Test Drive: 2011 Mazda2 GS
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VOICE OVER: Miranda Lightstone
Like an itty-bitty Mazda3, this brand new Mazda2 hatch might be small, but it's full of spunk and attitude. The car's trendy design packs a punch, with the most noticeable feature being the bright colors available. You'll definitely stand out on a road full of black and silver sedans in this trendy ride. There isn't much under the hood, but that's okay for the Mazda2 because it's a lightweight car that really packs some zippy power. The Mazda2 is marketed as being a bit of concentrated zoom-zoom, and after a week behind the wheel http://www.WatchMojo.com would have to agree.
Design:
First of all, it’s good to note that the insane-asylum grin of the Mazda3 has not made it on to the front facade of the Mazda2. Instead, the car is a smaller example of everything Mazda does right. Stylish, young, hip and almost too cool, the Mazda2 has curves and lines in all the right places, placing it perfectly in the hatch market where it will happily take top marks.
Offered in colors that are decidedly too bright for some, the Mazda2 offers a little bit of pizzazz on the road that seems to be lacking in the market today. From Spirited Green (like our tester) to Passion Orange, you’re sure to find a Mazda2 that suits your personality to a tee.
Inside, Mazda has kept the 2 simple and straightforward. It almost seems too simple a times, but for the price, it gets the job done.
Drive:
Despite the tagline “zoom-zoom concentrate” it’s hard to get too excited about the 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder that pushes out 100 horsepower -- until you get behind the wheel. Thanks to the low curb weight, the power-to-weight ratio is so fantastic that the little Mazda2 zips around quite nicely and nimbly.
Now, because this car has, inevitably, been compared to the Fiesta I’ll make a comparison with the drive and the only difference I can find is that the Fiesta is less twitchy and feels sturdier on the road.
Lower gears in the Mazda2 are tricky with a manual gearbox. First and second gear are extremely jerky at lower speeds in traffic and I found myself becoming increasingly annoyed with the little subcompact number the more I drove it. I just preyed for an automatic transmission every time traffic slowed to a crawl.
However, other than that the Mazda2 is a fun, spirited car to drive. And really, when you’re driving around in a car that’s brighter and more cheerful looking than anything else on the road, how can you not be happy?
