Mazda2 sedan is go for Australia

MAZDA will introduce a booted version of its Mazda2 light car later this year, with confirmation the sedan will return to its Australian line-up.

The third-generation Mazda2 sedan made its debut at the Thailand motor show in November last year, revealing a design that is more scaled-down Mazda3 sedan than the awkward-looking previous-gen model.

Mazda will offer the 2 sedan with the same 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine in two states of tune as the hatch. Entry-level variants get the 79kW/139Nm version, while higher-spec variants are expected to gain the 81kW/141Nm engine.

Both a six-speed manual gearbox and six-speed auto will be available, but it is unclear if Mazda will offer the same three trim levels – Neo, Maxx and Genki – as the hatch.

Exact performance figures and specification details will be held back until closer to launch, but Mazda says it will offer fuel economy as low as 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle.

Arriving in Australian showrooms midway through quarter three this year, the Mazda2 sedan carries the same front-end design as its hatch sibling, but the rear features styling cues from its larger Mazda3 stablemate.

Mazda Australia managing director Martin Benders criticised the design of many light sedans, but said the new-gen Mazda2 offered appealing styling.

“When we first saw the design for the Mazda2 sedan we decided it was a must-have car,” he said.

“Often B-segment sedans can lack style and design flow, but we believe the Mazda2 sedan is the best looking of its type in its segment.

“Having a stylish sedan on sale alongside a sporty hatch provides even more choice to light-car buyers.”GoAuto reported back in November last year that the Mazda2 sedan was under consideration for the Australian market, and would likely be sourced from its Thailand plant.

The second-gen Mazda2 sedan was on the Australian market for less than a year, following its introduction in May 2010.

A switch in production sourcing from Thailand to Japan in early 2011 spelled the end of the booted Mazda, but given it only accounted for 10 per cent of overall Mazda2 sales, it was not seen as a great loss.

The Mazda2 is Australia's best-selling sub-$25,000 light car so far this year, with 4049 units shifted to the end of March, representing a 4.2 per cent boost over the same period in 2014.

It is outselling the Toyota Yaris (3887), last year's top-selling light car the Hyundai i20 (3480), and the Suzuki Swift (3077).