EXTERIOR
That Mazda2 is small, but it still manages to pack in a huge style punch. The rounded hatch, coupled with a rear spoiler and cat-eyelike headlights are totally likable. I'm not really sure I'd take a full-grown adult seriously in this car, however. It's just too cute. It seems much more appropriate, both in style and price point, for a teen driver or a young adult just out of college.
One thing that does impress me about the Mazda2 is how it manages to squeeze in four full-size car doors – plus a fifth if you count the hatch – into such a little design. This car is vaguely reminiscent in size to my own Volvo C30, and every time I approach the Mazda2 I'm still a tad bit surprised there are rear doors. That makes it doable in a pinch for families with school-age kids, who have short legs.
The small size, low step-in height and placement of the car doors makes this cutie easy for little ones to open the door, climb in and close the door independently.
The Mazda2 has a 100-hp, 1.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine that takes regular gas. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. With the optional four-speed automatic, it gets 27/33 mpg.
See also:
Money-Saving Suggestions
How you operate your Mazda determines
how far it will travel on a tank of fuel. Use
these suggestions to help save money on
fuel and repairs.
- Avoid long warm-ups. Once the engine
runs smoothly, ...
Interior
For its exterior size, the CX-9's cabin is a bit snug. Its passenger volume
is 139 cubic feet, which is smaller than the seven-seat Highlander (146 cubic
feet), the Traverse (154 cubic feet), the ...
Tiedown Hook
CAUTION:
Don't use the tiedown hook under
the rear for towing.
It is designed ONLY for tying down
the vehicle when it's being
transported. Using it for towing will
damage the bumper.
Tiedown Ho ...