UPDATE: 04/01/2020
4 years 7 months and 112k km into ownership, the gearbox failed, and it seems not only me, but at least 17 others owners experiencing the same issue before. Shift into D, car jerks forward, then engine cut off. Just like dumping the clutch with a manual gearbox.

SC diagnostic turns out to be the torque converter issue causing ATF pressure fluctuation.

Claimed under goodwill warranty from Mazda Japan, waited about 1 month from sending car to SC to Mazda Japan's approval and repair done.

Hope Mazda Japan will iron out the issue and come up with a stronger next gen Skyactiv Drive AT.



UPDATE: 06/03/2018
No returning of noise for my car as of this update. However, I wish to highlight that my steering rack was also replaced together with the previously mentioned items during the last fix. My additional advice to all Mazda 2 owners is do not drive too sportingly around the corners after these parts replacements, just drive as normally as a grandma would when going to wet market. As far as I know, the noise came back for 2 out of 4 initial replacement cars, 1 of them changed steering rack, and another 1 pending checking.

UPDATE: 11/01/2018

There is a new design revision for Mazda 2 front strut assembly (absorber, spring, top mount bearing, etc.) and intermediate shaft.

Any owner has experienced noisy front suspension knocking issue should have theirs change under warranty at SC. If the SC you visited do not know this info, please ask them to call Mazda PJ technical branch to enquire more info about this. If you have replaced the items one-by-one previously, you are still entitled to this fix, provided you can replicate the sound to the SC technician test driving with you. Usually, the sound will be present when you are turning the steering wheel while reverse parking, you can hear the kruk kruk sound from the front.

Secondly, when you turn the steering a little to the left and right about the centre repetitively in a rapid manner, you can also hear and feel some knocking through the steering wheel, please have your intermediate shaft replaced under warranty too.

Thirdly, when you are driving on highway speed (80km/h and above), you may hear some fluttering sound from undercarriage, please have your exhaust heat shield checked and replaced under warranty if necessary, the metal piece might have broken off on their own at the hole where the bolt/washer is holding it in place. It will make fluttering sound during highway speed. If you do not send in soon, it will drop off eventually and scrape the ground. You have to replace it under your own cost. A few owners have encountered this issue and paid from their pockets previously.

As of this update, I am still monitoring whether the noisy front suspension knocking issue is permanently solved or not. Mazda 2 Skyactiv Club has communicated with Bermaz and in full support that these findings be reported to Mazda Japan, in hopes that Mazda Japan takes note of these weaknesses and come up with improved solution to the current and eliminate these weaknesses in future Mazda 2 generations.

To all current Mazda 2 DJ owners, please take note of this and check your noisy front suspension knocking issue with your SC if you experienced the above symptoms.

Will post updates on the suspension in a month's time...
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UPDATE: 09/10/2017

Currently, Mazda 2 Skyactiv (DJ) has front suspension issues, it will produce "tak"/"krok" sound and could felt parts knocking each other through the steering wheel when going over speedbumps or uneven road, or when making a left/right turn. Mine showed up just before 10,000km of ownership, and been in and out of service centres to solve this issue!! Many owners have raised this issue to Mazda Malaysia through their respective service centres, yet there are still no permanent solution to this problem yet after 2 years has passed, as of the time of this writing (09/10/2017), and many owners' patience have waned away, so does mine.

Probably the latest Mazda 2 Skyactiv GVC facelift model suffers the same fate, since there is no permanent solution yet. Potential buyers, please take note of this in your consideration.

This is my humble owner's feedback for Mazda 2 Skyactiv. Further research online on other Mazda Skyactiv models also having suspension noise problems, not only in Malaysia, but also in the rest of the world.

I will update from time to time pertaining to the permanent rectification of this front suspension issue.

Secondly, some owners suffered gearbox/torque converter break down issue. My view in this matter is Mazda's claim to be lifelong and do not require any fluid change. However, Malaysia being warm and humid, ATF will deteriorate sooner than cold and temperate countries, it is best to have the ATF-FZ change often to avoid gearbox running on burnt and deteriorated ATF. As of the time of this writing, ATF-FZ change is not part of the free service package, owners have to pay for the ATF-FZ change.

