Mazda2 hybrid is capable of beating 70mpg barrier

Mazda2 hybrid drive by Steve Rogers

It has been a week to remember. Our paralympians have been breaking records for fun and I have got in on the act as well.

Well, technically my record goes to a car because the Mazda2 hybrid achieved the best economy of any car I have reviewed in 43 years. For the first time I have cracked more than 70mpg over a week’s driving - 71.3mpg to be precise, and I wasn’t even trying, it just happened.

Before getting into the finer detail a little explanation is needed. The Mazda is a Toyota Yaris hybrid. Confused? Don’t be.

Mazda does not have hybrid technology for its Mazda2 supermini and could not justify the enormous cost of development so it made a call to Toyota who happily obliged. Mazda has made a few cosmetic changes, a different bumper and grille, and a body coloured rather than Yaris’s black panel between the rear lights, and, of course, Mazda badges on the body and steering wheel boss.

So let’s forget about Toyota, this is a Mazda and a very fine car into the bargain.

It might be small but can land heavyweight punches. Economy is the star turn but it is also a hoot to drive darting around like a hot hatchback. Acceleration is more than decent thanks to the 59kW electric motor stoking the fire of the 1.5 litre petrol engine. With Ford Fiesta off the grid this, and the Yaris, are probably the sweetest driving superminis out there.

But really this is a car that wears a Mr Sensible hat. This is a self charging hybrid that can cruise in electric at all but 60mph and store up enough kinetic energy to drive around town without using a drop of petrol.

It recharges the small battery pack through acceleration and braking and has a B gear. That beefs up the regenerative braking system and feels as if it is slowing the car, which it is, but don’t be fooled into thinking it will stop the car. It is just like dropping down a couple of gears to scrub off some speed. You can watch the state of play in a graphic on the central screen.

There is no gear changing, a CVT automatic box takes care of that so expect the usual whining when the revs shoot up, but however many people often moan about this system it is very efficient and here to stay.

Cars make a big hole in a family’s finances and with prices ranging from £24k to £29k this is a big chunk of money so is it feasible transport for a young family? The curvy roof makes entry tight, particularly into the back seats. I managed to squeeze in a child seat and later transported one tall teen and two youngsters although legroom is tight and not as generous as most rivals. Likewise boot space is low down the supermini league table.

If you can get over that hurdle then the Mazda is tempting particularly if you plump for the entry Centre-Line which has more or less all you need like reversing camera, electronic parking brake, climate control, auto dipping headlights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, radar cruise control along with a good number of safety aids.

One surprise on my middle of the range Exclusive-Line was halogen headlights. You get so used to LED headlights it is surprising how dim these seem by comparison.

Dashboard layout is standard fair, a lot of black plastic but decent quality, analogue driver’s binnacle and a quick responding touchscreen for radio and infotainment. It is irritating for passengers that a clock is only displayed with the home screen, which will rarely be displayed.

Add ons like navigation, larger touchscreen, digital driver display and a few other luxuries will be found at the top of the chain but you will need to find £29,230. Ouch.

The obvious question is why buy the Mazda hybrid over a Yaris that is £1,490 cheaper? Basically it is giving customers who like the Mazda brand a top notch alternative to the petrol Mazda2. A likely condition of the deal is that Mazda will not undercut the Yaris which sort of makes sense. At least the Mazda is a good bit cheaper than the Honda Jazz, another hybrid packing a big punch.

What a strange old world we live in when it comes to cars…

Fast facts

Mazda2 Hybrid Exclusive-Line

££25,380 (starts £24,130)

1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol; 114bhp

0-62mph 9.7secs; 109mph

70.6mpg combined

92g/km. 1st tax £175

Insurance group 14

Boot: 286-935 litres

Llangollen Food Share thanks donors for their support

For the second year running Llangollen Food Share has helped to feed local children during the summer holidays.  

During term-time all primary school children and some secondary school pupils receive free school meals. 

But parents don’t receive any help to provide the extra food needed to feed their children at lunchtimes during school holidays. 

The cost-of-living crisis is still very real to many families in Llangollen and the cost of providing extra food needed to feed their children is a real challenge.

A spokesperson for the Food Share said: “Over the last year there has been a growing need to help local families to feed children during the school holidays. Our aim is to make sure that ‘no-one goes hungry in our area’, but this aim is becoming more and more challenging to fulfil.

“This summer was the most challenging yet, because despite chasing funds from quite a few grant funders we were unable to get support for the school lunch project. 

"However, were delighted when Llangollen residents stepped in and donated over £2,000 to enable the lunch project to go ahead. The generosity of local donors is really appreciated. It has provided money for local children to receive healthy and nutritious packed lunches throughout the six weeks of the holidays.

