2004 Mazda 2 1.4 Antares 1.4 Zetec petrol
Summary:
The best small hatchback out there!
Faults:
Nothing so far.
General Comments:
The engine in the Mazda 2 1.4 Antares is the Zetec engine from the Ford Fiesta, as the Fiesta and Mazda 2 are built in the same Spanish factory. This is a great engine that is very quiet and refined for such as small engine. Performance is pretty good for a 1.4 too. The 1.4 engine is very economical on fuel, rendering the 1.25 version pointless. I would strongly advise any potential customers to go for the 1.1 or 1.6 litre versions as the 1.25 is underpowered in comparison.
The Mazda 2 handles incredibly well and has a fairly decent comfortable ride too. You can tell it is built in Europe to cater for European tastes. Refinement is particularly impressive on the motorway. It is as refined as many much larger cars.
This car is small on the outside, but is very big inside. There is plenty of space inside for four adults. Head and leg room is exceptional. The driving position is good, though a bit high up for my liking.
A very stylish looking little car inside and out. the dashboard in particular is a great piece of design. Build quality is exceptionally good and is a credit to Mazda, Ford, and the Spanish workforce.
This must be the best small hatchback available today.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th July, 2004
13th Mar 2021, 12:27
I can sense too much enthusiasm in this review. In fact the car is very tight inside except for legroom. Front passengers have the A pillar very close to them, it almost feels scary and not very safe. However front leg room is good for tall drivers and the seats are quite tall as well, which I actually prefer - I hate the low seating position of so many cars on the market. But make no mistake, this is a crammed car inside, the side windows sit like near your ear.