=====

Decision Made! Mazda 2

Summarised decision making thoughts:

Indeed, Honda City and Mazda 2 are close rivals to each other with their own unique merits respectively. I wouldn't say Honda City is a bad car, but one's requirements are different from another person.

1. Style: I wouldn't be bothered with the styling of the two since I don't trust my artistic sense that much. I trust the designers in Honda and Mazda wouldn't come up with a fridge with 4 wheels design. Both of them have lines and curves which meanings are inapprehensible by myself.

2. Technology: Mazda Skyactiv vs Honda i-VTEC + torque converter CVT. Mazda wins hands down, the Skyactiv are implemented into Mazda 3 & 6 for some time, so it should be reliable. Although the Honda City has cruise control, there are no other interesting features which are technologically advance. Honda Earth Dream Technology is not implemented in the City, apart from the torque converter CVT gearbox(?), the i-VTEC engine remains the same. The only thing that can sway my opinion now is when Honda City Hybrid suddenly launch within this 2 months, which I have been waiting for since mid of last year, but it seems the longer Honda delays the launch, the less chance it will appear in Malaysia as the CKD hybrid tax exemption expiry date is looming close. I personally emailed Honda Malaysia about the Honda City Hybrid, they replied "please wait for the official news announcement", still in limbo to launch or not perhaps? There is a limit to one's patience, and I feel enough is enough at this moment.

3. Usage:
(a) Most of my drive will be with 1 passenger, rarely 2 or even 3 passengers. So, I could consider buying a coupe and still won't feel at a disadvantage, given that there is a coupe in this price range. The one thing I give much consideration about Honda City is because of its cabin space, I owned one '06 City and got poisoned by this. Passenger can sitting comfortably in City. But, I am not married at the moment but will be in the not so distant future, so owning this car for 9 years down the road wouldn't be a problem, even with 3 children. Also, we are Asian size, not European size, how tall can we be? (Some may have bigger waistline though)
(b) As I mentioned, I will be driving up and down Penang - JB a lot, so having cruise control is a big factor. Although City has it, while Mazda 2 don't, the fact that City NVH has not improved but worsen, the engine power is reduced by the power soaking torque converter CVT, and the worsen interior seat quality (girls with shorts where bare skin comes into contact with the rough seat fabric will itch after a while, and the fabric will lint after not-so-long usage, which is shown on 1 year old the test drive cars), are the big let down in the City. Also, after I discovered there are aftermarkets auto cruise module available (e.g. Pivot 3-drive AC) for any car with electronic throttle control system (for Honda is i-VTEC onwards), I could install it on the Mazda 2! *UPDATE: Mazda Skyactiv Cruise Control now available to activate and install, PM me for more information.
© NVH is not Honda's best areas, at least I feel Mazda 2 has better NVH suppression than Honda City. RM88k car, I don't expect Merc or BMW level NVH suppression, but at least comparable better in the same segment.
(d) More gadgets to play with in Mazda 2 compared to Honda City.
(e) As I mentioned, Honda City is a passenger-centric car, but more cupholders does not always win the competition. Since I always drive alone or with 1 passenger, the cupholders in my City will become keyholders/garbage holders instead, more rattling sound. Sometimes, more storage space will promote putting more things in car, making the car unkept and disorganised.
(f) My buttdyno feels my old '06 City has more acceleration power than the new City (due to the flywheel clutch CVT in old City vs torque converter CVT in new), but may be on par with the new Mazda 2 6-spd Skyactiv auto (torque converter + clutch combo). Mazda 2 is lighter and has better turning radius than City.
(g) Mazda 2 is slightly more fuel efficient than Honda City, just slightly and it wouldn't make much difference with the petrol price now. At least I can drive a bit further between refills.
(h) Small but ergonomically comfortable in Mazda 2. Honda City is big cabin and spacious.
(i) More confidence taking corner in Mazda 2 when driving around corners with the same speed in Mazda 2 & my old '06 City (~60 km/h). I feel the suspension setup in the new and old Honda City did not change much (softer so more body roll), so I assume both would perform similarly. Speeding kills, this statement is not meant to encourage more speed when tackling a corner in Mazda 2!

