New Mazda 2 GT and GT Sport head updates to the Mazda 2 range in the UK – prices from £12,695

The Mazda 2 – Mazda’s competitor for cars like the Ford Fiesta – gets a refresh and updates as well as the arrival of new models – the Mazda 2 GT and GT Sport.

The Mazda 2 is one of those cars that are far better than their sales might make you think, and revisions to the 2 range for 2017 have made it even more appealing.

Mazda hasn’t messed with what makes the Mazda2 appealing, but they have tweaked the 2’s looks a bit with some new wing mirrors, LED fogs, a few interior trim updates and an extra colour option or two.

In a sign of the times, the diesel option looks to have disappeared completely, and your choice is a single 1.5 litre petrol engine in three states of tune – 74bhp, 89bhp or 113bhp – all with Mazda’s slick manual gearbox – and there are tweaks to the suspension and damping for an improved ride, as well as Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control across the range.

Mazda has also thrown in a pair of new models at the top of the range – the Mazda 2 GT and GT Sport – which get LED headlights and running lights, black rear spoiler, 16″ alloys, black leather with a brown dash insert, colour heads-up and reversing camera. The GT Sport can only be had with the 113bhp engine.

The new Mazda 2 goes on sale in the UK in June, with prices starting at £12,695, rising to £16,395 for the GT Sport.