Pint-sized packages: 2025 Mazda 2, MG3 Hybrid+ Excite, Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus

Despite Australia’s car-buying trends moving towards larger models, there is still a small car segment packing big value into little cars.

For this comparison, we’ve taken three popular models in the segment: the 2025 Mazda Mazda2 GT Sedan, MG MG3 Hybrid+ Excite and Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus to find out which does the small car, big value combo best.

Prices start at $26,990 for the manual Pure hatch, with our test GT sedan rounding out the range at $28,190 before on-roads. MG’s MG3 Excite Hybrid+ and Suzuki’s Swift Hybrid Plus feature driveaway pricing of $29,990 and $28,490 respectively, giving the pair a price advantage over the Mazda2 GT.

2025 Mazda2 GT Sedan

Mazda’s diminutive third-generation Mazda2 debuted almost ten years ago and, while a new model has been touted, for now it continues to fly the flag for the brand, which upgraded the line-up in late 2023.

Available in sedan and hatch, the revamp included an interior and exterior freshen up, new colours, improved tech and safety packages, and minor mechanical tweaks to the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder. Not earth shattering, by any means, but welcome, nonetheless.

Powering the GT is Mazda’s venerable 1.5-litre SkyActiv petrol engine producing 81kW and 142Nm (auto), with the revised mechanicals reducing the combined fuel consumption figure from 5.2L/100km to 5.0L/100km (auto).

Though an aging design compared to the Swift and MG3, Mazda has filled the 2 with enough kit to keep it competitive, including wireless Apple CarPlay, surround view camera, adaptive cruise control and front parking sensors, plus the GT features suede trim and contrasting red stitching.

Mazda offer a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 10,000km service intervals, with five years of servicing adding up to $1947. The Mazda2 was anointed with a five-star ANCAP safety rating up until 2023, but the current range remains untested and therefore doesn’t have an ANCAP rating.

Driving the 2 is a lot like pulling on your favourite pair of old jeans – maybe not the most fashionable, but the go-to for everyday use. The set-up inside is functional and ergonomically well laid out, although the hard plastic side of the centre console rubs on your leg.

We’ve never been a fan of the dash design and it’s starting to show its age – the small digital readouts either side of the centre tacho are hard to read at a glance. The infotainment screen is minuscule by today’s standards, although the rotary controller in the centre console – which allows you to toggle between the different settings for audio, navigation etc – is better to use than a touchscreen when you are on the move (and in fact the Mazda won’t let you use the screen when the car is in motion).

Suede seat facings add a touch of class to the interior but the front seats aren’t the most comfortable here, too firm and lacking support on the seat base. Leg room in the second row is on the tight side too.

Where the sedan has unfair advantage is in boot space – clearly the largest by far – and while the second row doesn’t fold flat into the floor, a cavernous space is available (compromised somewhat by the old-style dogleg boot hinges that intrude into the space and narrow letterbox opening aperture).

Mazda’s 1.5-litre mill could do with a bit more grunt and, while the engine performs well around town, its habit of seeking the lowest transmission ratio to maximise economy makes it feels sluggish and unresponsive when you need to accelerate quickly.

Through the bends sport mode sharpens performance, and the naturally aspirated engine plays happily in the upper reaches of its rev range, but not enough to trouble the two hybrids.

Steering feel is on the dull side compared to the MG3 and Swift, but the suspension settings are sound, providing a good balance between ride comfort and handling, arguably enhanced by larger 16-inch Dunlop tyres.

2025 MG3 Hybrid+ Excite

MG’s trajectory in the Australian market has been spectacular, starting inauspiciously 2016 with the launch of the first generation MG3. While derided by many motoring pundits, its sub-$15k sticker price saw it sell in droves.

The brand’s lineup subsequently grew to include small and mid-sized SUVs and the cheapest EV in the Australian market. Behind the success is Chinese manufacturer SAIC Motor, which purchased the MG nameplate in 2007.

The new MG3 launched mid-2024, with petrol and hybrid variant in two specification levels: Excite and Essence. The days of sub-$20k light cars has passed and the new MG3 starts at $23,990 for the Excite, with the Excite + Hybrid $27,990.

Engine options are either the 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol, developing 81kW and 142Nm, or the same 1.5-litre petrol coupled the MG’s 100kW electric motor and 1.83kWh battery hybrid system developing 155kW and 128Nm. It requires premium unleaded petrol and claimed fuel consumption figure is 4.3L/100km compared to the non-hybrid’s 6.0L/100km.

MG offers a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty with five-year capped price servicing costing $2045. 

The new model has a comprehensive set of standard features, headed by a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, seven-inch electric instrument screen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus 16-inch alloy wheels.

On the safety front autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and emergency lane keeping are standard, although ANCAP gave the new model just a three-star rating.

