MotorMouths

The Mazda 2 is a cheeky little hatchback that offers sharp handling, good fuel economy and very attractive looks, but its performance and interior refinement could stand improvement.

The 2’s eagerness to champion the driving experience above all else distinguishes the Mazda in a segment that tends to emphasize thrift at all costs.

The Mazda2 isn’t that impressive on paper — just 100 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. But buckle in and you’ll quickly discover this car shares the brand’s reputation for building cars that are responsive, engaging and fun to drive.

As far as the driver goes, until there’s a more powerful Mazdaspeed2 version, we can give this new car only one “zoom” for its agile ride, steering and handling. There’s no second “zoom” to be found under the hood.

Mazda doesn’t have much to fix when it comes to engaging and entertaining 2011 Mazda 2. If you’re looking for a subcompact car, you need to drive this one.

We’d love to own a Fit when it comes time for an Ikea run, but for everyday driving, the Mazda 2’s offering is just a bit sweeter. Functionality is nice, but enthusiasts want something better poised to handle the main task at hand – driving.

We stand behind our conviction that The Mazda 2 represents a good value. Besides, its lively handling makes it among the most rewarding to drive in its segment, even though it loses in cargo versatility to the Rube Goldbergian Fit.

Neither as technically sophisticated nor quite as classy as Fiesta, nor as spacious as Fit, the Mazda nevertheless is compelling for its engaging driving feel, charming appearance and thoughtful touches that make it seem not quite as low-priced or little as it really is.

The 2011 Mazda2 may very well be the cutest car I’ve driven to date. But with its 100-horsepower 1.5-liter engine and manual transmission, I can’t really say that there’s any zoom-zoom.

The Mazda2 proves the adage: Good things come in small packages.
Before driving this five-door five-seater, I thought the most fun I would have was counting the pennies I’d be saving at the pump. What I found instead was a car with enough pep to keep me interested.

Driving the 2 is invigorating, while not quite up to Mazda’s usual zoom-zoom standard. The steering is precise and responsive and the ride-and-handling is nicely balanced. The 2 is light on its feet and feels like it enjoys being driven. Got to work on that mileage, though.

The Mazda2 is an excellent commuter, college car or second car, especially if you have a pulse when it comes to the driving experience. It will surpass expectations from the inside out with a meticulous, quiet interior, snappy handling, lots of standard equipment and excellent fuel efficiency.