A Friendly, Functional Place to Be
- Excellent packaging ensures a roomy interior
feel
- Gear shift and parking brake levers moved closer to the
driver
- NVH performance one of the best in the
segment
High functionality and user friendliness were at the top of the
priority list for the interior designers. Though the Mazda2 might
seem compact on the outside, on the inside it seems spacious to its
occupants.
The relatively long wheelbase (for a car in this class) of
2,490mm, placing the wheels as close to the corners as possible and
clever packaging, all make the Mazda2 interior a roomy place to be,
despite having slightly smaller outer dimensions. As a result,
Mazda2's maximum head room (1,004mm front, 959 mm rear) is one of
the best in its class, as is its shoulder room (1,340mm front,
1,300mm rear).
Front legroom is 1,068 mm and the 883 mm of legroom in the rear
offers lots of space to stretch your legs. And although the new
Mazda2's height is 65mm less than its predecessor, the car's
slightly thinner roof liner thickness and a lower hip point ensure
ample head room.
Whether the driver is 1.85 metres or 1.50 metres tall - the
Mazda2 offers just the right seating position for every stature.
The driver's seat has fore/aft slide adjustability of 250mm
(predecessor 210mm) and the driver's seatback can be adjusted to an
angle of up to 104° (72° in the rear-most position). This
adjustment can be made applying 20 per cent less effort than
before.
The driver's seat is height adjustable (now standard on all
models) over a range of 55mm, which is 17mm more than the outgoing
model. A ratchet-type lever allows stepless adjustment of the seat,
while a steering wheel height adjustment range of 50mm (standard on
all models) makes it easy for drivers to find an ergonomically
correct position.
The gear shift lever is positioned 38mm higher than on the
previous Mazda2 making it easy to reach and operate. The parking
brake lever is also placed closer to the driver by 43mm.
Practical Storage Compartments
Mazda2's cabin design meets the increasing demands for practical
storage compartments, especially from younger customers. Storage
includes a glove box with an open magazine rack which makes
retrieving frequently used items such as a road atlas easy. The
seven litre glove box can hold up to six CDs and car documents.
The centre console between the front seats has a cupholder and a
storage tray behind it for items as large as a handbag. Added to
this is a 12-volt socket to power or charge electronic devices.
Next to the power socket is a separate AUX jack that allows users
to connect digital devices such as an MP3 player like an iPod®
to the vehicle's audio system.
The front door pockets have a design that allows storage of a
0.5-litre bottle and an A4 atlas. Across the dashboard area are two
storage pockets for small items like coins, packs of gum or keys.
Behind the driver's sun visor there is room for maps or other
documents.
Class-competitive 250-litre boot
Despite its more compact exterior, new Mazda2 still has
250-litres (VDA) of load volume in the boot. Folding the rear
seatbacks down increases the load length from 674mm to 1,313mm and
creates a load volume (to the roof, VDA) of 787 litres.
With the rear seats upright, the load space can hold items as big
as a large suitcase or a baby buggy. In comparison to the previous
generation, the boot threshold is a bit higher to ensure greater
body shell rigidity. The boot opening remains nevertheless very
practical for daily usage.
Dual Door Seals and Stiffer Doors Lower Wind
Noise
Strikingly low levels of cabin noise contribute to making the
Mazda2 a comfortable place to travel. At a speed of 60 km/h, for
instance, only 71.1 dBA of road noise reaches occupants' ears,
which is amongst the lowest in the B-segment. Cabin noise has been
significantly reduced versus the outgoing model - especially at
engine speeds above 4000rpm. For the new Mazda2, wind noise
generated at 128 km/h is just 68.5 dBA, which is also among the
lowest in its class. Two technical measures contribute to this
result. An unbroken seal around each door opening which, together
with all around seals on the doors themselves, give the Mazda2 a
complete dual sealing system. Plus, stiffer door panels that resist
the effects of aerodynamic suction that can occur on the motorway
due to negative pressure outside the doors. As a result, the outer
skins of the door deform 33 per cent less than the doors of the
previous Mazda2.
And last but not least, the transmission of tyre noise has been
reduced as well, by 1.4 dB in the front seats and by 1.7 dB in the
rear seats.
An Excellent View to All Sides
Two numbers that say it all: the belt line slopes towards the
front of the car and is 40mm lower than the old Mazda2, and at the
base of the A-pillar, the belt line height from the drivers hip
point is one of the smallest in the class at only 354mm. Combining
the low belt line with a significantly lower positioning of the
door mirrors, means the driver enjoys improved visibility
diagonally to the front and downwards. This results in increased
safety when driving on narrow roads, turning at junctions and in
city traffic driving where pedestrians could cross the road. And it
makes parking much easier. The car's agility in city traffic is
enhanced by its small turning circle of only 9.8 metres and its
front upward vision angle of 18.9°, which makes it easier to
see traffic lights and road signs.