From most angles the MG3 is nicely proportioned, albeit with a busy side profile of curves and creases mashed between the 2570mm wheelbase. The infotainment and instrument screens deliver a contemporary look with a rotary gear selector dial sitting subtly in the centre console adjacent to the electric parking brake.

Lack of reach adjustment for the octagonal steering wheel wasn’t a hinderance to the team and a comfortable driving position is easily achieved, with the front seats softer and more supportive the Mazda2’s although not very hard-wearing – the driver’s seat upholstery on our test vehicle had already begun to deform.

The infotainment screen has plenty of options and setting adjustments, but navigating them can be frustrating and some displays lack the visual clarity and intuitiveness needed for operation when driving. Much like the new MG4, the MG3’s interior lacks pizzazz and scratchy seat facings further detract from the quality feel.

In the back there’s a tad more leg room and foot space for passengers than in the other two, although the omission of a split-fold seat back limits rear cargo space practicality.

As gripes go, however, the biggest is the hybrid drivetrain and its inconsistency in operation when driving.

Firstly, the good news. The package is lively off the mark, and the new chassis feels much more planted through corners – as a driver’s car, the MG3 is miles ahead of its predecessor. The bad news? Under acceleration or while travelling up longer gradients the drive train exhausts battery reserves, which sees it revert to the petrol engine, losing power and momentum until the engine management system switches on the electric motor to replenish the battery.

The problem was its inconsistency – sometimes it would work seamlessly then under similar scenarios take an eternity to interconnect, leaving the car struggling.

The system’s unpredictability was exacerbated when we reversed from a standstill on a slight incline and the system failed to fire up. The MG3 rolled forward alarmingly until the petrol engine kicked in. Compared to leading hybrid contemporaries, this system is a long way behind. 

2025 Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus

The Swift has been a staple in the light car segment since the 1980s, delighting both the budget conscious with its mainstream models and motoring enthusiasts with genuine sporty ‘hot hatches’. The latest generation, launched in 2024, focuses on the mainstream with Suzuki’s new hybrid powertrain.  

Three hybrid variants are available, with the entry-level Swift Hybrid manual priced at $24,490 driveaway, while the auto-only Hybrid Plus and Hybrid GLX are priced at $28,490 and $29,490 respectively. The Swift has a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and a five-year service plan based on 75,000km is $1955.  

The Swift Hybrid comes equipped with autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, rear cross traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. As tested no centre airbag or AEB back over is available and its ANCAP safety rating sat it at a mere one star. Recent tweaks made to chassis reinforcement have seen the Swift receive a subsequent three-star score from ANCAP. 

Standard kit includes keyless entry, leather wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay, satellite navigation, a nine-inch infotainment screen and 16-inch alloys.

Suzuki’s hybrid system differs from the MG’s. Its what’s known as a mild hybrid, where a traditional battery-charging alternator is replaced with an integrated starter generator (ISG) that starts the engine and generates enough power to charge a small lithium-ion battery located under the floor. 

When you need to accelerate, power from the battery flows to the ISG, increasing the engine’s performance. Underpinning all this tech is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and CVT producing 61kW and 112Nm, with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 4.0L/100km. 

The interior is a modern interpretation of classic design, the steering wheel framing a large easy-to-read instrument cluster. The touchscreen is positioned centrally in the dash, while a conventional gear selector and manual handbrake fall to hand in the centre console. The cabin ambience is light and airy with a contrasting colour palette of light and dark tones lifting it above the MG3 and Mazda2.

Seat comfort is on par with the MG3, the front seats nicely bolstered in the lower backrest holding occupants securely. While the driving position feels slightly more perched up, tilt and reach adjustment aid in providing a comfortable position and in the second row there’s enough space to make carrying large adults a realistic proposition. 

On road the Swift is fleetfooted, and while its ride is on the firm side compared to the other two, through corners it comes into its own and the light, direct steering enhances the drive experience. It doesn’t have the MG3’s punch off the mark, but it’s no slouch either. A kerb weight of just 957kg helps, and even higher up the rev range it’s not excessively noisy in the cabin.  

At the bowser the Swift returned 4.3L/100km, the best on test, with the Mazda2 recording 4.8L/100km and the MG3 consuming 5.0L/100km. Both hybrids, however, require 95 premium unleaded.  

The verdict

The MG3 hybrid drivetrain needs further refinement before it can be taken seriously, leaving the Mazda2 GT and Swift Hybrid to battle it out.

The Mazda2 is a tried and proven package for sure, but the Swift feels fresher, livelier to drive and has more personality than the Mazda.

In a segment where every dollar is scrutinised, the cheaper driveaway pricing tips the result in the Swift’s favour.

Vehicle specifications