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Get More 2011 Mazda2 Review at AutoGuide.comMazda Proves You Can Do a Lot With A Little
If the Mazda2 proves anything, it’s that 100-hp can in fact be fun. That’s right, in case you haven’t heard, the newest and smallest car in Mazda’s lineup makes a piddly 100 ponies – almost a third of what you’ll get in some mid-size sedans.
But fun it is, thanks to an incredibly lightweight package, tipping the scales at just 2,300 lbs to start. That’s far less than almost anything else on the market (save a Smart car or a Lotus Elise), and a solid 250 lbs less than the Ford Fiesta, which shares the same platform.
STRIPPED OF WEIGHT, BUT NOT OF QUALITY OR FEATURES
Better yet, the Mazda doesn’t feel like a stripped-down runabout. On the contrary, the Mazda2’s interior puts many of its competitors to shame with a handsome design and excellent materials for this level of vehicle. Sure the seat fabric in the base Sport trim level isn’t thrilling, but the overall use of materials is quite good with piano black accenting on the center stack. The Mazda2 also seems to benefit from component sharing with the rest of the Mazda lineup, with substantial and high quality switchgear and soft touch buttons carried over from the 3. And even in base trim the car still comes equipped with power windows, locks and remote keyless entry.
Upgrade to the Touring trim and you’ll be greeted with much improved black cloth seats with red piping, a six-speaker (as opposed to 4-speaker) audio system, trip computer, plus a leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel with redundant audio controls and cruise control.
Overall, the Mazda2, like its bigger siblings, displays a cockpit well above the competition.
