Exterior proportions are a bit odd, but overall I like it a lot. It’d be a shame if it didn’t make its way out of China.

The seats look rather upscale for a small car like that, though I wouldn’t be surprised if that was cut down in actual production. Not a fan of the center stack design at ALL.

Redesign the center stack, and I’d definitely drive it.

there they go again with those stupid names mazda2,mazda3,mazda6. Can’t they do better?

Those names are brilliant for brand marketing! Maybe not original but it is an ingenious strategy and who can argue with their success since they started marketing vehicles with this naming strategy?!

Looks like premium seating is what they may be using to differentiate themselves in the market. Also, gotta love the cigarette lighter in the console!

I would love to know how much this car costs!?!

i really like the exterior of the car. it just seems to work. the interior, though, is another story. i hate it. i’m with ca36gtp on this one: that center stack is awful, and the rest of it doesn’t look much better, which is sad because the mazda3 has such a great interior.

i agree with you about the naming scheme, christianboy. but statistically, alphanumerically named vehicles sell better than conventionally named vehicles. sucks, huh? i’d still buy the mazda3 if it were called the axela in the states, though.

I dont really like it. I love the Mazda 3 and the Mazda 6, but I don’t really find this car attractive unfortunately, cause I really want to love Mazda’s, they’re just more my type of vehicle in general than comparable sedans. But not in this case. The interior also is pretty bad, although we must keep in mind it truly is a bottom of the barrel vehicle, comparable w/ the Fit and Yaris. But then again, it gets leather. Why is this? Does EVERYTHING get leather now? So weird.

Much better than the Focus

Faux leather is cheap, it doesn’t really cost manufacturers all that much. But they can charge an easy $1000 as an option. Good business.

This is more in line of what I thought Toyota would have styled the new Corolla like.

But, it’s still nice. It would sell well in the US. At least I think it would.

Hey look, the new lancer and the prius had a baby!

I like it, as far as cheap cars go…

Body lines resemble toyota’s camry. Thats a good thing. Aluminum wheels are great but needs centercaps over that unflattering 4-lug pattern. Considering Mazda, this would probably be the most capable chasis in the catagory.

I agree with CA36GTP; the proportions are a bit odd. Even with its slightly awkward appearance, it is still way more attractive than the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, or Chevrolet Aveo.

In general, I think cars in the subcompact “B segment” look better as 3 and 5 door hatchbacks than they do as sedans (the Aveo being a notable exception). The styling of the hatchback configuration looks more balanced in this segment and allows available interior space to be utilized in a more efficient manner.

Really nice , it has a pretty balanced look. I can see how the front, rear, and side views all look like they are from the same pen

Although I think the Mazda2’s styling looks awkward on the 4-door notchback sedan configuration, I do think it would translate into a nice looking 2-door notchback coupe or a 3-door hatchback.

The Chinese market is much like many developing economies where saloons are more popular as they are seen to convey an executive social status. Since these low-budget buyers are buying this car as their primary car they would rather have an odd-looking saloon car than a good-looking hatchback. Other examples would be the Toyota Yaris, Opel Corsa, Nissan Tiida and Renault Clio.
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I doubt they’ll export this model, which is probably built down to a cost in all areas and way below what our markets would expect from the brand.

this has worked out rather well. when most cars of this size are turned into sedans the become a horrible mess eg pug 206 sedan and renault talia especially nissan tiida/versa sedan, i suppose being a mazda being mazda these days they are the only one’s who could make it work.

If they sell it in the U.S. it’ll stomp on the Corolla while the 5-door will go head to head against the Fit. The Mazda3 will continue to compete with the Civic. Toyota is falling further and further behind.

Looks like a very nice little car. Lets just hope its 100% Mazda, and not a single Ford component on it. Even one screw supplied by Ford would make that Mazda an unreliable car.

Not a fan of sedan, but this looks nice. I like the tali lights!

cb10: I hate these names, but not the cars

global: the 3 is a good car, so therefore won’t really compete with the civic

planetdrive: you should up your carbon-monoxide intake

“Mazda failed to release any technical data on the new Mazda2 sedan or five-door. No word if either vehicle will be available outside of the Chinese market.”

I’m pretty sure the 5-door is already available outside the Chinese market. I am surprised I actually like this, since I just panned the Ford Verve version a few threads over.. but for some reason the bolder fender bulge and more dramatic taillights on this make it more palatable than the Verve concept’s Chrysler Concorde grille and US Focus rear end. I could see this supplanting the Mazda3 on the low end of their US lineup, particularly if fuel keeps going higher.