New Car Prices and Reviews

Mazda2
At the 2010 New York Auto Show, Mazda announced pricing and more details on the upcoming all-new Mazda2 – and dubbed it “Zoom-Zoom Concentrated.” The 2011 Mazda2 plans to go on sale this July, starting at a reasonable $13,980 ($14,730 with destination charge) – putting it squarely up against the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, and Toyota Yaris – along with the upcoming Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500. The Mazda2, as you may have guessed, is going to focus on being a fun to drive car and less on the “premium” segment (like the Fiesta) and the plastic econo-box image (like the Aveo, Yaris, and Versa.)

The 2011 Mazda2 has two trim levels available – Sport and Touring. The Sport trim gets some decent standard equipment, including ABS, traction and stability control, 15-inch steel wheels, A/C, power windows and locks, auxiliary jack, keyless entry, and tilt steering wheel. Sadly, cruise control is not standard. For $15,435, the Touring model gets you that cruise control along with upgraded seat cloth with red piping, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, leather-wrapped steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, trip computer and a six-speaker stereo system.

Both trims get only one engine – a 1.5-liter, 100 horsepower, four-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. Please people, pick the manual transmission.