Is Mazda 2 a Great Commuter?

[Auto-X-er]

Ok, perhaps a stupid question because of course it is a great and economical car to own. Due to the discounts being applied and the fact that I can find the rare Tourings with a manual has me interested now.

I am looking at the 2 not just because I cant afford anything else, but more just because I like small well handling cars. I have an NC in STR for auto-x and would be looking at something strictly for commuting and had a couple of questions.

Comfort: Is the 2 comfortable enough for long distance trips for someone right at 6 ft? It seems reasonable when I test drove it a couple years back, but I didn't really pay attention. Also along with that, does it have a lumbar support? It says 6 way adjustable, but I was wondering how they were counting.

My current car is a Saturn Astra that I lucked into a few year back for a huge discount. I like the way its optioned, so I was wondering if anyone was disappointed not to have these. I have Auto Wipers, Auto Lights, Heated Seats, Heated Mirrors that I would miss. They both are hatchbacks that I like, have trip computers, and wheel mounted controls. They are also both under powered for this country, but then I have something a bit more sporting for when I need it. Overall how does everyone feel about the features? Good enough really, or lacking important things?

Last is the handling. I know the feel of the car is great, but the stock rubber is terrible (typical Mazda) and its hard to get a feel for the car with that. Once there is decent rubber does the suspension start to get overwhelmed. This is definitely the problem with my NC as the American market suspension is frankly terrible and it gets worse once you have decent grip. That car is 100 times better with a suspension. Since the 2 would be a commuter I would hope to not feel the need to go that path. Does the handling stand up with better tires?

Long list, I just wanted to hear from the owners...

Thanks

Oh and the gf has a manual 5, so also interested in having an all Mazda, all manual garage...

 

[Heimy]

I am 6 ft. and it is comfortable for me to take long road trips. I live in KC and have drove to Chicago and Houston comfortably with plenty of room for my fiance and our luggage.

 

[Ryno666]

I'm 6'2" and its great. Your Astra cant hold a candle to this car. Just do it!

 

[ngd298]

The 2 is a perfect commuter car. I drive 400+ miles a day all the time, and even with Eibach springs it is very comfortable. I have wider rims and General G-Max tires and the car is like a big go cart, doesn't feel overwhelmed at all, the 2 loves to be flug around like crazy. Not a lot of power, but you can easily pass and merge onto the interstate without a worry. If you do get a 2, an armrest is a must have; makes the car twice as comfortable. No lumbar adjustment, but the standard setting is just fine for me. The only option I want and don't have is a USB port (grabbing my phone every time I want to change songs gets old) but it is standard on the 2013s so that wouldn't be an issue for you.

 

[eyeballs]

IMO the 2 is an ideal commuter car for someone with an STR miata (I sold my '99 shortly after getting the 2, unfortunately). Very comfy, and fun to drive (especially in town, it can feel underpowered on the hwy if you want to pass). I'm surprised at your thoughts on the tires...maybe you'll change your mind when they're broken in a bit. They cannot be compared to auto-x rubber, but with the factory suspension I think the stock yokos do commendable job. The car really comes alive when thrown around in the corners and I found the grip from the stock tires surprisingly good (for stock rubber on an economy car).

 

[genericmoniker]

Canadian market cars have auto lights and auto wipers, do the states not get those? I've had a couple 6ft+ people sit in the back seat for a couple hours and they seemed no worse for the wear after the drive (mind you, I'm 5'5).

To be completely honest, I found the stock tires great for a car under 20k, I mean, have you driven a fiesta?

 

[kwaits92]

I'm 6'4 and I have no problems in the 2. However, I get weird looks when I get out of the car and tower above the car by 2 feet. Haha.

 

[kcdirtbro54]

I'm 6'4 for and drive mine daily with Eibachs. No issues here. I have a Sport model so it's definitely lacking a lot of features, but that's my fault for buying something like this. No complaints here. Just don't roadtrip with 4 people. 3 people tops with very little luggage is about the best you'll do. If your commute consists of 75+mph speed limits then your gas mileage won't be great. My commute is 60mph highway and I regularly see upper 30s and hit 40mpg quite often.

 

[fam]

Great commuter car I drive 50 miles a day on highway....once springs are installed on crappy Ohio roads I have started to despise my springs...but incredible in traffic...NO ONE will be able to win on a brake check against you because it stops so well.. handling is amazing with springs and is really flat in hard corners. It is amazing in that aspect. Lumbar support.....not as good as the 3 or the 5...it doesnt have adjustable lumbar on the side like other mazdas...but seats are comfy. Ive driven it on 3 hour trips (one way) all the time and no issues (i do have to stretch from time to time). Its so light on power if you want to autox you really have to know your racing line and know where you can cut those corners to decrease distance as it can carry mad speed in turns but has no "balls".

by the way...if you want one...

I owe 13600 on my 2011 true red touring, has 23k miles...comes with extras like the OEM armrest and tint. Has H&R springs installed (have OEM's in the box), have camber bolts new in the box, have a midas performance exhaust with a really nice tip that I took off after 1 day because it was too loud for my commute, and a set of wheels with worn out hankook rs2's (one has a bad valve stem and I no longer trust it for autox).

