Beauty, eh? Mazda2 reportedly headed for the Great White North
Mazda2 – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to a new article in Canada's Globe and Mail, Mazda president and CEO Takashi Yamanouchi has confirmed that the Mazda2/Demio subcompact hatch will be sold in Canada. While there is no firm timeframe, the GaM's sources suggest that it is likely to go on sale within the next year, although it is not yet clear which bodystyles will be sold.
That doesn't mean U.S. drivers should get their hopes up, however. There are a number of models sold in Canada that that have never been brought over to the States, including Nissan's XTrail and the Acura CSX (admittedly a gussied-up Honda Civic), and Mazda enjoys a significantly larger presence on the Canadian scene than it is in the States. Back in February, Jim O'Sullivan, Mazda's North American president and CEO, told Autoblog that Mazda's share in Canada sits around 5 percent, while in the U.S. they've only recently cracked two percent. Given that news, we can see the logic in trying out the Mazda2 in the land of hockey and Gordon Lightfoot before bringing it south to us Yankees. In the meantime, we'll have to slake our green minihatch Jonses with Ford's new Fiesta. Thanks for the tips, everyone!
Gallery: 2007 Mazda2
[Source: The Globe and Mail]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stuka 3:22PM (4/10/2009)
Over all, I like it. I still prefer the Fiesta, as I prefer its styling. But its not a bad looking car, and I like the interior. I think Mazda would be wise to bring it here.
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chineyz954 3:13PM (4/10/2009)
Give it time in the US. The small car market will soon be huge here with the economic downturn.
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Smegley 7:59PM (4/10/2009)
Aint coming here until Mazda USA finds a way to plaster that stupid grin on the fascia so that anyone looking forward to it will be instantly repulsed by the smiley little idiotmobile.
Mazda's screwed the pooch with this theme. They use to be at the top of my list as a probable next car but now they are 3rd from the bottom.
LimeDaiquiri 3:15PM (4/10/2009)
*Sigh*
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Aprime 3:17PM (4/10/2009)
I'm guessing it will be coming here in *built in Japan* form first then when the Mexico plant that's meant to pump it out along with the Fiesta opens, they'll send/sell them to the US as well.
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Bill 3:20PM (4/10/2009)
As a 4-time Mazda owner, I'm not going to cry about this anymore.
Initially had my heart set on the 2, but after seeing the Fiesta, I could be happy with either one, and frankly I think I like the Fiesta better now (interior esp.)
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Aprime 3:27PM (4/10/2009)
It's also 5% in Canada because the only markets they really have within their grasps are the roadster and compact markets. The Mazda3 is the compact that's selling the most since the arrival of 2009 over here.
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jakecarolan 3:43PM (4/10/2009)
I like it, but the Fiesta has a much nicer interior IMO. I wouldn't be surprised if gas prices go up & US Mazda dealers start hollering for them, like the events that brought us the Pontiac G3...
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Luis 3:54PM (4/10/2009)
Canadians also have higher gas prices. At least they always have when I've been there. They also have less aversion to hatchbacks. Toyota's been selling the Yaris/Echo 5-door for years in Canada.
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Rick 3:53PM (4/10/2009)
That's good news tho. The was euro only then went to Canada. Then the next year (or so) it came here. I wonder if Mazda uses Canada to test sales before commiting to the states?
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Judy Zik 4:42PM (4/10/2009)
You hit it on the nail. Most car companies use the Canadian market as a test market. This is especially true for small hatchbacks. Like the Smart though if it catches on here I would expect it to show up in the US in a year or two.
Tomac 3:54PM (4/10/2009)
I'm not satisfied with the Fiesta-- the styling looks too contrived to me. This one is simpler, and I find the design more pleasing. Bring it to the States, Mazda, but feel free to leave "green" off of the paint options list.
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Pip 4:20PM (4/10/2009)
Give me a Mazda2Speed and I'll take one.
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cardudeATL 4:28PM (4/10/2009)
What's with the Mickey Mouse interior?!
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Jrejre 9:17PM (4/10/2009)
Amen! I've been saying that all along. The mazda 2 gets the lame interior and the fiesta gets the lame name. . .
inline6 4:39PM (4/10/2009)
If they'd have sold this in the US, I might be driving one instead of my Astra.
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Tony 5:51AM (4/11/2009)
I've driven both here in NZ. The Astra is a very different car -- more solid (just shut the door), steering is Euro weighted, the plastics are much better, the controls are very tactile. The Mazda is quite a good looking car in reality, well proportioned and detailed, but is smaller than the Astra, and (at least over here) can only be had with a 1.5-litre engine. I'd take the Astra for overall flexibility.
thomas 4:56PM (4/10/2009)
we can has??
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Mazda FTW! 4:58PM (4/10/2009)
I always get surprised when I hear Mazda's Canadian market-share is 5%. You go ANYWHERE in Toronto or Montreal and stand at a intersection and 30% of the cars will be Mazdas. Even pricier ones like the CX-9 outnumber the new Pilot.
Either way this news doesn't surprise me at all. The option list/price of the 3 is growing and almost making it a premium compact so there is def room for this.
I think the Fiesta does look nicer though. To pick I'd have to drive both back to back. I tend to believe the Mazda tuning guys are evil geniuses :)
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Kitko 7:23PM (4/10/2009)
Well, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa in other words, cities of Eastern Canada have more of continental (European) taste, the rest, country and Western Canada, is pretty much America with healthcare.
As for the Fiesta vs Mazda 2. These cars are sisters, most of the mechanical parts are the same, Ford uses few of its own engines, but as with most of its inline fours on the Continent it uses rebadged Mazda MZR engines.
A friend of mine owns a Mazda 2 with 1.3 liter engine, with the car's weight about 950 kilos, the driving dynamics (I don't mean 0-60 times) and handling are excellent. No issues after 18 months.
Aussi market gets only 1.5 liter version which is excellent. JDM, as per usual, got a bunch of other stuff such as CVT transmission, 1.3 Miller cycle engine and, obviously, a 4x4 version....
I guess 1.5 liter will be Canadian only engine. Sedan is only sold in China, and I'd say it won't change.