The 2 debuted at the 2007 Geneva auto show, but Mazda’s plans regarding U.S. sales were still up in the air at the time. Now, seeing the continued success of other small cars here, Mazda will make a play at our market.
The U.S. car will forego the 1.3-liter inline-fours available in Japan and Europe in favor of a more powerful 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Power ratings are 100 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque—hardly numbers to get excited about, but competitive with the Fit’s 117 and 106, respectively. Weighing in, Mazda says, at 2300 to 2350 pounds depending on trim level, the 2 is a couple hundred pounds lighter than the Fit, so we expect Fit-like acceleration from the Mazda.
The 2’s price is nice, starting at $14,730, and our test example rang in at $16,985. As for the competition, the Ford Fiesta hatchback starts at $15,795, the cheapest Honda Fit is $15,650, and the Nissan Versa five-door can be had for as low as $14,270. But add options to those models to equip them comparably to the 2, and their prices zoom past this Mazda’s; we stand behind our conviction that it represents a good value. Besides, the 2’s lively handling makes it among the most rewarding to drive of the bunch, even though it loses in cargo versatility to the Rube Goldbergian Fit. If you want to keep the price down, though, the Mazda 2 Sport should drive exactly the same as this Touring, and it still has features like A/C, power windows and locks, and keyless entry as standard. In either guise, the 2 provides clear proof of that secret we mentioned up top: Small, cheap cars can deliver ample fun during everyday driving, and they don’t come much more enjoyable than the Mazda 2.
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