Hence, this leads to me in buying the Mazda 2 sedan. City is still a close rival to Mazda 2, it is for family of 5 with young adults (B-segment with C-segment cabin space). Toyota Vios (for RV only) and Nissan Almera (something from Nissan to fight B-segment), also the underpowered Mitsubishi Attrage (1.2L CVT?), as well as 3rd in line VW Polo Sedan (1.6 6spd auto).

Updates:
21/03/2015 Test drive 1
22/03/2015 Test drive 2
24/03/2015 Decision made! Mazda 2 Sedan.
10/05/2016 Mazda Skyactiv Cruise Control can be activated and installed, PM me for more information.
09/10/2017 Mazda front suspension issues
11/01/2018 New revised front strut assembly design for Mazda 2 DJ is available and replaced under warranty
06/03/2018 Update #1 after changed revised front strut assembly, include steering rack which I forgot to mention previously

This post has been edited by RicoT: Feb 29 2020, 11:49 PM

if u single mazda 2 more suitable..if u are a family man, city V

mazda 2 is just too small. Not worth it.

Personally think the Honda City V is more worthy, design and style is subjective and each person may have different view.

Test drive both and perhaps bring some friends or your parents together with you, then only decide which one is more suitable or you prefer.

Single but have to fetch parents and friends during weekend. I tried Mazda 2 rear seats, I feel the car is designed as a 2 door coupe but halfway changed design to 4 door saloon/hatchback. If you push the front seats towards the rear all the way, you won't get and leg space behind! That is the biggest surprise I got when looking at it.

I feel so too, but that design and interior.. Haven't tried the Skyactiv too..

If Honda comes out with City Hybrid this year within RM100k and spec-wise following JDM spec, I will get one. Yet, the delay since last year.. Feels like they will abandon City Hybrid. So now my alternative choices are these two cars.

I would testdrive both and IF the mazda 2 gives a superb driving feel, significant advantage over the city...then i would get the mazda2

If the mazda driving feel, dynamic and handling only MARGINALLY edges the city overall driving then perhaps city.

parents in law can take taxi. how big is ur children anyway, from single to baby also at least 3-5yrs from baby to toddler also another 5 yrs...but the thing is the baby trolley need a big space which I believe only city can accomodate, no?

In conclusion, how much significant is mazda driving over city and if u r going to have a family anytime soon...u have to sacrifice for family unfortunately.

I vote for mazda 2 , T&C applied



This post has been edited by wayfeel: Mar 16 2015, 07:26 PM

buy car that u like ~ i hav same dilemma like u before ~ end up buy Kia Cerato ~ lol

I have a feeling that this Mazda 2 might be sharing some of its chassis platform with the Miata MX-5, since both have the 1.5L as option. Most of the time there will be 2 people sitting in the car, only during weekends when we are going out for shopping and leisure drive, there will be 3 to 4 passengers, very rarely with 5. Childless at the moment. If the Mazda 2 has cruise control, I would definitely go for Mazda 2 over City, even with City has 6 airbags.

One can always be too greedy and yet unable to get everything right? That is always the case for all consumers.

I really hope that choosing a car with a coin flip and won't regret it later.

I can't say but I feel the City Hybrid is unlikely to come by, or if it comes it is hard to still sell below RM100k price range, with the hybrid car tax and GST coming soon.

City can easily fit 5 people though, you may not need it now but should think of the future too.

As usual it depends on what you want in a car and also your personal preference. Having driven the previous generation Honda City and sat in my friend's latest generation City, I would say the City is truly a bread and butter model, bare bones interior. The handling of the City is poor to my standards due to the loose steering which is quite unpredictable. Overall I find it to be a rather boring car to drive as it didn't stand out in any area. My friend who bought the new City expressed a bit of regret as he said he should have bought something more exciting instead like the VW Polo GTI. No doubt it is a practical sedan with a roomier back space but the cheap interior and handling are a bit of a letdown in my view.

