Mazda 2 Timing Belt or Chain - Which One Does It Have?

It’s important to understand, but is the engine in your Mazda 2 timing belt or chain driven? That’s because a timing chain should last the life of the car with no extra maintenance, while a timing belt will need to be replaced at regular intervals. If you ignore timing belt changes, the belt can snap in service and destroy the whole engine. Fortunately, the engine in the Mazda 2 uses a timing chain, so should require no special maintenance for as long as the rest of the car is running properly. That gets around the problems of the cam drive belt replacement as well as the associated cost. This advice applies to both engines used in the Mazda 2 since 2002 and covers the ZY-VE engine (2002 to 2014) and the later V-P5 and F-P5 engines. It’s also dependent on regular oil changes and other maintenance having been carried out.

What would be your recommendation when buying a small new car for teenage children learning to drive?

The popular MG3 is the model you’re referring to and you’re right; it hasn’t been locally crash-tested. But it does lack some important safety gear. Enough, we reckon, to knock it off your short-list. The MG lacks, for instance, important driver aids such as autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assistance, nor can these features be had by spending more on a fancier version. Which leaves us with your other two choices, the Hyundai i30 and Kia Rio. Even then, you’ll need to option up beyond the base-model to get (some of) those safety features, but these are not expensive cars to begin with, so the jump might not be as bad as you think. The other car to consider would be the SP Pure version of the Mazda 2. At $23,690, it’s not over-priced but it does have low-speed (up to 30km/h) autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning as well as rear cross-traffic alert. And a manual transmission? The MG 3 no longer offers one, both the Hyundai i30 and the Kia Rio are available with a six-speed manual option. The Mazda 2 Pure SP is automatic only, but you can get a six-speed manual on the base-model Mazda 2. I agree that youngsters taught to drive a manual car tend to be better drivers, but that’s not a universally held view these days. And the fact is that most young drivers will never be presented with a clutch pedal in the future, raising the question of why learn in the first place? The reality is that learning to drive a manual car gives you extra mechanical awareness and extra ability to multi-task behind the wheel.

Mazda 9 - Will we ever see a successor to the 929?

Mazda is unlikely to introduce a sedan larger than the Mazda6, due to the declining sales of larger sedans globally in favour of SUVs. However, with Mazda marching upmarket and its ties with Toyota strengthening, a joint-venture project with Toyota or even Lexus, using Mazda's new rear-drive platform and inline six-cylinder engine range, may make a model-sharing luxury flagship – a modern-day 929 in other words – a possibility. But there are currently no plans that we know of pertaining to such a model, sadly. We hope this helps.

Mazda 2 Bluetooth: How to Use Bluetooth in a Mazda 2?

To connect your phone via Bluetooth to the Mazda 2, there’s a simple procedure to follow. The first thing to do is to make sure your phone has Bluetooth enabled and is switched to Visible/Discoverable. The second is to make sure that the car is stationary. The pairing procedure then goes as follows: Select the Settings icon on the info-screen in the car. Then select the Devices tab. Then select Bluetooth and turn the Bluetooth to On. Select Add Device and switch to the device operation. Using your phone, search for the car’s signal which should show as `Mazda’ from the list of devices on your phone’s screen. Depending on your phone, you then need to input the four-digit code (devices with Bluetooth 2.0) or a six-digit code displayed on the car’s screen (Bluetooth 2.1 or higher). That should complete the pairing process and form there you can add functions such as downloading your contact book to the car’s system by following the prompts. For more instructions on how to play music through the system, more setup options, and troubleshooting problems, refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual.

What car should I buy to replace my 2006 Toyota Corolla?

There are still plenty of great small cars around within your budget, Agnes, and they all have good safety packages (or we wouldn’t recommend them). Look at offerings such as the Suzuki Swift Navigator (with the optional autonomous emergency braking) for around $17,000 (plus on-road costs) or the Kia Rio S at around $19,000 or Kia Picanto S (one size smaller than the Rio) at closer to $16,000. Both the Kias also feature the brand’s excellent seven-year warranty, capped-price servicing and free roadside assistance which is great peace of mind. The Volkswagen Polo is a classy drive but a little more expensive at closer to $21,000 for the 85TSi Comfortline. Actually, to be honest, you’ve missed the boat on bargain small cars by a couple of years. Firm favourites such as the Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2 have both been updated relatively recently and have recorded big price jumps in the process. The cheapest Yaris with an automatic transmission is now around $23,000 (it was less than $17,000 back in 2018) while the Mazda 2 Maxx went from being a sub-$17,000 proposition in 2018 to a $23,000 car by the time you add an automatic transmission in 2020.