 

[colonelangus]

commuter........thats what they built it for .. mazda already has fast cars ,suv's etc ..imo they needed an affordable entry level car that would be fun to drive cheap on gas easy to park ..........they succeeded

 

[PGTBrow]

I commute 2 hours a day with mine (wrc)

 

[Racebrewer]

Ditto. I love the car. 6'2" with long legs. I use an OMP lumbar support that 'velcro's' in place. The support helps with my aging back muscles as does tilting the seat back.

So much more fun to drive tham my wife's Honda Fit.

John

 

[Auto-X-er]

Thanks for all the comments. Glad to hear taller people are comfortably commuting. I dont usually have back issues, but my Miata absolutely kills my back and it has no lumbar support. Its hard to survive going to event 2 hrs away with this problem. Being Mazda to Mazda that has be concerned. I dont really want to have to have a Velcro back support in a brand new car as my current car provides great support.

Perhaps I am being picky on the tires, but there are much better tires out there and perhaps I am spoiled by my STR NC. I put the Continental DWs on the Astra and it reacted great to them. The same thing on the stock NC suspension overwhelmed it, and it was a nervous wreck on 255 RS3s and stock suspension. I see that many of you have springs. Hopefully that is not necessary to predictable car at the limits. I am not one to drive all out on the roads, but I do push cars to their limits given clear space.

I am approaching this picky because I have a decent daily driver. I am just not happy with a future of a GM car made in Belgium to only be worked on by Chevy mechanics and I honestly like the smaller car. On driving dynamics it obviously blows its class away in the price range, just difficult to settle on a car with less creature comforts.

 

[eyeballs]

Sure lots of us have upgraded springs, this is an enthusiast forum. The car handles great and is fun to auto-x in stock form. But like most cars, there is body roll. I was blown away by the aggressive cornering behavior of the car in stock form the first time I had it in the mountain twisties, and again at the first autocross. But now I have springs and sways, because theres always room for improvement, and no shock/strut upgrades are available just yet.

 

[Max Archer]

The stock Yokohamas are garbage. Even cheap "performance all-seasons" blow them away. Grippier tires are a little more than the stock suspension can handle, but the perfect setup to make up for it Racing Beat's springs, which are just stiff enough that the car feels as agile and responsive on sticker rubber as it does on stock, but you'd never know it wasn't stock when looking at the car or riding in it if nobody told you. When I first drove a 2 in the canyons, my exact comment was that the car needed an inch of drop, 10% more spring rate, and a size wider tire. Racing Beat's springs are almost exactly those specs, and after driving my friend's 2 with RB springs and 195s, I can say that it's an awesome setup. I tried his car on the intermediate setup; tires but no springs, and the handling is a bit vague.

I daily mine with the same springs and they're great, but I'm on stock rubber until after winter. Just to make it clear again, the springs don't feel aftermarket and the car doesn't look at all modified, it's just slightly sportier than before. A Mini Cooper S or Civic Si (my previous DD was an '09 Si) is a good comparison, totally daily drivable. I've driven like 12,000 miles on the springs in the last six months, including four or five trips of close to 400mi each way, and I don't have any complaints about the ride quality. (Tellingly, neither does my GF, who'd be the type to complain about it endlessly if it were a problem.)

There are three things that I wish my 2 had - bluetooth, USB input, and satellite radio. A 2013 takes care of the first two and there are options for the third if you care.

I'd hesitate to call it underpowered, by the way. It's certainly by no means the slowest thing on the road. 100HP doesn't sound like much but I never feel frustrated with it, even after owning a pretty decent number of reasonably quick cars. (WRX, S2000, G35, etc.)

 

[okcomputer]

I'd hesitate to call it underpowered, by the way. It's certainly by no means the slowest thing on the road. 100HP doesn't sound like much but I never feel frustrated with it, even after owning a pretty decent number of reasonably quick cars. (WRX, S2000, G35, etc.)

I agree! I'm not coming from anything overly quick, but my Santa Fe has a V6 with 276hp and plenty of torque. I have also had a Jetta and a Passat, both with 1.8T engines that were very peppy. I was worried about the 2, but it really picks up when you need it to. The only time I found it lacking was when I attempted to pass someone going up a fairly steep hill on the highway. I had to brake and wait for another car to pass, so I needed a tonne of acceleration and the 2 lagged just a little bit.

Otherwise, it has more than I need. I travel 50km/day, a good mix of city and highway, and the commute has been great in the 2.

 

[fam]

The 2 is a great commuter unless your speeds are 75+ ,,,not enough power in that bubble to deal with the wind resistance
Keeping 55mph = 44mpg
keeping 60mph = 40mpg
keeping 65mph = 38mpg
keeping 71mph = 36mpg
keeping 75+mph=27-33mpg

 

[BeetleJuice]

I wish my car came with heated seats. A usb would have been awesome but i have to agree that the stock tires are junk imo. Need the heated seats for mn winters.

 

[eyeballs]

My forester had heated seats and mirrors. I ditched the seats for WRX seats, but those heated mirrors were nice to have. What would really be sweet is a heated steering wheel and heated shift knob.

 

[fam]

wifes mazda5 has heated seats but its just a on or off...not a bujillion settings like the a6 my in laws have....so...after a while you have to turn it off. Cloth seats arent bad at all in the winter...its the leather ones that are evil.