The all-new 2011 Mazda MAZDA2 is an exciting and economical entry-level offering designed to stand out among a growing number of hatchback competitors. The MAZDA2 faces direct competition from the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Cube and the Suzuki SX4.
The 2011 Mazda MAZDA2 is an overall good car when something economical, small but not very quick is needed. The steering makes up for many of the hatchback’s performance faults by making the car fairly nimble in its movements and cornering. However, the bottom line on a car like the MAZDA2 is that its primary goal is to be a stylish, affordable and economical mode of transportation.
Mazda MAZDA2 Interior and Features
The modern exterior design is countered by a generally stale interior, which is not unexpected inside small cars in this price range. Comfortable seats with room for tall adults in the front are a plus, though the cramped rear seats and no telescoping steering wheel leave something to be desired inside the MAZDA2.
The most glaring missed mark on the interior of the 2011 Mazda MAZDA2 is the small amount of cargo space. Even for a hatchback the numbers are small. With the rear seats up and in place, the cargo space is measured at 13.3 cubic feet. With the seats folded down (but not completely flat) the cargo capacity is measured at 27.8 cubic feet. This is less than half the cargo capacity of some competitors that feature more box-like exterior
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dimensions. Unfortunately, this is the trade-off for a sportier looking exterior.
There are only two available trim levels available with the 2011 Mazda MAZDA2; the Sport and Touring packages. The Sport level has full power accessories, air conditioning, 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, tilt steering, auxiliary input jack and a four-speaker CD/MP3 audio system.
The Touring trim package upgrades the wheels to 15-inch alloy, two additional speakers, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rear roof spoiler, chrome exhaust tips, fog lights, upgraded seats and audio controls on the steering wheel.
Safety comes by way of front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability and traction control.
Mazda MAZDA2 Performance
The performance of the 2011 MAZDA2 is attributed to the 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The engine puts out 100 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque. This is on the lower side of the power scale when comparing most other cars in this segment, but the MAZDA2 still feels a bit sporty thanks to nimble handling and a light weight of 2,300 pounds. The steering is quick and responsive with good road feel, unlike some other electric power-steered units.
A five-speed manual transmission comes standard but a four-speed automatic is available at an additional cost. The MAZDA2 has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 27 miles per gallon city and 33 miles per gallon highway for the automatic while those models equipped with the manual transmission are estimated at 28 miles per gallon city and 35 miles per gallon highway.
