Vehicle Overview

Launched internationally in 2007, the subcompact Mazda2 arrives stateside for 2011 as Mazda's entry-level offering. It's only available as a hatchback and is slotted below the Mazda3. However, the Mazda2 has more standard features than its larger sibling. The Honda Fit looks to be a major Mazda2 competitor, as do a host of other small cars, from the Ford Fiesta and Chevy Aveo to the Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. The Mazda2 comes in Sport and Touring trim levels. Both employ a 100-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Manual and automatic transmissions are available.

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    Brake System
    Foot Brake Your Mazda has power-assisted brakes that adjust automatically through normal use. Should power-assist fail, you can stop by applying greater force than normal to the brake pedal. But ...

    Interior
    Mazda is one of those companies I can't figure out. Its lineup is full of attractive, affordable, fun-to-drive and competitively priced cars in almost every segment. Yet where I find myself liking ...

    Satisfying Drivetrain
    What you get for your diminished mileage is respectable but not exceptional acceleration. Though the 2.3-liter four-cylinder (to be replaced in the 2010 by a 2.5-liter) is pretty robust, the Mazda ...