The Mazda2 is a genuine hoot to drive, thanks to a package that accents responsive steering, agile handling, and a calm ride. This small car has good sight lines, including the driver’s rearward scans. Each rear headrest curves overtop the seatback rather than looming as a rearview vision-block. The dashboard’s contour enhances the cabin’s openness, but that roominess doesn’t mean hard-to-reach buttons/knobs and other controls. Simply put: the Mazda2’s interior reflects commonsense ergonomics. Mazda2 is offered in Sport and Touring trims.

Powering the front wheel drive Mazda2 is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 100 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 98 pounds-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. The engine mates to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. During a weeklong test drive, the manual’s smooth shifts made good use of this subcompact’s power. The 13.3 cubic feet of rear cargo space expands to nearly 28 cubic feet via the 60/40 fold-down rear seat. Mazda2 Touring with manual transmission collects mpg of 29 city/35 highway and has a MSRP of $16,210.