No, this isn’t a Toyota Yaris, but rather, it’s a Mazda2 Hybrid, which I’m sure the eagle-eyed among you might’ve noticed the Mazda badge right away. Of course, the cynics might say that this is nothing more than just a simple rebadge, an emissions compliance car, or even that it’s not a proper Mazda at heart! Some of that might be true, but that’s not to say that it’s a bad car at all, and there’s still some merit to the Mazda2 Hybrid just yet.
Besides, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, which I drove quite some time ago, is a pretty competent little electrified hatch, with oodles of practicality, usability, and ease, coupled with the added peace of mind that it’ll probably stay very reliable until the end of time. Plus, the Mazda2 Hybrid had a slight makeover from Mazda, helping to set it apart from its Yaris twin. So, let’s see if there’s any reason at all for you to pick Mazda over its identical sibling.
What Is The Mazda2 Hybrid Homura Plus About?
One of the more noteworthy and interesting features of the Mazda2 Hybrid, and what makes this a bit different from Toyota’s offerings, is the lux and refined Homura Plus trim level. Their flagship model here offers some very distinct differences compared to the entry-level models as well, and the most eye-catching bit is undoubtedly the 17-inch black alloy wheels, which look a lot more sporty than the 15-inch ones you get in the standard car.
Elsewhere, design-wise, there isn’t really that much that sets this top-spec Homura Plus model versus any of the regular Mazda2 Hybrid trim levels. Granted, if you look more closely, you may notice a few extra creature comforts on the Homura Plus model, such as the inclusion of more gloss black trim on the outside, such as on its cute little roof spoiler and the rear diffuser, and the lower body panels, as well as LED lighting all-around.
The latter is a huge deal for cars in this price bracket, and it encompasses the headlights, daytime running lights, front fog lights, and the taillights, too, whereas the regular Mazda2 Hybrid has a mixture of halogen bulbs. Then, beyond that, you also get a panoramic glass roof on the Homura Plus variant, which doesn’t make a huge impact visually from the outside, but once you take a step inside, it adds so much more airiness to the cabin!
Additionally, Mazda’s flagship Homura Plus model bundles a smart keyless entry system. Personally, I like the looks of the Toyota Yaris, so there’s no reason why I can’t like the looks of this Mazda2 Hybrid, as well. That said, this silver paintwork here that you see on my car is perhaps a tad boring, although Mazda does feature a great selection of vibrant, exciting colours, though most of them are paid options, usually between £600 to £850.
How Does It Drive?
Now, whether you pick the Toyota Yaris Hybrid or the Mazda2 Hybrid, you’ll find a familiar engine underneath: a 1.5-litre inline-3 hybridised petrol engine. This solid little mill cranks out a fairly modest 116 PS of power and 120 Nm of torque, and it sends power to the front wheels (FWD) via an e-CVT automatic transmission. This might not sound like a huge amount of power, and indeed, on paper, it certainly isn’t the fastest thing on the planet.
The Mazda2 Hybrid takes a rather relaxed 9.7 seconds to go from 0 to 62 mph, and it tops out at 109 mph. With that in mind, to drive, it really doesn’t feel sprightly at all, but then again, I’m not really looking for it in a car like this. What zest and excitement it lacks is made up for by the Mazda2 Hybrid being supremely fuel-efficient and eco-friendly. Nonetheless, it’d be a huge mistake to simply assume that it’s a flat driving experience.
Given how small and lightweight the Mazda2 Hybrid is, it does feel perhaps a tiny bit quicker than it may appear on paper, and it can be pretty nimble around corners. In particular, when you’re driving it around in urban places like cities and towns, and you’re surrounded by tight, narrow streets, and cars parked on either side, the Mazda2 Hybrid is more than speedy enough in such an environment, where it’s manoeuvrable in confined spaces.
It’s only when you take the Mazda2 Hybrid up and down dual carriageways and high-speed motorways, it’s then that you’ll yearn for a few extra horsepower. On the bright side, at least it is superbly fuel-efficient, easily hitting near 70 mpg under mixed driving conditions, and it’s officially rated at 67.3 mpg by WLTP (Combined) standards. You could probably extend this even more by engaging the EV drive mode, turning it into an electric car.
This mode runs the Mazda2 Hybrid purely off the battery, without ever turning on the engine if the environment allows. It comes with a small lithium-ion battery, and it’s really only meant to work in tandem with the engine as a hybrid. As such, you’re not going to get a lot of electric range in pure EV mode, but for a small distance around town and trying not to wake anyone up in the early hours of the morning in silent driving, it does work well.