“Llangollen Food Share began helping families during the school holidays just before the 2023 summer holidays. Help continued during Easter, Christmas and half terms. We are grateful to have received financial support from SDCP whilst the scheme was being established."

Each week throughout the year Llangollen Food Share supports over 130 local people from its centre based by Market Street car park. They also have a Community Fridge which is open to everyone that has surplus short-dated food on Monday and Thursday mornings.

* You can help to feed local people who would otherwise go hungry. Follow this link www.llangollenfoodshare.org.uk/giving to help out.

Langollen Food Share is a registered charity (1204420)

County council leader faces a vote of no confidence

The leader of Denbighshire County Council faces a vote of no confidence, according to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, see: 

https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24558116.denbighshire-county-council-leader-faces-vote-no-confidence/?ref=socialflow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00XYYpx5_u2nBLIiWZI9n5r3jufipYXKEVCvJ4vU2d408V79fiPnT6ctY_aem_mSKYeRmPNT4ftZAqjfmxGA&sfnsn=scwspmo 

Volunteer recruitment fair planned for Town Hall

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) is hosting a Volunteer Recruitment Fair at the Llangollen Town Hall on Wednesday September  25.

Volunteer and Engagement Officer Ruth Johnson said: "This is an opportunity for local organisations to advertise their volunteering opportunities to the general public. It is free to take part in and if you are interested in having a table there, you are most welcome to."

Eisteddfod opens group applications for its 2025 festival

* Côr Glanaethwy from Bangor celebrate their Choir of the World victory at the Llangollen Eisteddfod 2024. 

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has opened group applications for its 78th festival, which takes from Tuesday 8 to Sunday July 13 2025. 

Choirs and dance groups from around the globe can now apply to compete in the world-renowned celebration of music and dance.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, said: “We are delighted to be launching our syllabus for 2025, as we prepare to welcome competitors from home and abroad to North East Wales next summer. We are building on our ambitious 2024 festival, and expecting a very high standard across all of our competitions.”

In 2024, over 3,000 competitors came to Llangollen from 30 different countries. The festival is hoping to top this in 2025, as invitations land with the best amateur choirs and dance groups from around the world. 

In 2024, Côr Glanaethwy from Bangor won the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, along with the title of Choir of the World. The Young Choir of the World accolade was won by Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir from the USA, with the Llangollen Dance Off being won by Prolisok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.

The most famous winner of the competitions in Llangollen was Luciano Pavarotti in 1955, when he was a member of the Corale Rossini, a male voice choir from Modena, winning first prize at the International Eisteddfod. 

He later said that this was the most important experience of his life, and that it inspired him to become a professional singer. Since the festival was launched in 1947, tens of thousands of people from around the world have competed in the festival’s unique competitions.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is located in the idyllic town of Llangollen in North East Wales, the majority of the competitions taking place in its magnificent 4,000-seater Pavilion.

* Group applications are now open with full details of the competitions released on https://eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk/  Applications for the solo competitions open on December 1 2024.

MS and MP want meeting with town councillors over public toilets

* Ken Skates MS and Becky Gittins MP.

Local Labour politicians will seek a meeting with town councillors in a bid to ‘explore every avenue’ to keep Llangollen’s public toilets open. 

New MP Becky Gittins and Clwyd South MS Ken Skates say they’ve been contacted by a number of local residents who are concerned about the possible closure of the facilities on Market Street.

Mrs Gittins is MP for the new constituency of Clwyd East, which includes Llangollen. She attended the recent public meeting in the town hall and said she’s aware of the strength of feeling locally.

She said: “Ken and I had a productive meeting with the Denbighshire County Council leader and lead member and I’m optimistic a solution can be found – we’ll certainly explore every avenue we can.

“We now need to get round a table with county council officers and Llangollen Town Council. We all want the same result, and we need to work together to deliver it for the town.”

Mr Skates said the meeting with county councillors Jason McLellan and Barry Mellor was ‘positive’.

He added: “I'm keen to see the local authority work with the town council on this, and Becky and I want to bring them together to find a solution.

“The meeting with Denbighshire was positive and sitting down with the town council and making sure we’re all on the same page is the clear next step. No one wants the toilets to close, so I think we’re building from a solid foundation. Becky and I will certainly do all we can.”

Denbighshire County Council said it had to find £10.4m of savings as part of its 2024/25 budget.

The county council is under no legal requirement to provide public toilets but said it wanted to review the needs of the community. 

A proposal to review public convenience provision in the county was one of the potential savings identified, so a public consultation was launched to allow residents, business owners and visitors to have their say.

Aqueduct named world's most captivating landmark

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal have beaten other global landmarks, including the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Carioca landscapes in Brazil and the Ancient City of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka, to be crowned the most captivating UNESCO site in the world.

* For the full story, see: Welsh landmark named ‘most captivating in the world’ above sites in Brazil and Canada (msn.com)