Mazda2: Little "zoom-zoom"

One glance at this car... or rather, at this little one, is enough to immediately determine who it was created for. And Mazda itself does not hide it: the new "two" is aimed primarily at the fair ladies. This is eloquently indicated by both the appearance, the juicy body colors, and the elegant headlights... At the same time, following global trends, the Mazda2 remains true to the brand's style. Moreover, some details — for example, the contours of the wheel arches or the central "porthole" on the dashboard — evoke memories, oddly enough, of the RX-8. And yet, this little "zoom-zoom" has its own zest. It is charming, although its charm is difficult to break down into components. Overall, it looks great, but you start to find fault with the little things... The plastic is hard everywhere, the dashboard, though unusual, is quite simple...

It is worth noting that the originality of the interior did not hinder practicality in the least. Take, for example, the instruments: the readings of the large speedometer are read without difficulty. The engine speed on the slightly smaller tachometer is also easy to control. It takes a little longer to get used to the electronic fuel level indicator. And the coolant temperature remains a mystery altogether — instead of the usual gauge, there are two indicators here. While the engine is cold, a blue light is on; after warming up, it goes out, and if, God forbid, the engine overheats, a red one will light up. The radio control buttons are scattered across two separate blocks, so at first you have to search for the right one. But I am sure this is a matter of habit.

The glove box is arranged curiously. Its lid consists of two sections, one of which is clearly designed for documents and A4-format booklets. The trick is that access to it is possible without opening the lid.

The rear row of seats is as spacious as is generally possible for the dimensions of the Mazda2. Three people on the sofa is, of course, a bit cramped, but two can sit quite comfortably — knees are unlikely to press into the back of the front seats, and there is also headroom. With such a spacious cabin, the trunk could not be outstanding, but its modest volume is compensated by thoughtful organization. Under the floor, which is more accurately called a cargo area shelf, a three-section plastic box is hidden — a first aid kit, a tow rope, a warning triangle, and other small items easily fit there. If the small compartments are not needed, the partitions are removed, and you get one roomy box. And if you look even deeper, at the very bottom, you will find a spare wheel. And here it would be a sin to complain that instead of a full-fledged wheel there is a space-saver — I think that when developing such a compact car, there was a great temptation to abandon the spare altogether. How many cars are offered to us today with only a can of sealant?

As often happens, the pros on one side of the scale tend to balance out a considerable number of cons on the other. The con, in fact, is one — the car turned out to be completely non-driver-oriented. It is not about the engine — it is quite peppy and elastic. Of course, the weak low-end torque, typical of most modern engines strangled by environmental regulations, is also present here. But if you do not let the tachometer needle drop below 3000 rpm, you can move quite confidently both in the city and on the highway. But the steering wheel does not lend itself to active driving. Due to a lack of feedback, you constantly have to correct the steering in corners, and on a straight line you also want more stability. Body rolls in turns are quite expected given the generally soft suspension. The stability control system behaves rather strangely — it intervenes with a noticeable delay, which would seem atypical for a ladies' car. But is it worth evaluating such a car by traditional standards? I strongly doubt that its new owner will take corners with tire squeal or be upset about the lack of steering feedback.

The new Mazda2 will be available for purchase only in spring. Japanese managers decided not to rush the premiere, but instead to offer customers the widest possible choice of trim levels. Given the target audience of this cutie, it is easy to predict demand for versions with an automatic transmission, and their production starts only in January. According to official forecasts, the price of such a Mazda2 will be approximately $17,500, while the base "two" with a manual will be offered for $16,300. However, base is not just base — if you carefully study the standard equipment of the model, its price will not seem exorbitant. There is a quite powerful engine (1.5 L, 103 hp), a full electric package, and as many as six airbags. You can also recall the 15-inch wheels, but for a budget car, which the "two" is considered to be at Mazda, listing this as a plus is somehow awkward — the tires will not be cheap. But the CD player with MP3 and ABS, also included in the "base," our female drivers will certainly appreciate. So, husbands and boyfriends, get the money ready.

Alexey Tikhonov