[MazdaSpeed]

Edmunds received a Mazda2 nearly a year ago and they always continue to do follow up reviews on the 2. Here's the latest one, this time they're seeing how well the car has held up over time. So far they're impressed with how the Mazda2 has held up especially being a car priced really cheap.

I wanted to ask the question they asked in the article which was.....

What factors do you prioritize when evaluating economy cars?

To start off, I prioritize quality of functional parts, and how well the interior and body will hold up over time.

There are certain things that people look for in economy cars. Fuel economy is one of them, and another would probably be value. And I imagine that many buyers in this segment appreciate a car that transcends its price tag; in other words, a car that doesn't look nearly as cheap as its low price suggests. That's a nice extra, and one that lots of models deliver these days.

I can think of one other thing that people probably hope for with an economy car purchase...

...and that's durability when it comes to the car's interior. It's not a good look if the cabin looks 10 years old four months after purchase.

We got our Mazda 2 back in October of last year, which means it's been with us for nearly a year. With almost a full 12 months in the trenches, the cabin is holding up pretty well.

I noticed one of two scuff marks here and there, but nothing major. And much respect to that seat fabric; like Ed, I'm a fan of that snazzy red piping, and the upholstery overall has shown almost zero sign of wear.

What factors do you prioritize when evaluating economy cars?

Warren Clarke, Automotive Content [email protected] 13,492 miles

 

[bananaboat]

Fuel economy and how it stands against the test of time. Resale is pretty much on the bottom of the list thus why I bought an inexpensive car.

I have almost 6k miles and mine is well under 3 months old. The only wear, items in the console area between the seats. Anything placed in the square storage areas will create scratches. Dash, door panels, mats, seats, exterior, etc are doing fine.