First Drive: Mazda2
Review & Photos by Gerry Frechette
The fleet of subcompacts is growing quickly this year, and the latest to hit North America is the Mazda2. Mazda plans to position the 2 as the fun-to-drive “Personal Smart Commuter” car, and the engineers have done their job to back up that claim.
This is not the first generation of the 2, which has been sold for years in Asia and Europe, but this latest generation has gone on a serious diet, losing some 100 kg over the previous version, no small accomplishment given how diminutive the car is. Every part of the 2 was fair game for lightening, from suspension to interior trim to speakers, and the result is a car that feels nimble and dynamic – and weighs but 1,046 kg.
Mazda “gets” what makes a car feel fun to drive, and it all begins with the major controls like the throttle pedal. The two key elements of the accelerator are a sense of linear acceleration and deceleration, and immediate response to pedal inputs. It sounds simple enough, but the way the accelerator (and brakes, clutch and shifter) feel are crucial to the feeling of “oneness” with the car.
Of course, the machinery at the far end of the pedals plays a part. The Mazda2’s engine is a 1.5-litre four with 100 hp, a little smaller and less powerful than a few others in the class, but lighter weight equalizes things, and the engine is a willing performer. Transmissions are five-speed manual and four-speed automatic. We drove both, and predictably, the manual felt much livelier. The automatic works as well as one would expect it to, but it is still a step behind the most advanced (six-speed) unit available elsewhere in this class.
Mazda’s designers sought an “expression of movement” in the 2’s exterior design, and at that, one must consider it mission accomplished. It isn’t the first small car to have that plunging character line from the taillights to the front wheels, but when you add Mazda’s trademark pronounced arch over the front wheels, and a subtle swoop low on the body, you get a car that looks bigger and faster than it is. The gaping maw of a grille, though, may be a little overdone.
The Mazda2 will be available in two trim levels – GX and GS. Even the base GX has power windows, locks and mirrors, MP3 and audio jack, and all the safety gear including dynamic stability control, standard for $13,995. The GS adds goodies like A/C, alloy wheels, six speakers, leather-wrapped wheel and more for $18,195. Automatic goes for $1,100 on either model, and the GX can be had with a Convenience Package (heated mirrors, keyless entry, four speakers, trip computer and more) for $895.
In Canada only, there is the $19,280 Yozora Edition, a tuner-style special built off the GX/Convenience with A/C. It comes with a special decal package (there are others available through dealers), rear spoiler, chrome tailpipe, and bigger 16-inch alloy wheels shod with performance tires. Also included is a set of mounted snow tires. How cool is that?
And that pretty much describes the Mazda2. Cool, and measuring up to the brand’s Zoom-Zoom image quite nicely.
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