I saw a Mazda 2 testing on the road today. It looks like hatchback Yaris with Mazda styling

Beneath the skin, it's a relative of the Ford Fiesta and due out soon.

 

I saw a green one yesterday pulling out of the Mazda Lot in Marietta, GA. They must have gotten an early release. This is what the one I saw looked like:

 

edmunds drove one, it's on their insideline website

 

motorweek show review

the car is just another little turd

2011 Mazda2 | MotorWeek | PBS Video

 

There is a 2011 Ford Fiesta on display at my local costco. Interior looks VERY nice considering the segment. Not a bad looking car in person.

 

Mazda only offers a 4-speed auto for this car and not a CVT. Sorry Mazda, I have been spoiled by my CVT Prius.

 

My dad had just bought a Mazda 2 a week before he passed away in March last year. It din't look unlike the one pictured in post 3. I'm surprised it hasn't been on the market in the US for over 18 months like it has here.

 

The Mazda2 is at US dealerships now. It's aimed at a lower market segment than the Fiesta with a smaller engine and, likewise, the options list for the Mazda2 is quite a bit smaller, too. For example, you can't get a sunroof or leather interior on the Mazda2, but you can on a Fiesta. The Fiesta also gets a 6-speed automatic versus the 4-speed auto in the Mazda2.

In comparison to other, 'upscale' 'city cars' like, say, the Yaris and Fit, the Mazda2/Fiesta are very nice and should be on anyone's shopping list who's in the market for that kind of a car. But be forewarned, they can get pricey (esp. the Fiesta) very quickly.

 

A 4-speed auto might be ok if you live in the flatlands, but here in SW PA you are either going up a hill or down one. A 4-speed auto is poop on a stick, especially with the A/C on. From what I saw the Mazda2 isn't selling that cheap to have an old Ford Escort trans. It is too bad that the auto industry can't fully step out of the past; building vehicles that they know don't work well.

 

Yeah, Ford/Mazda have resorted to some juggling of MSRP/Invoice pricing to try and position the Mazda2 down to where people will take the lower content:

Base Mazda2 (sport) with auto: MSRP - $14,780, Inv - $14,605
Fiesta SE (hatchback) w/ auto: MSRP - $16,190, Inv - $15,509

So, to get an equivalent Fiesta with an engine bigger by 100cc and an extra two gears on the auto trans will cost between an extra $1410/904.

There's also only a $175 difference between MSRP and Invoice on the Mazda. With such a tight margin, it looks like there won't be anywhere near the dealing at Mazda dealerships on the price of a Mazda2 as there will be at Ford on the Fiesta.

On top of all that, when the all-new 2012 Focus shows up at Ford dealerships within the next six months or so, you can bet that the Fiesta will get some rebates to keep it viable. Even a small rebate (say, $500) has the potential to quickly make the Mazda2 an also-ran. While consumers might not pay an extra $910 for a Fiesta to get an engine bigger by 100cc and a couple of more gears on the auto (MSRP prices), they might pay an extra $404 (Invoice) to get that stuff.

I know I would.