Mazda2 hatchback (2007-2015) - Practicality & boot space

You don't expect a supermini to be the most practical choice, but the Mazda2 is smaller than most of its rivals, which counts against it here.

Mazda2 interior space and storage

Superminis have been getting more and more comfortable in recent years, so it's disappointing to note that the Mazda2 lags behind a little in this area, too. There's a decent amount of space on offer in the front and back, but the front seats aren't the most supportive (although there's plenty of adjustment to help you get comfortable). On the plus side, the Mazda2 is only available as a five-door hatchback, so kids and adults will have no trouble accessing the rear seats, which offer class-average head and legroom.

Storage in the cabin is pretty good: there's a large glove compartment, a handy magazine rack, deep door bins and several other cubbies for keeping your odds and ends in. Ease of driving and parking in busy town centres is what's vital in this class, and the Mazda steps up to the plate here with a combination of compact dimensions, a tight turning circle and good visibility all round.

Mazda2 boot space

Once you get to boot space, things start to look less impressive, though. Luggage capacity is only average for this class – 250 litres compared to 292 litres for the SEAT Ibiza and 276 for the Ford Fiesta (on which the Mazda is based). Yet the biggest problem isn't the small size of the boot – it's the somewhat awkward and impractical shape of the opening, along with a high lip that makes loading heavy or bulky items into the car difficult. It'll be fine for the weekly shop, but trips to the DIY or furniture store could prove to be a challenge.

With the rear seats dropped down, you can carry 787 litres of luggage, but again the competition does better here: the equivalent figure for a Skoda Fabia is 1,180 litres and for a Vauxhall Corsa, it's 1,050 litres. On the plus side, you get a reversible boot floor lining, which is very handy if you're carrying anything wet or mucky and don't want to ruin the boot carpet. Remember, the entry-level TS car only has a folding rear seat – if you want to split it and only fold down one section, you have to upgrade to Tamura specification.

Mazda2 towing

Towing capacity is not really relevant to superminis, but you can tow a small trailer weighing up to 900kg with the Mazda2 if you need to. Better still, the eager 1.3-litre engine is responsive at low speed, helping offset the weight of anything you're towing, while good visibility takes the stress out of parking when you're hitched to a trailer.