Mazda 2 (03-07) - Review

Cars with the 1.25-litre engine sound rather coarse when they're being pushed, otherwise engine noise is kept low. Wind and road noise have been minimised in the 2, so it beats the Fiesta in that department. But elsewhere 2 isn't as comfortable or inviting as the competition.

When it comes to practicality, the 2's biggest asset is its shape. The tall body means that it's versatile and can carry awkwardly-shaped loads. There's about enough luggage room for a modest weekly shop. The seats have a 60/40 split, plus you can lift the bases up to allow the backs of the seats to fold nearly flat into the floor. With the seats down there is a sizeable and useful load area.

The driving position is pretty high, which means that there's excellent all-round visibility, though the steering wheel adjusts for height only. The dash is attractively designed, with contrasting blacks and greys and a lime green surround to the stereo - much better than older Mazdas. It's generally easy to use, with all the main stereo and heater controls well grouped.