Just yesterday a leaked brochure of the 2023 Mazda 2 surfaced. Today, the Hiroshima-based company has opened bookings for the updated B-segment hatchback in Japan. Mazda plans to launch the updated 2023 Mazda 2 in March for its home market.

For the Japanese market, Mazda will be offering no less than 12 variants of the new Mazda 2, spread across 7 petrol variants and 5 diesel variants. Typical of most cars sold in Japan, the Mazda 2 can be had in a front-wheel drive or all-wheel configuration.

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Powertrain options are unchanged from before. Petrol variants get a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine that does 110 PS and 142 Nm, while diesel variants get a turbodiesel 1.5-litre engine that does 105 PS and 250 Nm (230 Nm on the 6-speed manual variant).

More interestingly is that Mazda continues to offer the 15MB variant, which is a motorsport-focused variant. While the 15MB variant shares the same naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine as the rest of its siblings, the powerplant here has been massaged to deliver 116 PS and 149 Nm, a slight 6 PS and 7 Nm increase over the regular variants.

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

The only transmission choice for the 15MB variant is a 6-speed manual, driving the front wheels.

Carried-over powertrains aside, the biggest change to the 2023 Mazda 2 is the restyled exterior. Selected variants of the 2023 Mazda 2 receive a new blank grille, which can be finished in various fun colours. If that grille is too tacky, Mazda also offers a regular mesh-type grille.

Continuing on the topic of colour, Mazda has added two new colours, namely Airstream Blue Metallic and Aero Gray Metallic.

With a total of 11 body colours, 3 interior trimcolours, 3 roof colours, and 6 wheel cap colours, Mazda said there’s a total of a 198 possible combinations, so spotting two identical-looking 2023 Mazda 2 will be a challenge.

To illustrate that, Mazda is offering two readily-customized versions of the 2023 Mazda 2 – Rookie Drive and Clap Pop. Both variants are customized with Mazda’s own accessories, including a decal set and contrasting roof and mirrors.

While the exterior gets revamped, much of the 2023 Mazda 2’s interior remain status quo. Single-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear level, and the Mazda Connect infotainment system are the same as before.

In Japan, prices of the 2023 Mazda 2 start from JPY 1,529,000 (~RM 50k) and tops out at JPY 2,541,000 (~RM 83k).  

Also Read: Review: 2020 Mazda 2 1.5 Hatchback - Drives well, but is it overpriced?