Five-Point Inspection: 2014 Mazda2

3. Extreme Makeover, Please Help

The Mazda2’s senior citizen status shines through with the interior. The available options, placement of accessories like the USB port that are clearly afterthoughts and the general material quality all show the small hatchback’s age. For what it lacks in high-end materials and modern conveniences though, it makes up for in style. Despite a now eight+ year-old design, the Mazda2 still has more flair some of its subcompact competitors.

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The rear seat area is usable for adult passengers thanks to 33 inches of rear legroom and 37 inches of headroom. Just don’t expect adults to be comfortable for long. The cargo hatch also has a surprisingly usable 13.3 cubic feet of space behind rear seats.

During my week with the Mazda2 I did notice one annoying nuance: the driver’s side front windshield wiper blade doesn’t reach high enough on the window to completely clear it. That ends up leaving taller drivers like me looking into a partially un-cleared area of the windshield during messier weather.