this top-spec car perhaps changed my mind on which spec I would recommend.

Let’s get into it…

How does the Mazda 2 fare vs its competitors?

View a detailed breakdown of the Mazda 2 against similarly sized vehicles.

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Mazda 2

How much does the Mazda 2 G15 GT cost?

The Mazda 2 GT is one of the pricier variants available within the small hatch segment.

2024 Mazda 2 pricing:

• 2024 Mazda 2 G15 Pure manual hatch: $22,720
• 2024 Mazda 2 G15 Pure automatic hatch: $24,720
• 2024 Mazda 2 G15 Pure automatic sedan: $24,720
• 2024 Mazda 2 G15 Pure SP hatch: $25,520
• 2024 Mazda 2 G15 Evolve hatch: $26,220
• 2024 Mazda 2 G15 GT hatch: $27,920

All prices are before on-road costs

To see how the Mazda 2 GT compares with its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any car you want using our comparison tool.

What is the Mazda 2 G15 GT like on the inside?

Being the flagship GT, Mazda has added some special touches to justify its near $30,000 asking price.

The GT gets black leather and suede trim for the seats and door inserts with red stitching. The front seats have a dotted racing stripe pattern.

The combination seats are superior to the cheaper Mazda 2 Pure’s grey cloth seats. This makes a difference on long road trips and when you’re stuck in traffic.

The instrument cluster has a mix of digital and analogue readouts. It feels a little outdated, especially compared to the Toyota Yaris and Suzuki Swift, which both offer a digital display (albeit small in the Swift), but both still have a more contemporary feel.

As mentioned earlier, the current Mazda 2 is almost 10 years old, and to put it simply, the interior feels like it.

Tech inside the Mazda 2 is a far cry from the latest and greatest. The CX-3, which is essentially a Mazda 2 on stilts, gets a larger 8.0-inch infotainment screen that would go a long way in modernizing the Mazda 2 GT.

The reverse camera looks like it hasn’t been updated since the car launched. I will give it some kudos for having a 360-degree view camera, which didn’t have any improved quality either, but would be a great assistance tool for young or mature people who might struggle with parking.

The vehicle’s interior appears very simple but that’s unlikely to disappoint its target audience, though said target audience is going to want certain connectivity features, however.

The centre tunnel features two USB-A ports; one for Apple CarPlay connectivity, an SD card reader, a 12V socket, and in case you forgot what an AUX cable looked like – there’s one of those too.

The chrome inserts around the edges of the climate controls and transmission shifter look nice; they elevate the cabin alongside the upholstery.

The infotainment controller and buttons surrounding it are good, they are easy to reach and easy to navigate when my eyes are on the road.

On the right-hand side of the driver, there is a series of buttons that will deactivate certain safety and tech features as well as access the camera.

Having recently reviewed the CX-3, which features a handy auto-hold function, it was a bit upsetting the flagship Mazda 2 keeps its manual handbrake, even after its minor facelift.

The back seat is adequate for a small hatchback. It won’t fit everyone but for short journeys or travelling with a couple of passengers, there is enough room. I drove down to the Yarra Valley with three friends and while the front passenger seat was reserved for the tallest person, the remaining passengers didn’t have any issues during the one hour journey.

The Mazda 2 comes with a space-saving spare tyre and tools to get you back on the road. I changed a Mazda 2 wheel at the launch of the hatchback earlier this year, and it proved to be fairly easy – which is a good thing.

There are three anchor points and two ISOFIX points for those travelling with children. I wasn’t able to fit three car seats across the back row, nor fit a full-size pram in the boot.

For those who are looking to install a baby capsule, I recommend doing so on the front passenger side so as to not disturb the driver’s seating position.

The Mazda 2 does feature a head-up display. Although not directly displayed on the windscreen it’s very welcome and handy.