Best small hatch under $30,000?

The Mazda 2 is a great choice. It has always been towards the front of the small hatchbacks when it comes to safety and is definitely one of the better littlies to actually drive, too. Mazda facelifted the 2 in 2017 and took the opportunity to add blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert to the vehicle at that point in time. The catch is that the safety tech was only standard on the more expensive models and both the Neo and Maxx versions missed out. You could option that package when you ordered a Neo or Maxx, but it cost extra, and some people didn’t see the value in it. So, if you’re shopping for a second-hand Mazda 2 Neo or Maxx, make sure you check carefully that the options you want are fitted. If you’re buying brand-new, no problem, because the most recent upgrade to the 2 saw rear-cross traffic alert and blind-sport monitoring become standard across the range. Lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist also became standard at that time. Significantly, autonomous emergency braking was standard on all Mazda 2s built after the 2017 facelift, making the car a very safe package. As for alternatives, the world is your oyster with $30,000 in your pocket. There are lots of really good, safe cars out there in that price bracket, but, again, the Mazda 2 should definitely be on your short-list.

Is the Mazda 2 Neo a reliable car?

The Mazda 2 certainly meets your requirements of safety and reliability, but so too does the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Hyundai i30, Kia Picanto or Rio.

Mazda 2 2011: What is the blue water symbol?

It’s indicating that the coolant isn’t yet up to temperature. Once the engine is warmed up the light will go out.

Mazda 2: Replacement key cost

Its hard to know how much it will be without knowing what year the car is, but if you want to know more about replacing your car keys you can read this.

The recommended tyre pressures for your car are shown in the owner’s manual, and on a sticker on the body, either on passenger’s side front door pillar or in the glove box.

Mazda 2 2009 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Mazda 2 2009 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Mazda 2, 3 and 6 recalled over driver's seat defect

22 Feb 2017 · by Justin Hilliard

Mazda Australia has issued a national recall for 124,686 examples of its last-generation Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6 models which were sold between September 2007 and March 2012.

Best first car options?

Answered by CarsGuide 11 Nov 2016

Do not buy a Cruze, or buy a European brand. They will prove costly. It's best to go for the cars that are well proven over many years. The Lancer is a good one, but so too is the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 or 3, or Mitsubishi Colt.

Used Mazda 2 review: 2002-2016

15 Aug 2016 · by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2016 Mazda 2 as a used buy. While the Mazda 3 and CX-3 have been grabbing all the headlines in the sales race, the smallest model of all, ...

Used Mazda 2 review: 2007-2013

25 May 2015 · by Graham Smith

Mazda has been the standout performer over the last decade or so when its cars have gone from "who cares" to "must haves" in a very short period of time. New It began with the ground breaking 3, ...

First car for 22 year old

Answered by CarsGuide 7 Nov 2014

Most modern cars would be perfectly fine for your country commuting, that's not really an issue like it was in the past where it was felt you needed a six-cylinder car at least to handle the long distance, higher-speed cruising. Smaller cars like the Yaris or Mazda2 are perfect for city use; they're small, manoeuvrable, easy to park, safe and cheap to run. A larger car, like the Mazda3 would be a little more comfortable for a longer journey. It would also have better performance, but being larger is a little more difficult to park, and would cost more to run. For your money you could get a 2008/2009 Mazda3, which would also be a good buy. For mine, I would go for the smaller car, the Yaris or the Mazda2.

Used Mazda 2 review: 2002-2013

20 Aug 2014 · by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 2002-2013 Mazda2.

Used Mazda 2 review: 2002-2011

13 Dec 2012 · by Graham Smith

It's hard to believe given its strong recent performance that Mazda was struggling to survive in the Australian market just a few years ago. That was before a remarkable rebirth following the launch ...

Used Mazda 2 review: 2007-2009

7 Jul 2011 · by Graham Smith

Mazda was once one of the innovators in the car industry, but somewhere in the '90s it became a follower. In short it lost its way. Fast-forward to the noughties and it had rediscovered its mojo with ...

Toyota Corolla: Is it a good used car?

Answered by CarsGuide 21 Aug 2009

BUY a small car with a four-cylinder engine, and if you stick to the well-respected brands, such as Toyota Corolla or Echo, Nissan Pulsar, Mazda2 or 3, Hyundai Getz, or Honda Civic he should be a winner. Buy the car with the lowest odometer reading and in the best condition that fits his budget.

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