As for the Mazda2, the interior looks more upmarket and classy than the City, and i believe the steering and control will be better than the City. Safety-wise the City certainly edges the Mazda2 with 6 airbags though it depends on the individual on the importance of the airbags. For me, airbags are secondary to the handling and performance of the car, and also the interior quality.

FWIW if you want space, the Proton Preve Turbo is even roomier than the Honda City, and handling is also better too. Only thing is the Proton quality is still a bit off due due to some cheap fittings, but it is not too bad.

Both are superb in their respective target market.

If you want exciting drive Mazda 2. The involvement of the paddle shifts, couple with HUD and responsive engine is hard to beat in the driver engagement factor.

Honda City is spacious, well equipped and comfy but boring to drive. CVT makes acceleration soft and the quietness and the comfy ride just makes a relaxing drive.

So, sporty feel and driving fun Mazda 2.
Wanting space and comfort City V Spec

I have been waiting since end of last year when it is supposed to launch it. If they do launch it this year, they could still get the hybrid car tax exemption incentive. By right, all current stock car should be cheaper by 4% since govt will refund sales & service tax 10% and implement GST 6%, which comes to a -4% in car price, but the distributors could always argue that MYR exchange rate going down, inflation, or won't bother. If there is a chance for profit, won't businesses take advantage of it? The salesman might give you the 4% discount.

Indeed, Honda City Hybrid is still my first choice because I like new technological stuff, but will update my opinion once I test drive both cars this weekend.

As I heard in a lot of City owner's opinion, there will always be some sort of poor standards fittings/defects in the new City, even my 2005 City, the rubber seal for the door is shorter, as it is designed to fit pre-facelift models and does not fit properly in FL models. I am not sure for Mazda though, looking at the new car, it seems everything is well fitted. Need to properly inspect the test drive car this weekend.

I am driving an old City with CVT, I don't mind that whether the drive is exciting or boring, it is just a RM90k B-segment car, and always there will be compromise in terms equipment. City has cruise control which makes it a great highway cruiser. No comment on Mazda 2 since I have yet to test drive the car, but will do so this weekend.

I'd pick the City. More practical, safer. If Mazda upgrades the 2 it is worth a look, until then... no.

BASE on your replies, just get a you a city.

The advantages you gain on M2 over City will not be significant enough for you to justify the compromise you made.

Or in other word, other than that if you are a petrol head, that love to rev and hug corners, to chase tail lights and swerve around cars, you don't buy a M2.

Wanna Impress Females - Mazda.

Married and cannot impress females anymore and has family - City

Sad. But True.

This post has been edited by Matrix: Mar 17 2015, 09:37 AM

Yes, I am thinking so too. Thanks for your opinion.

My reply now is bias towards City since I am ready to buy the City Hybrid. However, it seems that the new Mazda 2 is the best contender to the City V, so I am asking for ppl's view on this matter for consideration.

Lucky not married yet.

But females want coupe MX-5, not Mazda 2.

So you are already driving the previous generation Honda City? The City must have served you well since you are considering the same updated new model.

Do let us know your impressions once you have viewed both City and Mazda2 in the showroom and test-driven both.

Speaking of test drive...must go test drive the M2 soon...

Yes, will give my feedback here to you guys & gals.

Just to take note, test drive Mazda cars need booking in advance, not walking in. Went there last weekend, no walking in test drive available.

Mazda cars don't seem to have test drive especially for M3 and CX5 2.5 since those units are CBU from Japan. They don't keep stock. However, good to note they now have test-drive units for the M2 CBU from Thailand. Do let me know your impressions. From your post, I believe you will be contented with the City having lived with the older generation City, happily. Although I haven't driven the Mazda2, my experience with the Mazda CX5's steering feel and handling vs. Honda City and latest Accord tells me the handling of both cars, especially in the steering feel, is quite different.