What Is It Like Inside?
The biggest upgrade that you get by spending the extra cash on this Mazda2 Hybrid Homura Plus would be the interior, where, for starters, the infotainment system is now bigger, going from a 9-inch unit in the regular cars, and now turned into a 10.5-inch display. In addition, it comes with a built-in satnav, voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the underlying system itself is one of the better ones that I’ve used.
Another neat little add-on for this Homura Plus package would be the inclusion of a Qi wireless charging pad for your phone, which is a handy nice-to-have in this price bracket. Additionally, ahead of you, there is now a larger, upsized fully-digital instrument cluster, sitting rather pretty at 12.3 inches, rather than the hybrid, semi-digital 7-inch gauge cluster on the regular models. The Homura Plus trim nets you a fancy heads-up display, too!
I do quite like all this tech that you get in the Mazda2 Hybrid. You’ll be able to enjoy a myriad of other goodies with the Homura Plus variant, such as dual-zone climate control, sports-style front seats, a nice 6-speaker sound system, and far more besides. So, while this trim level is a significant upcharge from the entry-level models, it might be worthwhile.
When it comes to practicality, despite the Mazda2 Hybrid’s otherwise small form factor, especially when you look at it from the outside, it’s surprisingly decently large once you step inside. Of course, being such a small hatchback, it can be tight in here, particularly once you move the front seats to fit my driving position, at which point it’s hard to fit any adult-sized rear passengers. At least there’s a modest 286-litre boot, which isn’t too bad for this size.
The Experience
Speaking of, for context, the Mazda2 Hybrid isn’t a mild-hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, but a full-hybrid, also known as a self-charging hybrid. This sort of layout relies on both the internal combustion engine and its hybrid system (which mainly consists of a battery and an electric motor, as well as all the gubbins in between) working side by side. You needn’t even have to do anything, as the hybrid is clever enough to manage everything on its own.
In all situations, the hybrid system will optimise the power for you, using both the engine and the 59 kW electric motor when the situation demands it, balancing performance and efficiency.
Yet, despite the fact that this hybrid component switches on and off between these modes countless times while you’re driving, it’s designed to be exceptionally smooth and seamless, making it so that you never feel the transition between the engine and electric motor turning on.
As you’re driving along, while decelerating or are under braking, kinetic energy is collected, and it’s then pooled together and it’s used to constantly keep the battery recharged. On that note, the Mazda2 Hybrid comes with a generous suite of driver aids and safety systems to make driving that bit easier and safer, such as radar cruise control, a driver attention alert function, hill-start assist, lane-keep assist, and road sign recognition.
On top of that, since I’m driving the Homura Plus model here, another perk of moving up to this top-spec trim is the addition of even more ADAS systems besides that. This includes blind-spot monitoring, a pretty neat parking assist system, rear-cross traffic alert, and that aforementioned smart keyless entry capability. While the driving experience is identical between every Mazda2 Hybrid model, at least this gives some justification to upgrade.
Mazda2 Hybrid Homura Plus Cost
The Mazda2 Hybrid line-up starts from a pretty reasonable £24,280, which gets you into the entry-level Centre-Line trim. Up next, moving up from there, you can get the Exclusive-Line version for £25,575, while the Homura model starts from £27,475. Last but not least, their range-topping Homura Plus version, like the one that I have here, starts from £29,425, which, admittedly, is quite a bit pricey for a compact hybrid hatch like this one.
Verdict
The Mazda2 Hybrid can be a bit of a tough sell when you consider the fact that comparable Toyota Yaris Hybrid models can be had for a tad cheaper. Nevertheless, it’s still a fantastic car, with an awesome hybrid powertrain that barely sips on any fuel and is very kind to the environment, a refined and practical cabin, and a distinctly sporty look, not to mention the rock-solid reliability.
Specification
Mazda2 Hybrid Homura Plus Specs
- Price: £29,425
- Engine: 1.5-litre hybrid petrol inline-3
- Power: 116 PS
- Torque: 120 Nm
- Transmission: e-CVT automatic
- 0-62mph: 9.7 seconds
- Top speed: 109 mph
- Weight: 1,160 kg
- Economy combined: 67.3 mpg (WLTP)
- CO2: 98 g/km