What Is It?

Mazda MX-Micro Sport Concept

What's Special About It?

With the success of the Honda Element and Toyota's Scion division, other auto manufacturers have been inspired to take another look at their small car offerings. And like Honda and Toyota, they're looking for ways to pack a lot into small vehicles that don't cost much yet have strong appeal for younger buyers. Mazda is toying with a concept car called the MX-Micro Sport.

Like the Element, Scion xB and Toyota Matrix, the Micro Sport is a tall hatchback-type vehicle. Measuring in at an overall length of 156.7 inches, it's almost 20 inches shorter than the 2004 Mazda 3 five-door hatchback, but it's nearly as wide and stands 3.3 inches taller. This, along with the upright angle of the A-pillars and side windows, opens up enough room to seat four adults comfortably, according to Mazda.

Although the Micro Sport is attractive enough on the outside, interior styling was of particular importance to Mazda. Dark tinted windows and brown-and-black leather upholstery create a shady, secluded environment. Red piping on the seats and dash gives the ensemble a classy touch, and of course, there's plenty of metallic trim to go around. A multifunction display in the center of the dash allows both driver and passenger to attend to the vehicle's various processes. Rather than a key, the driver inserts a credit card into a slot at the bottom of the center stack, which not only allows her to start up the car but also contains her stored preferences for the navigation system, stereo and so on. In back, an adjustable parcel shelf provides flexibility for stowing cargo.

Power comes from the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine used in the Mazda Protégè. In the Micro Sport, it's rated for 148 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque and paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The suspension components are rather mundane — struts in front and a torsion beam setup in back — but Mazda claims that the Micro Sport upholds the company's reputation for lively driving dynamics. Maybe it has something to do with the 17-inch wheels fitted at each corner.

What's Edmunds' Take?

The MX-Micro Sport will go on sale in a few markets around the world in 2004. Although the car is still under study for the U.S. market, it's a good bet that you'll see something like it in production form in the next few years. — Erin Riches