Urban crazy / Mazda test drives

Those ladies who are considering the Mazda2 will surely be delighted. And why, exactly, am I talking about women? Because this new model is primarily aimed at them. Judging by my own impressions, two adult men behind the wheel of the "two" look somewhat comical and raise questions among passers-by about the drivers' tastes. However, I won't hide it: even a seasoned male motorist will get a lot of pleasure from this car. But I'll tell you about that a bit later.

For now, let's return to the fair half of humanity. They will undoubtedly be captivated by the abundance of bright and cheerful shades in which the Mazda2 is painted. For girls looking for a car, this point is far from secondary. One can only feel sorry for the men who are destined to wait anxiously while their beloved decides on a color. I can just imagine such an enthusiastic person dashing around the showroom from one car to another, saying: "Oh, what a lovely green one! Although no, the red one is probably better. Or maybe the blue one? And the white one is simply exquisite! And the light blue one is nice too... No, still, the green one is dearer to me..."

As a person who is unlikely to become a buyer of the Mazda2, as a journalist who is already hard to surprise in the automotive world, and simply as a man, I was generally indifferent to what color the test car would be. However, I was still pleased when my partner and I got the "white one" — a noble, pure shade that looks like a win-win in any situation. Moreover, it turned out to be a version with the optional Sport Appearance Package, which includes a different front bumper with an enlarged air intake, a radiator grille painted in the body color, sill covers, and a rear spoiler. With such a body kit, the Mazda2, which already looks bright and distinctive, becomes even more daring and attractive in appearance.

The interior can also vary depending on the trim level — Sport or Energy. In the more expensive Sport version, climate control, a trip computer, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel appear. However, in any configuration, the Mazda cabin features thoughtful ergonomics, harmonious layout, and sufficient space, while the instrument panel pleases with a "playful" yet well-readable design. But while most girls would find such an inspection quite sufficient, we wanted something else — to get out of the city as soon as possible onto the highways and mountain serpentines of the blessed Krasnodar region to thoroughly test what the new B-class newcomer from Mazda is capable of in motion.

However, first we had to drive a few kilometers to get out of Krasnodar. During that half hour, I learned two key things. First — the Mazda2 invariably attracts glances with its appearance unlike any other, with expressive contours of the front wheel arches and a rapidly rising window line emphasized by side stampings. Second — the "two" (who would have thought!) performs excellently in city traffic. Traffic in Krasnodar, of course, is not as dense as in Moscow, but it still allows you to appreciate the car's agility and maneuverability. It immediately becomes clear — this is its native element. A wonderful, nimble little city car.

Having finally written off the Mazda2 as a "city dweller," on the highway I was genuinely pleasantly surprised by the elastic but not jolting suspension, confident directional stability at speeds over a hundred, and dynamics quite acceptable for a modest 1.5-liter engine paired with a 4-speed automatic. Of course, that city agility is no longer there on the highway — overtaking needs to be planned in advance: the four stretched gears of the gearbox do not allow quick acceleration after 80–100 km/h, and on kickdown the engine starts to howl desperately.

But how many classmates behave differently? Not a single one. Besides, to be honest, I rarely managed to exceed the permitted 90 km/h — local inspectors monitor speed very meticulously. However, on open sections, the Mazda can accelerate to the stated 168 km/h. At such a speed, it is quite quiet by itself (good aerodynamics have an effect) and behaves with a calmness uncharacteristic of such compact cars, annoying only, again, with the roar of the engine at high revs. On the highway, the "two" drives quite well, but still, it's not its element.

But on mountain serpentines and passes, the "two" unexpectedly truly revealed itself. True, it was a different example — without the body kit, but on 16-inch wheels. The suspension is tuned simply magnificently! It is very energy-intensive, does not break through even on serious bumps, but at the same time allows you to clearly feel the car in extreme modes. The grip on steep turns seemed simply incredible. My colleague and I happily conquered some passes twice! I even caught myself thinking about an MPS version, which, of course, does not exist for the "two." The only thing that irritated on mountain roads was the automatic transmission, which became too thoughtful in such conditions: you open the throttle on the exit of a turn, but get acceleration with a noticeable delay, already on the straight. But we must not forget that we are talking about truly extreme modes for which this car is, in general, not intended.

It is clear that the lion's share of Mazda2s will be sold with an automatic transmission. (By the way, for Europe such a unit is not provided at all; the automatic is a purely Russian feature.) Nevertheless, upon returning to the hotel in Kabardinka, we found a car with a manual gearbox in the parking lot and did not miss the opportunity to take a ride. The winding road to Novorossiysk turned out to be an excellent testing ground. Here, the manual Mazda showed itself in all its glory. It became obvious that 103 horsepower and a mass of less than a ton is excellent power-to-weight for a small production car. The "two" with a manual is completely devoid of "thoughtfulness" — it instantly, without the slightest pause, responds to pressing the gas pedal, and on straights accelerates 20 km/h faster than the version with the automatic. I will separately note the impeccable ergonomics of the pedal assembly. Once I placed my feet in the right positions, I didn't move them again — the left one either presses the clutch or rests on the footrest, and the right one manages the gas and brake. This is rarely found even on more "adult" models! It's a pity that, according to Mazda marketers' forecasts, less than 20% of future owners will enjoy all the delights of the manual version. Alas, not only inexperienced female drivers, but also the traffic jams increasingly strangling our cities dictate a growing demand for cars with automatic transmissions...

The Russian debut of the Mazda2 showed that another extremely serious player has appeared in the B-class. Mazda has created a truly successful, stylish city car with a memorable appearance and a lively character. Today, the "two" is head and shoulders above all its Japanese rivals, and, frankly, many "Europeans" as well. Once again, one marvels at how rapidly the Japanese company has been progressing in recent years.