Overview

An all-new model for 2011, the Mazda 2 is the automaker's entry in the "first car" market: a budget-priced hatchback that shares a platform with another newcomer to the US market, the Ford Fiesta. The Mazda 2 might also be compared with the Honda Fit. A very similar sub-compact, the Mazda Demio, has been sold outside the United States since 1996, and has also been known as the Mazda Metro, Mazda 121, and Ford Festiva.

Sport, the base-level trim on the 2011 Mazda 2, features 15-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, power steering, some power accessories, remote keyless entry, and a 4-speaker sound system. The Touring trim upgrades to alloy wheels, and adds leather wrapping and audio controls to the steering wheel. It also adds fog lights, roof spoiler, trip computer, cruise control, fancier cloth upholstery, and a 6-speaker sound system. A center console is optional. Cargo capacity between the hatch and the rear seats comes to 13.3 cubic feet, and with the rear seats folded down, cargo space is increased to 27.8 cubic feet, Mazda says.

The 2011 Mazda 2's standard power plant is a 100-horsepower, 1.5-liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the standard 5-speed manual transmission, according to the EPA. With the optional 4-speed automatic transmission, the Mazda 2 makes 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. The Mazda 2 employs front-wheel drive.

Standard safety equipment on the 2011 Mazda 2 includes anti-lock brakes (front disc, rear drum), stability control, traction control, front side air bags, and side curtain air bags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Mazda 2 a highest-possible "Good" rating for front-impact crash protection, and "Acceptable" for side-impact protection.

Starting MSRP for the 2011 Mazda 2 was $14,180.