Mazda 2

[Audrey]

Next year's Fiesta will have improvements from the 2011s... that is the way of it.

[MotioN]

not ususally as significant as a completely different engine a year after launch : /

[Audrey]

Originally Posted by MotioN

not ususally as significant as a completely different engine a year after launch : /

Yeah, that is pretty much an admission of "oops" on Mazda's part.

[riitm]

Where are you hearing these talks of a refresh? (I seem unable to dig up whatever sources you're using) and if so, how much of a refresh are we talking?

[twong]

I just got the Fiesta SEL in Red Candy today. The other car I was considering was actually the Mazda2. I looked at the Fiesta in Tuxedo Black first. Then I went over and saw the Mazda2 and didn't like it at all. When I went back to the Ford dealership and saw the Fiesta SES in Red Candy, I fell in love and knew immediately that I found my car.

[FiestaFan]

Consumer Reports finished testing the Mazda2 and it came in 1 point below the Fiesta in both forms: 60 for automatic (versus the Fiesta's 61), and 64 for the manual (versus 65 for the Fiesta). So basically an inconsequential difference. They seemed to like the handling equally on both, but the Fiesta was praised for its quietness and smooth ride while the Mazda was criticized for road noise and relative choppiness. They said the 2 had a good rear seat for the class while the Fiesta's is poor (there is something like 2 inches difference in legroom, so I can believe that). Both were slow.

Sounds like they both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I'm glad to see the Fiesta squeak ahead

[tice23]

haha both were slow :P i like that point.

[chromal]

Originally Posted by MotioN

not ususally as significant as a completely different engine a year after launch : /

I believe it's about out three or four years on the global market, which is essentially the version North America is belatedly getting. They're not 'fixing a problem after only one year,' we're just late to the game, similar to the story with the Festiva and the Global-spec 2012 Focus. Amusingly, it's sold in the UK with three engine options. Two 1.3l models of different engine power, and then the same 1.5l sold in here as the 2011 mazda2. They're pushing diesel and/or SkyDrive engines across most or maybe all of their product line in the next year or two, again, I assume similar in concept (though not implementation) to the turbocharged Ford EcoBoost I4 1.6l and 2.0l, etc., we're going to start seeing before long.

The hatchback subcompact market is heating up in the US. We still only get a pittance of the options in Europe, but it's game on between the Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Mazda mazda2, Mini Cooper, soon the Fiat 500, and whatever I'm forgetting.

[FiestaFan]

Festiva?

[Zinky]

Originally Posted by FiestaFan

Festiva?

I was thinking it was the late hour altering parts of the cerebral cortex.