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2021 Mazda 2 updated in Japan with improved Skyactiv-G engine and a sunny paintjob

CY Foong · Jun 24, 2021 07:00 PM

2021 Mazda 2 updated in Japan with improved Skyactiv-G engine and a sunny paintjob 01

Leave it to Mazda to make a bland colour like beige look so mesmerising and give one of its oldest models a fresh lease of life. The Hiroshima carmaker has just recently given the ageing Mazda 2 an update in Japan and from the photos, the 7-year-old model remains youthful.

2021 Mazda 2 updated in Japan with improved Skyactiv-G engine and a sunny paintjob 02

Premium Quartz Metallic, yeah, we can't quite tell the difference too

There’s no secret to what makes the Mazda 2 glow but it’s definitely the bright new paintjob which Mazda calls “Sunlit Citrus”. But if that shade of beige isn’t your thing, the updated Mazda 2 is also available in Platinum Quartz Metallic along with the standard Mazda hues like Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Machine Gray Premium Metallic.

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That being said, buyers would miss out on some very elegant interior upholstery if they skipped on the summer-inspired colour. The interior is swathed in Grand Luxe Beige leather with a citrus yellow stripe running across the middle of the seats.

2021 Mazda 2 updated in Japan with improved Skyactiv-G engine and a sunny paintjob 01

For him and for her

Elsewhere, owners who opted for the Sunlit Citrus option would also receive a set of beige floor mats and a pair of exclusive key shells in a fancy-looking box. Elegance redefined indeed.

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In terms of creature comforts, the updated Mazda 2 comes with wireless charging and support for wireless Apple CarPlay as optional extras. Available standard across all variants though is a 360-degree panoramic view monitor to aid drivers navigating the tight streets of a metropolis.

Also read: Why your next car should come with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

2021 Mazda 2 updated in Japan with improved Skyactiv-G engine and a sunny paintjob 03

Aside from the bright colour, the updates continue in the technical department with the 1.5-litre Skyactiv-G engine now featuring Diagonal Vortex Combustion. This technology is offered on the e-Skyactiv-X engine but is introduced to some variants of the Mazda 2.

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A diagram of how Diagonal Vortex Combustion works

On all variants besides the cheapest variants, the compression ratio of the powerplant is increased to 14:1 from 12:1. The lower spec variants still use the engine with the lower compression ratio. Mazda claims that the higher compression engine improves fuel economy by 6.8%.

Also read: What’s so special about Mazda SkyActiv engines anyway?

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Prices for the updated Mazda 2 range from JPY 1.46 million to JPY 2.71 million (~RM 55,000 to RM 100,000). With a replacement long overdue, could this be the final update for the current Mazda 2?

Also read: All-new 2021 Mazda 2: Sept debut, new SkyActiv-X engine, rotary REEV in 2022?

CY Foong

Writer

Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.

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