SYDNEY: The new Mazda2 sedan, introduced in November, will make its way to Australia later this year. Not seen in Australia since local sourcing of the previous Mazda2 briefly switched to Thailand in 2011, a move back to the Kingdom for this new generation has opened the door for a sedan return.
But, while the previous sedan managed little more than 10 percent of overall Mazda2 sales during its short stint, the brand’s local arm believes this new model can do much better.
“When we first saw the design for the Mazda2 sedan we decided it was a must-have car,” Mazda Australia boss Martin Benders said today.
“Often B-segment sedans can lack style and design flow, but we believe the Mazda2 sedan is the best looking of its type in its segment.”
Doing away with the awkward proportions of its predecessor, the new Mazda2 sedan enters as something of a scaled-down Mazda3 sedan.
Like its liftback hatch sibling, Australia’s new Mazda2 sedan will be offered with a choice of 79kW/139Nm and 81kW/141Nm 1.5 litre petrol engines.
In Australia, the Mazda2 sedan will take on similar variants of the Holden Barina, Hyundai Accent and the Honda City in the light sedan market.
Although officially a ‘sub-light’ model, Mitsubishi’s Mirage Sedan arrival would also be on the Mazda2’s hit list.
Mazda will be looking for the sedan body to further cement the Mazda2’s reign as Australia’s best-selling light hatch, with its year-to-date 4049 sales already comfortably ahead of the Toyota Yaris (3887) and Hyundai i20 (3480).
Australian pricing and specifications for the Mazda2 sedan will be revealed closer to launch.
