Launched in 1996, the first-generation Mazda2 had very little in common with the current compact hatchback->ke304 we can buy in the U.S. or the redesigned, fourth-gen model set to reach American shores for the 2016 model year. Known as the Mazda Demio, the first-gen car was a minivan-like, tall hatchback with a boxy design and sold with a couple of small-displacement engines that delivered up to 99 horsepower. A big hit in Japan, the first-gen Mazda2 and was kept in production until 2002. The second-gen model brought major styling changes to the hatch, although Mazda->ke53 retained the minivan-like design. It was 2007 when the third-generation Mazda2 arrived, and the compact started looking more like the supermini we all know today. The third-gen car is also the first Mazda2 to arrive Stateside and the first to receive a sedan->ke142 version. After eight years on the market, the Mazda2 has finally received a makeover, being infused with both the KODO design and the Skyactiv technology.

Unveiled in Japan in July 2014, the Mazda2 hatch is now followed by the sedan, which unveiled itself to the world in Thailand, where most of its production process takes place. While Mazda has yet to announce whether the 2 Sedan will cross the pond to the U.S. or not, it looks as if the compact four-door has what it takes to make a name for itself in North America. Read on to find out why.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Mazda2 Sedan.

2015 Mazda2 Sedan

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Mazda2 Sedan
  • Horsepower: 103 @ 4000
  • Torque: 184 @ 1500
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Granted, most of us aren't buying compact sedans for their looks, but for their affordable sticker and relatively spacious cabin compared to the tightly-packed exterior. The Mazda2 Sedan, on the other hand, might very well be the first compact you'd want to drive based on styling alone.

Essentially a Mazda2 hatch with a trunk, this sedan looks rather nice in the company's new KODO suit. It's basically a shrunken Mazda3 with bulged headlamps, and although the sculpted fenders can ruin a compact car's lines, Mazda managed to create an exterior package that stylish and sporty without taking it over the edge.

The front end is identical to the Mazda2 hatch's, while the rear end is a miniature version of the Mazda3 Sedan's. Of course, the overhang and the trunk lid is shorter, while the taillights are smaller and feature a different cluster pattern.

Interior

The Mazda2 Sedan is brand-new on the inside as well. Updates are identical to those seen on the hatch model and include a cleaner dashboard design with a lowered center console, which result in both enhanced roominess and a more premium feel. The Mazda2 Sedan is nearly as classy as the larger Mazda6 if you're not too picky.

While the entry-level model comes with cloth seats, hard plastic surfaces and is devoid of any luxury features, the trims positioned higher in the range are equipped with perforated, leather-wrapped seats with contrast stitching and soft-touch surfaces on the dash and the door armrests.

The sedan also received a revised instrument cluster, an updated navigation system with a floating display, as well as the head-up display technology that debuted on its hatch sibling. The company's MZD Connect in-car connectivity system and the i-ACTIVSENSE active safety technology round off the upgrade in the technology department.

Drivetrain

Just like the 2016 Mazda2 hatch, the Sedan receives the brand-new, Skyactiv-D, 1.5-liter diesel at launch. The unit cranks out 103 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 and mates to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. The oil burner will be joined by the Skyactiv-G 1.5-liter and 1.3-liter gasoline powerplants later on.

If the Mazda2 Sedan should come to the United States, expect to find the gasoline-powered, 1.5-liter, four-banger under its hood. Already available in other markets with the Mazda3, the engine generates 99 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque. Don't get your hopes up for a 2.0-liter mill in this compact sedan, although Mazda could use more than 100 ponies to compete in the segment.

Drivetrain Specification

Type

1.5-liter SKYACTIV-D diesel engine

Output

103 HP @ 4,000 RPM

Torque

184 LB-FT @ 1,500 - 2,500 RPM


Prices

Pricing for the Mazda2 is not available as of November 2014 and the Japanese automaker has yet to announce a launch date for the U.S. market. The current Mazda2 hatch is priced from $14,720 on these shores.

Competition

Ford Fiesta Sedan

The Fiesta Sedan received a fresh new look for 2014, with its front and rear fascias being updated to Ford's new corporate look. Updates also included additional interior features, as well as an EcoBoost engine option.

The new three-cylinder unit displaces only a single liter, but the turbocharger it's strapped on helps it crank out 123 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, both impressive figures for such a small mill. With this little tiny engine under the hood, the Fiesta Sedan needs about 8.8 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standing start. The compact sedan also retains the familiar 1.6-liter, inline-four, which cranks out 120 ponies and 112 pound-feet of twist.

While the latter returns up to 38 mpg on the highway, the former is good for up to 42 mpg. Pricing starts from $14,865 for the 2015 model year.

Kia Rio Sedan

The Kia Rio received a major overhaul in 2012, after a decade-long struggle of trying to compete with the big boys of the segment. The third-gen Rio was one of the first vehicles to gain Kia's new signature grille, which it proudly wears into the 2015 model year. The sedan has a more athletic profile and although it's far from being a beauty-contest winner, it finally ditched the dull design lines of the first-gen model.

Massive interior updates mean the Rio provides more passenger room, a fair amount of convenience features, as well as premium bits such as illuminated vanity mirrors, paddle shifters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a voice-activated infotainment system. Under the hood of the Rio lurks a 1.6-liter, four-pot that cranks out 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque.

Pricing starts from only $13,900, making it one of the most affordable compacts in the U.S.

Conclusion

The brand-new Mazda2 Sedan is living proof that compact, four-door cars don't have to be ugly. The company's KODO design language fits the Mazda2 like a glove and the available Skyactiv technology complete a package that will soon become available across the entire Mazda lineup. The Mazda2 Sedan has what it takes to compete for top laurels in its segment, but I can only hope it will get a chance to do that on U.S. soil as well. We need as much "Soul of Motion" as we can get.