Mazda Gives Us a Nice, Affordable Subcompact with the 2

The 2014 Mazda 2 offers owners the advantage of great fuel mileage which is generally what is sought after in this class of vehicle. With an athletic stance and aggressive look, the Mazda 2 doesn’t look as clownish as many of its competition, but it is still a subcompact and lacks some of the features found in larger vehicles. As a subcompact car, this is a great car for anyone searching for a reliable and fuel-efficient car that is also fun to drive. On the other hand, those searching for power and an infotainment system need to check out other cars in order to get what they want.

Add to the appeal of the Mazda 2 the large array of colors that can be chosen, which allows owners to personalize their Mazda 2 to match their personality and add to the fun of the drive very easily. With no major upgrades for 2014 over the 2013 model, anyone who is familiar with the car will find the same great features carried over into this year’s model.

This car is meant to save fuel, not impress with power and if passing acceleration is important for a highway commute, it’s better to look elsewhere. However the handling of the Mazda 2 is fantastic and the car can easily take on any curve the road can throw its way with the highly responsive steering. Sacramento Mazda tells us that the suspension is exceptionally engineered as well offering the ability to handle all road defects with ease and control that isn’t often found in this class of vehicle. Weighing in at only 2,300 pounds, the Mazda 2 is light and fun earning its “zoom zoom” tag with the steering advantages over other cars in the subcompact class.

Only one engine is offered for the Mazda 2 that is a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine. This engine only produces 100 horsepower and 98 lb.-ft. of torque, but with the light curb weight this is plenty for the car to get where it needs to go, especially if zipping around town is its primary use. Two transmissions are available, a five-speed manual transmission that brings in fuel economy at 29 city/35 hwy mpg and is noticeably more fun than the automatic. If however the car is destined for a lot of highway miles and an automatic transmission will be a better choice, the four-speed automatic transmission has a fuel economy that comes in at 28 city/34 hwy mpg.

On the inside the Mazda 2 offers a cabin that is surprisingly roomy, especially for front seat riders. Offering an appealing look that reminds previous Mazda owners of yesteryear with orange backlighting and a circular center control theme, the dashboard offers not only nostalgia, but a nice look that is easy to enjoy and use. Even though the backseat is a bit cramped, it is fairly comfortable, especially for children to ride along with the driver. With only a small cargo area behind the rear seat, the 60/40 split rear bench allows for additional cargo space and a very versatile cargo configuration to make it easier to haul larger items home when called upon to do so.

The overall shape of the car, whether described as a teardrop, an egg, a bullet, or any other oblong shape doesn’t really offer a very complimentary thought the details and accents of the exterior of the car, along with the long list of colors to choose from make for a uniquely Mazda feel to the car that gives it a fun and exciting personality. With a smiling sub and primary grill along with slant shaped wrap around headlights the car comes at the road with a joyful but menacing look, ready to excite the driver with its superb handling. Add the door panel moldings and the direct angle from the hood to the windshield and back across the roofline and the car does appear to zoom from its stance on down the road. The wheels are a nice 15-inch set that offer a spoke style cover for the Sport trim and actual alloys for the Touring trim.

In an effort to keep the price low, this is unfortunately a very base car with only a few standard features. These features include air conditioning, power windows, door locks, and side mirrors, a tilt steering column, keyless remote entry, a four-speaker audio system, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with brake Assist and Electronic Brake Force Distribution and six airbags. Even though this is a small list of features to come standard on a car, all of the features are well thought out to allow for comfort and control to go along with the great price tag.

Adding optional features to the Mazda 2 turns it into a basic, but nice hatchback into a nicely equipped and easy to love vehicle. The optional features for this car include cruise control, a trip computer, upgraded cloth seats trimmed in red piping, a leather wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, a six speaker audio system, a rear roof spoiler, fog lights, chrome exhaust tips, alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a compass, Bluetooth connectivity, a center armrest with a storage bin, and a cargo net. With all of these options added to the car the vehicle is really enjoyable to ride around in and fun to drive.

Offering a starting price point of $15,515, the Mazda 2 is one of the most affordable cars on the road today and with the additional savings at the gas pump the car almost puts money back into the owner’s pocket. The automatic transmission increases the price by $840 and the Touring trim will start at $17,005 and move up to as much as $17,845 with the automatic transmission and a host of options added to the car that is a great choice and a lot of fun to drive.