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The Mazda 2 is simple, understated, and slow. In other words, it is the epitome of a Mazda. This underpowered hatchback reminds me an awful lot of my first car, a Mazda Protege5. It's slightly weak in the powertrain department (98 lb-ft of torque!), but compensating factors are the car's exceptional handling and the engine's unusual willingness to rev. The 2 is a momentum car -- a car that rewards you for driving smoothly and invites you to carry your speed through turns with its utterly predictable handling and respectable body control. The only place where this Mazda doesn't quite feel up to Zoom-Zoom standards is the steering. The 2's tiller would inspire even more confidence with a bit more resistance to quick direction changes. That said, Mazda carries the subcompact class in driving dynamics. The Fiat 500 and Ford Fiesta come closest to offering a similar driving experience, but neither of those cars is as good as the Mazda in steering or shift feel.