Mazda Mazda 2 test drive since 2007 hatchback

Testing the best car in the world

For a long time, automobile journalists did not make a meticulously a new car. Mazda representatives were even a little sorry, especially when the small Mazda2 began to compare with Mercedes-Benz C-class or Ford Mondeo. And what did you still want to have the best car in the 2008 world for the test. It was Mazda2 who managed to get ahead of such wonderful machines as a C-class and Mondeo in the final. Therefore, the demand with the new Mazda will be special.
To begin with, a few words should be said about the competition, which this year has so sensationally ended. The World Car of the Year award is awarded for the fourth time, but it has already managed to become very authoritative winners there are determined by 47 most famous automobile journalists in the world. Moreover, if all other contests for the choice of a car of the year are limited to some separate country or maximum by the continent, then the World Car of the Year should, in theory, unite the whole world. In 2005, Audi A6 was recognized as the best in the world, in 2006 the BMW 3-series accompanied, and in 2007 defeated Lexus LS460. And for the first time, a small and compact car became the best. Moreover, Mazda2 won such strong rivals as Ford Mondeo (2nd place) and Mercedes-Benz C-class (3rd place). How did Mazda2 be the first? First of all, due to the fact that the deuce received a lot of points for environmental friendliness, the totality of the qualities of the machine and for the ratio of price-quality.
The most important importance
Sometimes it happens that from the point of view of experts, ordinary customers do not like the best cars. Therefore, let's try to forget about the results of World Car of the Year and see what is good and bad in Mazda2. And let's start with the most important. From the price. After all, no matter how ideal the car is, at a high cost it will not be in demand. Especially when we are talking about a class of class B. Mazda representatives do it correctly when they do not indicate the minimum cost of a deuce in advertisements. After all, the most modest car costs 424,000 rubles, or almost $ 18,000! It sounds just frightening, especially considering that the air conditioner is not included in the package of such a machine. For comparison, the Opel Corsa is extremely popular with us for only 329,000 rubles.
However, there are nuances that are not visible at first sight. Do not forget that in the Russian market Mazda2 is still sold only as a 5-door hatchback, and under its hood you can find only one engine. Its volume is already 1.5 liters (103 hp). For a class of class in this very decent power unit. For comparison, the most powerful motor on the same Corsa is a 1.4 -liter unit, which has 90 hp. (The OPC version in this case does not count). In addition, there is one more moment despite the lack of air conditioning, the basic version of Mazda2 has a very good set: six airbags, ABS, a radio with CD and MP3, electric mirrors and front glasses!
And it turns out that Mazda2 should only be compared with Corsa with a 1.4-liter unit in the COSMO version. And if you equalize the equipment of Mazda2 and Corsa Cosmo (and for this you need to put a special package on the Japanese machine: air conditioning + fogging + rear steering wheel power windows), it turns out that the cars are exactly the same. And more specifically 464,000 p. or $ 19 850 per version with a mechanical box (the price of cars in such equipment with automatic transmission is slightly different: 495,000 rubles per mazda2 and 489,000 r. For automatic Corsa Cosmo).
Mazda2 has a second set called Sport. Such a car costs 517,000 p. (549,000 rubles per automatic transmission), and it has climate control, a contrasting system (!), Casting 16 inches and a musical system with six speakers.
But, you know, I somehow do not want to praise Mazda. Let them not relax. Of course, the deuce has an excellent ratio of the level of equipment, but I want Mazda to sell more affordable cars with us. For example, with a 1.3-liter engine (75 hp or 86 hp), which is available for European buyers (no one even counts on a 1.4-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 68 hp). Cars with a 1.3-liter unit will appear, but later. Apparently, simultaneously with the entry of 3-door versions of Mazda3 to our market (this model was shown in March at a car dealership in Geneva).
The most important importance No. 2
You can talk for a very long time about how great the controllability of the car and its brake dynamics are of. But buyers are concerned about something else. The second place in importance after the price is the appearance of the machine. Moreover, in this case, we are talking not only about design, but also about what one or another of the image (for example, even the most pretty Chinese will be perceived for a long time as some kind of misunderstanding on the road). Mazda with the image is all right. And the deuce will only strengthen the image of Mazda as a manufacturer of sports cars. The car looks just cool!
Some claim that Mazda2 is a purely female machine. Nothing like this! Of course, the girl will look great in this car. But if a man sits behind the wheel of Mazda2, then the ill -wishers are unlikely to begin to dissolve rumors about his sexual orientation. And if someone begins to do this, then know he just hopes that you are with him in the same gang.
But the salon is no longer so interesting. Recently, more and more often, class B machines are obtained very well -made insides, where soft plastic is used. And from a car that was recognized as the best in the world, we had the right to expect something enchanting. But alas. In the Mazda2 salon, everything is about the same as for many other models of a similar size and price. Namely, hard and not the most expensive plastic, simple buttons. No, no one says that the deuce is bad inside. Everything is done there very high quality, a significant part of plastic from afar is similar to soft, and you can’t hold ergonomics. The car has a very pleasant steering wheel, especially if it has a leather braid, comfortable seats and a front console with a light hint of designer delights. And if Mazda2 had not won the World Car of the Year, then no one would have remembered about the salon made of hard plastic. Now, sorry. In addition, there is not a lot of places inside the deuce, especially in the second row of the chair and in the trunk. And the loading height of the trunk was very decent. But in Mazda they say that this is done specifically to strengthen the body.
Noise insulation caused a lot of controversy. This indicator actually says a lot. Previously, Shumka was an openly weak place in all Mazda without exception. But the Japanese carried out work on the mistakes. As a result, the deuce has more or less good sound insulation, which, however, can only be evaluated at four.
Part is third, but still very important
Talk about how Mazda2 rides is necessary. Moreover, she does it just do not forget that under the hood of the car there is a 1.5-liter unit (103 hp). Not to say that it turns Mazda2 into a lighter for street racing, but the deuce will steer very gambling. And not only thanks to the engine, but also due to a well -tuned chassis and electric power steering. The car is happy to go into turns, clearly holds the trajectory, provoking the driver to go faster and faster. And here the main thing is not to fall into madness, otherwise you can finish. That is why we strongly recommend that you purchase a car with a contrast system. She works unobtrusively, working only at the last moment. Moreover, if you want to show off and put the car into a skid, then the system can be turned off (but once again for especially hot ones, it is better to do this only on a free platform where there are no other cars and very far from the pillars).
Most liked the car with a manual gearbox. Yes, and the machine is not bad, even despite the fact that it has only four steps and does not have a manual switch. In the city you hardly not notice it, and on the highway the box allows you to actively accelerate. Only data on maximum speed was a little embarrassed. According to official figures, a car with mechanics can accelerate to 188 km/h, and with automatic transmission only to 168 km/h. Of course, machine guns always make a car a little less dynamic, but so that the loss is 20 km/h at once ... This is somehow too much. But God with her, with this maximum junction, especially since it is unlikely that the owners of Mazda2 will ride faster than 150 km/h. By the way, one interesting feature in Mazda is sure that the machine will choose as many as 83% of customers of deuce. And further. In Europe, Mazda2 with automatic transmission will not be sold in principle. Such cars will only go to the Russian market.
D. Smolyanov
 

 

Source: Auto.mail.ru