Mazda2 receives a facelift for 2020

THE Mazda2 is in for a late-life facelift that will replicate many of the refinements and technology updates that were applied to the CX-3 small SUV last September – and it could arrive in Australian showrooms before the end of this year.

A Mazda Australia spokesperson told GoAuto that the company is “expecting an update to the Mazda2” and that the revised light car “should come through before Q1 2020”. However, specifications, pricing and variants are yet to be confirmed for this market.

Revealed in hatchback form for the Japanese market this week, the smallest Mazda has lost some of its cutesy snub-nosed looks in favour of the sleeker style that has been progressively introduced to the CX-5 mid-size SUV, CX-3 and most recently the Mazda3 small hatch and sedan.

Supplied images show this new-found maturity is carried through to a classier cabin design with increased use of tactile stitched leather and suede-like materials, similar to those now used in up-spec CX-3 variants, but with colour schemes that Mazda says maintain this junior model’s sense of “playfulness”.

Mazda claims to have continued improving the Mazda2’s cabin quietness – delving into the science of human hearing in an attempt to reduce overall noise levels while targeting specific sounds that affect comfort – along with upgrades to ride smoothness, handling stability, throttle response and seat comfort.

Technology levels are also stepped up with the addition of adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and adaptive headlights that deploy 20 individually controlled LED blocks to “help drivers perceive dangers earlier when driving at night”.

Electric driver’s seat adjustment with memory functionality for its position along with that of the head-up display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, a self-dimming interior mirror and fuel-saving regenerative braking have also been introduced.

How much of this is introduced to Australian-delivered models remains to be seen, in what is a price-sensitive segment compared to the Japanese market. The availability of new technologies may also be affected by the fact Australia sources the Mazda2 from Thailand, rather than Japan.

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with six-speed manual and automatic transmission choices remain under the Mazda2 bonnet, although Japan also gets all-wheel-drive and 1.8-litre diesel options.

One notable change for this update is that Japan will ditch the Demio nameplate in favour of the Mazda2 moniker used globally.

The third-generation Mazda2 hatch launched Down Under in October 2014 and sedan versions were added the following August. A mid-life update was applied in April 2017, so the 2020 model is expected to be its final refresh before an all-new model arrives in the next couple of years.

It is the second most popular light car in Australia after the Hyundai Accent, with 5017 sales to the end of June this year earning it a 14.7 per cent market share, although sales were down 13 per cent in a segment that declined 11.3 per cent overall.

Mazda’s light car is its fourth-best seller after the Mazda3 small car, CX-5 mid-size SUV and CX-3 small SUV.