Exterior

Thanks to an arcing black garnish atop the air dam, the Mazda2 carries the smiling expression Mazda has recently affixed to most of its cars. The lower air dam dominates the Mazda2's nose; a thin grille with Mazda's logo sits above it. Sport trims come with body-colored door handles and side mirrors — a rare standard feature in this class. Touring trims add fog lights, 15-inch alloy wheels and a roof-mounted rear spoiler. Around 155 inches long, the Mazda2 is a bit longer than the tiny Yaris hatchback, but significantly shorter than most others. Its 32.2-foot turning radius beats all but the Yaris.

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    Modestly Powered Base Engine
    The base 161-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder provides acceptable performance in city and suburban settings. Acceleration is quick enough, letting you keep pace with traffic. Where the engine s ...

    Six-Speed Manual Transmission
    Both engines feature a manual six-speed transmission with a compact three-shaft design carried over from the original model. It has triple-cone synchronizers for first, second and third gears, and ...

    Brake Fluid
    Inspecting Brake Fluid Level Inspect the fluid level in the reservoir regularly. It should be kept at MAX. The level normally drops with accumulated distance, a condition associated with wear o ...