2008 Mazda MAZDA2 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Appearance: It's a car built to target Asian girls, and the styling reflects that. It's curvy, yet still has a few sharp angles. Looking forward to the update due in Australia in May. Build Quality: It's a Mazda... what more do I need to say? No squeaks or rattles from the bodywork (only from my CD cases in the door pockets...) Improvements I would like to see: more progressive clutch uptake (currently very abrupt), and a more progressive handbrake (doesn't hold at all unless fully on). Performance: I haven't yet had the opportunity to get it out onto a track, but occasionally on a dry, sunny day, I'll have a bit of fun. It takes a fair bit of abuse to prompt any interference from the stability or traction control. It accelerates beautifully for a 1.5L, due to having such a light chassis and body. It brakes pretty well, too, considering how light it is. Anti-lock brakes with emergency Brake Assist and Brake-Force Distribution help to pull it up quickly. Remember, though, this is a city car, not a sports car, and as such the suspension is set up for comfort. Chuck it into a corner, and there's a fair bit of body roll, but despite this, will stay on- course. Out on the freeway, however, it will cruise comfortably all day long, which was why I chose the Mazda2 over the VW Polo or Hyundai Getz. Torque-steer can be a issue if hooning away from the lights, but generally can be held pretty well. Power-to-weight ratio works in its favour in traffic, as it's easy to dart between lanes, and get up to speed. Cost of ownership (AUS $): Maintenance costs are a little higher than older cars, which is only because it has to be serviced by a Mazda service centre in order to get the computer software updates. I generally have mine serviced out of the city, where my parents live, and the service prices are significantly lower (up to 30% lower). On the fuel side of things, my calculations show an average of 6.4L/100km (sorry, don't know the conversion to MPG) Fun Factor: Love it. I live in the city, which is exactly the place it's designed for. I also spend a lot of time travelling long-distance on motorways, and I couldn't ask for a more comfortable car in the compact class. It's got plenty of sprightliness, which is great for having a giggle outside of peak traffic. Love it.Mar 07, 2010