MotorMouths

Enthusiasts will pass on the Mazda2 because of the gutless powertrain while non-enthusiasts will prefer the more stylish Ford Fiesta or more practical Honda Fit. Hopefully Mazda will interpret slow sales to mean they need to fix the problem, and not discontinue the car.

Despite the lack of cabin tech, we had quite a bit of fun driving the Mazda2. Maybe it’s tech fatigue after driving vehicle after vehicle loaded with complex drive systems or tremendous horsepower, but the Mazda2’s simplicity made it an in-demand car for our staff.

The Mazda2 isn’t a bad car. It has a stylish exterior and decent interior, but it still slots into the “thanks, but no thanks” category for many American car buyers like myself. On Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom scale, the Mazda2 is more of a Zzzz.

There’s nothing the least bit “zoom-zoom” about the Mazda2 Touring. What you have is more akin to “buzz-buzz.” If you want “zoom-zoom,” buy the 2011 Mazda3s Grand Touring hatchback.

The 2011 Mazda 2 is an affordable option for younger people in college or a first job, and also could be an ideal second or third car for families with several driving-age members. It’s fully up to the demands of interstate driving but would do its best service as a suburban runabout.

The 2011 Mazda 2 offers a lot of driving goodness for the money. But unlike the similarly priced Fiesta, the 2 has no available sedan body style, 20 fewer hp, and fuel economy that’s 3 to 5 mpg lower on the highway.

I can sum up the Mazda2 in one syllable: “Wheeee!” It’s cheap and cheerful and kinda slow, but still excellent fun to thrash. The Mazda2 is worth a good hard look as a daily driver.

We can give the new Mazda2 only one “zoom” for its agile ride, steering and handling. There’s no second “zoom” to be found under the hood.

Suffice it to say, we all agree that it’s a little car—and a darn good one at that. We love the 2011 Mazda 2’s light, direct steering and the slick, precise shifter, which is reminiscent of the Miata’s.

The 2011 Mazda2 is by no means a racing machine and the cargo area isn’t particularly big. It’s not all about numbers, though. It still feels lively and energetic thanks to an ultra-sharp steering, a pleasantly-calibrated suspension and superior soundproofing.

The Mazda2 may lack the do-it-all versatility of the Fit or the high-tech sophistication of the ritzier Fiesta, but it brings a solid combination of driving engagement, maturity, and value.

The Mazda2 is the sports car of the subcompact class. Equally as poised as the Fiesta or Fit, it manages to provide an unexpectedly high level of driving refinement for an inexpensive car. The Fiesta offers more tech and a flashy marketing effort, but the 2 has a more refined overall driving feel.