Known in Japan until 2019 under the name Demio, the Mazda2 is gaining momentum. The third generation was released in 2014 and looks quite outdated compared to other subcompact sedans. Our spies managed to capture footage of the new model, and unsurprisingly, the Zoom-Zoom company’s supermini will once again be a rebadged Toyota Yaris.
Mazda did a pretty poor job of hiding the badges as we can easily see the winged “M” peeking through the black tape on the tailgate. Squint your eyes and you’ll notice the front logo as well, further indicating that the next Mazda2 will be nothing more than a Yaris Hybrid with a different badge. This makes sense given that the automaker has already disclosed its intention to roll out an “OEM supplied model based on Yaris THS. [Toyota Hybrid System]”in Europe to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
ten Pictures
In some markets, the Yaris with the 1.5-liter hybrid powertrain is available with an optional all-wheel-drive powertrain, but we won’t be holding our breath for the Mazda version to come with all-wheel drive. It’s the same story with the high performance GR Yaris because there is little chance that it will spawn a Mazdaspeed2 derivative.
It will be some time before Mazda upgrades its smaller car to the next generation, given that the current model was updated just a few months ago. Final revisions include a more efficient 1.5-liter gasoline engine and the reintroduction of a 115-horsepower specification alongside the 75 and 90-horsepower outputs.
Expect the new Mazda2 to come exclusively with five doors, as only the GR Yaris can be fitted with a three-door setup. The Toyota version also served as the basis for a crossover, but we doubt there will be an equivalent Mazda model since the company has already covered this segment well.
Finally, Toyota has a similar agreement with Suzuki, allowing the latter to affix its badge to the Corolla and RAV4 PHEV for the Swace station wagon and the Across SUV, respectively.
