The 2022 Mazda 2 range will gain a new G15 Pure SP variant, which offers various cosmetic tweaks but no extra performance.
Changes to the hatchback and sedan range are otherwise limited to new paint colours and standard rear seat belt reminders, with model year 2022 cars going on sale in Australia towards the end of 2021.
Pricing has yet to be revealed. We’ll publish a full price and specs article when this becomes available.
Pictured: G15 Pure SP in Polymetal
Based on the entry-level G15 Pure hatchback, which accounts for around half of Mazda 2 sales, the G15 Pure SP gains black 16-inch alloy wheels, black exterior mirrors, a black grille and a chrome exhaust extension.
Inside, it features black cloth upholstery with red highlights instead of the brown/black cloth trim of the G15 Pure.
The new trim level won’t be available with the less popular sedan body style, which during the first seven months of 2021 only accounted for 13.1 per cent of total Mazda 2 sales.
It will also be available only with the six-speed automatic transmission.
Pictured: G15 GT sedan in Platinum Quartz
The Mazda 2 is the latest model in the Japanese automaker’s range to receive a sporty-looking SP variant, following the CX-5, CX-8 and CX-9.
Elsewhere in the Mazda 2 range, Platinum Quartz Metallic will be available on the sedan and hatch while Polymetal Grey, previously exclusive to the hatchback, will be available on the sedan.
These join the existing Machine Grey and Soul Red Crystal metallic options, with Sonic Silver metallic and Deep Crystal Blue, Jet Black and Snowflake White pearl mica options offered at no extra cost.
The G15 Evolve hatch will continue to come with navy blue cloth trim, while the G15 GT hatch and sedan will still feature blue/grey leather and synthetic suede trim.
Pictured: Platinum Quartz metallic. Overseas model shown.
All Mazda 2 models will continue to be powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 82kW of power and 144Nm of torque.
It’s available with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission, but the former is vastly more popular – the manual accounts for less than one per cent of sales.
Standard equipment for the carryover G15 Pure, G15 Evolve and G15 GT variants remains the same for 2022. You can check out our 2021 price and specs article for a full breakdown.
All models come standard with a suite of active safety technology including autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition.
The GT also comes with adaptive cruise control.
That puts it in good stead with the Toyota Yaris, another light car that’s climbed in price recently and which offers a long list of standard safety equipment.
Adaptive cruise control is standard on all Yaris models, but only the flagship ZR have blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Both the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris are being decimated by a more affordable rival that lacks any of this technology, however.
The MG 3 is Australia’s best-selling light car to the end of August 2021, with 9129 sales and 29.9 per cent share of the segment.
The next biggest sellers are all clustered together: the Kia Rio (3926), Toyota Yaris (3645), Volkswagen Polo (3501), Mazda 2 (3363) and Suzuki Swift (3198).
Overseas reports have indicated a new Mazda 2 will debut in 2022, which will reportedly wear evolutionary styling and offer a new 1.5-litre mild-hybrid three-cylinder option.
The current car was introduced in Australia in 2015.
MORE: Everything Mazda 2
