CIRCULATING IN WANGARATTA, BENALLA, MYRTLEFORD, BRIGHT, MT BEAUTY, BEECHWORTH, YACKANDANDAH, RUTHERGLEN, CHILTERN AND DISTRICTS
NORTH EAST
May 29, 2015
available online - wangarattachronicle.com.au
PRINTED FORTNIGHTLY — VOLUME 474
Classy Sonata Storypage3
MAZDA’S BABY: It is the best drive of the company’s passenger range.
Mazda2 really is an excellent little car M
azda’s 2 has been doing the business in the light car segment for a long, long time. The previous car felt like it had been around for yonks, almost as long as Toyota’s seeminglyunchanging Yaris. The old car was quite good, but shared the failings of its bigger brothers, namely sub-par noise suppression and some dodgy interior materials. Mazda has slowly been sorting that out across its entire passenger range, with big gains in the Mazda6, the Mazda3 and CX SUVs.
By PETER ANDERSON The new ‘2 has to tread the line between affordability and respectability in a fiercely fought part of the market. At $16,990, the base model Neo automatic is $2000 more than the manual, comfortably under-cutting most of its French and German rivals, while also crowding the more expensive versions of cars like the Mitsubishi Mirage. It’s about right when compared with its compatriots. Your money buys you a four-speaker stereo
with Bluetooth and USB, airconditioning, cloth seats, keyless entry and start, power windows all round and a basic black interior. The wheels are steel but have reasonably attractive covers that make you look twice to check they aren’t actually alloys. When new, anyway. There are just two options - the very pretty Soul Red metallic for an uncommonly reasonable $200 and Smart City Brake Support for $400. Kodo design is a terrific look on almost everything Mazda makes. There’s some lovely
creasing and surfacing on the ‘2 that, if the designers had got carried away, could look busy. But in typical Mazda style, it’s restrained, resulting in a fine-looking little car. The chrome grille surround and bodycoloured bits and pieces ensure that you don’t look like a cheapskate. Inside is well-constructed, with a hardy cloth trim that polarised opinion. Some liked it, some found it a bit coarse but all agreed the front seats were especially comfortable, with good adjustment options.
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