The updated styling would go largely unnoticed unless you were already familiar with the Mazda 2 – but at least felt nice and like a spray of fresh water: pleasant enough but not enough to quench your desire for a new interior.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Mazda 2’s pint-sized 1.5-litre petrol engine is on par with other light hatchbacks like the Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift and MG 3.

How does the Mazda 2 G15 GT drive?

Although it only boasts 81kW and 142Nm, the Mazda 2 has enough punch to keep up with traffic. I found that with the GT particularly, highway stints were handled adequately.

It confidently held its own at high speeds, but did growl at times as it made its way up the gears. On longer drives it wasn’t too uncomfortable considering its size, however in stop-start traffic the lack of auto-hold was frustrating.

I did find the leather seats made a difference in comparison to the cloth upholstery of lower grades. Nice touch by Mazda.

I drove the Mazda 2 in the country and city, including on dirt and muddy roads, and while I was worried Melbourne’s downpour may cause the little hatchback to get bogged – it didn’t.

The car, which was packed full of people and the stuff girls bring to a festival, glided out with ease.

Around corners the little hatchback felt confident and competent. Driving over potholes naturally was a little rough given the small size of the car.

The safety systems were very responsive and not intrusive. The systems felt like they wanted to work with you and not against you. I felt as though I was in control the whole time.

In a world where a lot of new safety systems are installed just to keep up with ANCAP and other safety ratings, it really was a nice change to know the systems were there to assist and not override me while driving.

What do you get?

G15 Pure highlights:

• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• LED headlights
• Automatic headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 7.0-inch infotainment screen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wired Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped shifter and handbrake
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• 6-speaker sound system
• Keyless start
• Air-conditioning
• Power windows
• 1 x 12V outlet
• 2 x USB outlet

G15 Pure SP adds:

• 16-inch black-finish alloy wheels
• Carbon fibre-style roof
• Shark fin antenna
• Chrome exhaust extension
• Black exterior mirrors

G15 Evolve adds over Pure:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Black mesh-style grille
• LED daytime running lights
• Climate control air-conditioning
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Colour head-up display
• Satellite navigation
• Red stitching details
• Traffic sign recognition

G15 GT adds:

• Keyless entry
• Black leather/Grand Luxe suede upholstery with red highlights
• Front parking sensors
• Surround-view camera
• Adaptive cruise control

Is the Mazda 2 G15 GT safe?

The Mazda 2 had a five-star rating from ANCAP, but as this was based on testing conducted in 2015 and it has now expired.

All models come standard with the following equipment:

• Autonomous emergency braking (forward, reverse)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera

G15 Evolve and above get traffic sign recognition, while the G15 GT gains a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control.

How much does the Mazda 2 G15 GT cost to run?

The Mazda 2 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, with the first five services capped at $334, $526, $396, $526 and $334.

CarExpert’s Take on the Mazda 2 G15 GT

It’s still fit for purpose.

Mazda has managed to continuously increase the price of its Mazda 2 over the last few years, and for what it’s priced at now I can understand why some people would overlook the Mazda 2 for rivals within the segment.

The Mazda 2 tends to be a first or a last car. Mazda says some drivers who purchase a Mazda 2 will then go on to purchase larger Mazda vehicles throughout their lives, which I can understand.

It’s a nice first taste of what is on offer at Mazda, without being overloaded with features and luxury like the brand’s latest SUVs like the CX-60 or CX-90.

If this is a first car there’s nothing wrong with it. It drives well, and has enough features to give you what you need day-to-day; however the price tag of the GT is what shakes me a little.

Being 18 or 19 years old and spending almost $30,000 (once you add on-road costs) on a car that is almost 10 years old doesn’t seem right. There are new generations of the MG 3 and Suzuki Swift coming to Australia in the next 12-18 months which I would consider test driving.

I can’t fault the drivability or safety of the Mazda 2; however, I am not completely sold. The GT does add a lot of kit on top of the Evolve, so if that’s appealing to you it’s a good fit – if you can afford the extra spend.

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BUY: Mazda 2
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