Hiroshima’s baby hatch, presently here in three grades, achieves a styling freshen and might be in line for a new infotainment package.

ANOTHER round of updates have been implemented to Mazda’s smallest hatchback, which with nine years’ under its belt already has become the brand’s longest-lived passenger model here. 

The changes to the model, which presently avail in SP15, GSX and Limited trims for between $28,290 and $32,590, are headlined by a mildly-revised front end with a larger front grille, a new X-shaped lower bumper, and more prominent Mazda badging with an integrated radar sensor. The rear bumper also reshapes.

There's also a body-coloured, EV-like plate on the front grille for select versions and an "asymmetrically placed colour accent on the front grille and rear bumper," similar to that seen on the latest CX-5.

The Mazda 2's colour palette will expand with the addition of two new metallic finishes – aero grey and airstream blue.

Inside, there's a larger 8.0-inch infotainment screen. It’s not clear if NZ cars will be as they are coming to Australia. Those are built in Thailand and retain an with an older type of the MZD Connect interface. The car as it sells in Japan has a higher-tech version, with wireless Apple CarPlay and a wireless phone charger. The interior trim is also different.

Mazda NZ has yet to offer comment on the car. Australia is taking its first shipment from June.

This is the line’s second facelift, coming four years after the first, which largely added more active safety features, and other new technology, but also altered the frontal styling.

 The 2023 Mazda 2 hatch and sedan will commence sales in Australia in June, with deliveries set to begin in July. Local pricing and features are expected in the coming months.