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The four-speed makes some driving maneuvers, like entering a freeway from a looping on-ramp, a downright raucous exercise
By no means is the 2 fast, but compared with others in the class it feels just as quick to get up to speed.
When there are only 100 horses’ worth of motivation...you need to make the most of it all, and the automatic just can’t
With the five-speed, the car is entertaining enough, but the automatic drags it down.
In terms of everyday drivability, the 2 is a charming little whip.
PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The four-speed makes some driving maneuvers, like entering a freeway from a looping on-ramp, a downright raucous exercise
Edmunds
By no means is the 2 fast, but compared with others in the class it feels just as quick to get up to speed.
AutoWeek
When there are only 100 horses’ worth of motivation...you need to make the most of it all, and the automatic just can’t
Car and Driver
With the five-speed, the car is entertaining enough, but the automatic drags it down.
Popular Mechanics
In terms of everyday drivability, the 2 is a charming little whip.
Autoblog
The 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that comes under the hood of all 2013 Mazda2 models isn't that impressive from a numbers standpoint, as it only makes 100 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. Furthermore, that horsepower and torque is farther up the rev range than some other modern small-car engines.
Considering that, the five-speed manual gearbox makes the most sense with this high-revving engine, and provided you don't mind making it a habit to rev the engine a bit above 3,500 rpm. A four-speed automatic transmission is available, but it has widely spaced ratios and tends to shift too early to provide much perkiness on demand--and it lacks a true manual-shift mode.
Handling is where the real "zoom-zoom" happens in the Mazda2; behind the wheel, you'll forget you're in a small hatchback with a pretty tall stance. The Mazda2 feels lower and wider than it is from inside, with a beautifully balanced chassis and suspension tuning that's firm but well damped. Even the electric power steering gives the impression that the Mazda2 is a hot hatch in disguise. And we'll go so far as to say that the Mazda2 feels like a less-expensive alternative to the base Mini Cooper.
That said, the Mazda2 feels very much in its place on tight city streets and congested areas, displaying lots of grip and poise despite its small, narrow 195/50 tires. While it feels just as composed at higher speeds, that's where the engine's inadequacies start becoming an issue. The engine doesn't have a lot of power to spare, so the engine noise and required downshifting to move rapidly on highways can be a bit fatiguing if you want to keep up the same energetic pace at higher speeds.
Conclusion
The 2013 Mazda2 is among the best-handling small cars--despite its meager 100-hp rating.
