12:11 pm, October 24, 2015
THE last month has seen the departure of a couple of our favourite long-termers, leaving the office car park looking a little sad. Happily, new replacements have started to arrive and I have been given the privilege of my own designated long-term car to drive and write about.
As staff photographer, and having seen the kind of long-termers provided to photographers at other publications, I was rubbing my hands with glee at the prospect of something in the sporty estate/saloon line.
Disappointment is the wrong word for my knee-jerk reaction when I heard it was the Mazda 2. I was more concerned about how I would fit all my kit in it. Images of being crammed in the back on top of my own equipment sprang to mind. Was this going to work?
I should say now that I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s a cracking car!
Since its arrival a couple of weeks ago I’ve done easily over 1,000 miles in it and few cars have provided such a comfy, competent drive.
On top of this, the Mazda isn’t lacking in equipment. The infotainment system is excellent and they seem to have really nailed the navigation system. It’s a feature I was really pleased to see Mazda had included, and it’s so easy and simple to use, and so far incredibly accurate.
In conclusion, after uncertain first steps I can honestly say the Mazda 2 is proving to be the perfect workhorse. Long may it continue.
Jonathan Fleetwood
