Mazda 2 Archives - The Weekly Driver

Mazda2, 2012: keen handling lightweight among top sub-compacts (video)

The sub-compact car segment is increasingly popular among buyers on tight budgets and interested in saving money on rising fuels cost. The 2012 Mazda2 joins the Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio as top offerings in the class. A year after Mazda introduced the third generation of the "2," the 2012 edition remains the same. It's a 100-horsepower, 1.5-liter, four-cylinder entry level sedan with a a five-speed manual transmission standard or a four-speed automatic optional. Videographer Bruce Aldrich (www.tahoetruckeeoutdoor.com) produced this video and The Weekly Driver (James Raia) provided commentary. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.

Automotive News

Mazda2 2011 car review

Publisher’s note: With this review, the Weekly Driver.com has added the What The Wife Says category to my reviews. According to recent statistics, 52 percent of the new cars purchased in the United States are made by women and more than 80 percent of new car purchases are influenced by women. My wife comments about many of the cars I test drive. She’s eight inches shorter and a lot of pounds lighter than I am. Of course, women are different than men in other ways, too. Cheers, James Raia ** Available in global markets as the Demio, the 2011 Mazda2 joined the carmaker’s number-named lineup in the United States and Canada this year as its new entry-level sub-compact. Available in