The new Mazda 2 may not impress in terms of cabin space compared to its wider and more practical rivals. However, what catches the eye is its stylish interior design that is imaginative and attention to detail. The dashboard stands out with its space-conscious architecture and well-integrated features such as unbroken horizontal lines, corralled switchgear, and periscoped instrument cluster.

While the input device for the multimedia system could be positioned more ideally for usability, the ergonomic complaints are minimal. The seating position is slightly higher than desired, but within the norm for the segment. The front cabin feels spacious with 20mm of additional elbow room, even with two adults on board. The rear space, however, is not the most generous for taller passengers compared to cars like the Fiat 500 or Seat Ibiza.

The boot has a decent capacity of 280 liters, although its aperture width could be improved.

Multimedia system

The infotainment touchscreen is neatly placed on the dashboard, and the good news is that you won’t have to touch it while driving. Mazda has provided a rotary input device and physical shortcut buttons for easy control. The touchscreen is deactivated when the car is in motion, which some testers found convenient, while others found it cumbersome to navigate Apple CarPlay using the rotary controller.

Although the Mazda 2 was launched before the existence of CarPlay and Android Auto, both have been added later on. CarPlay works wirelessly, while Android Auto requires a cable. The default interface provided by Mazda may feel a bit dated in 2023, but it is still user-friendly.