Over the last five years, the battle of the subcompacts has been heating up in North America, and it now features no less than seven competitors, including the Mazda2.

Starting at $14,720, the 2 substitutes some features compared to its competitors, in favor of staying cheap. Fully loaded with an automatic transmission, and the Mazda2 ends up at $17,050.

Offering a fun to drive frame, and some bubbly design features, does the 2 stack up to its competitors?

Read on the find out.

Fuel economy is probably the primary reason someone gravitates towards a sub-compact, and in the Mazda2, the car delivers exactly what is promised. The EPA rates the manual transmission Mazda2 at 29 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined. In our week with the 2, our average was 34 mpg, measuring in just over the EPA’s combined number. Fighting against the 2’s fuel economy was how tight the chassis is, which made it hard to resist building up as much speed as possible before each turn. Driven with care, the Mazda2 could probably get even better numbers, with a stick shift.

That said, the automatic Mazda2 still relies on a four-speed gear box which surely would not deliver the same fuel numbers, and the EPA rates it at 30 mpg.

Loaded with four adults, the Mazda2’s bubbly design helps maximize head room allowing for a comfortable experience. Even the rear-seat passengers were not disappointed with the amount of leg room offered by the small car. But sacrifices were made to make the passengers comfortable, and they become apparent when cargo is loaded into the back.

Rear-cargo space measures in at 10 cubic feet, a full 9 cubic feet less than a Chevy Sonic has in the back. As the hatchback is the only model offered, the 2 can haul your buddies, but probably won’t have the room for all their gear.

 

The simple cloth seats offered in the Mazda2 are not ideal for travelling long distances. They are flat, with very little lumbar support or bolstering, and force you into an upright seating position. While a short hop to the office doesn’t merit breaking out the pain pills, a two-hour stint of straight driving in the 2 can feel a little tedious. The lack of a telescoping steering wheel also adds to the discomfort over time.

All that combined with the shifter which is housed in a large plastic outcropping at the bottom of the center stack which cuts into your leg space, and the Mazda2 can get a little uncomfortable for the driver.

By nature, most small cars are fun to drive, but the Mazda2 features some of the tightest and connected steering on a subcompact. Body roll is very minimal, and understeer is hard to find, especially considering the 2 only makes 100 hp from its 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Clutch engagement is a little numb, but the shifter has very short throws and easy to find gates.

Essentially, the Mazda2 would make a great first car for a budding enthusiast looking to find their way into the world of fun to drive cars, as the clutch is forgiving and easy to figure out.

Thanks to the space eaten up by the stick shift housing,  all three pedals have been jammed just a little closer together, especially the brake and the clutch. Getting your foot caught on the brake pedal when trying to lift the clutch can be a dangerous experience, one which we had the unfortunate displeasure of experiencing.

Big feet aside, even a small footed driver would likely take some time to get use to the pedal positioning in the 2.

Are you interested in a Mazda2? Check out our new car buying page, or skip straight to the new Mazda page. 

And if your heart is set on the 2, click here to go straight to Mazda’s subcompact page.