Mazda 2 wins Japan's Car of the Year award

The all-new Mazda 2 has been named Japan's Car of the Year 2014-15, ahead of its European press debut in November

    Mazda has hit a home-run with its new supermini, as the judges for Japan Car of the Year 2014-15 have awarded the accolade to the new Mazda 2.

    Set to be launched in Europe at a press event in November, the 2, badged the Demio in the Japanese market, secured just 19 votes above the new Mercedes C-Class.

    The judges were impressed by the car's attractive new design, as well as the new SKYACTIV engine technology that is available across the range. This includes a new 1.5-litre, 103bhp diesel which manages CO2 emissions of just 85g/km. They were pleased to see that this diesel was available in Japan for under two million Yen. New 1.5-litre petrols also offer very competitive fuel economy and emission figures in the three outputs offered.

 

    They also praised the ergonomic interior – which features a head-up display as a first in the supermini class – and for offering excellent passenger space and multimedia connectivity for the price.

    Detailed prices and specs are yet to be revealed in the UK, although we expect the lowest powered 1.5-litre petrol to start from about £11,000. It's due to hit UK shores at the start of 2015.

    Mazda has now won the Japan Car of the Year award twice in three years, with the CX-5 crossover taking the gong in 2012.