The new Mazda2 supermini brings style with a good driving feel that should make it a competitor in the market. The car carries forward the new Mazda styling. I was instantly attracted to it. This is a modern looking car with lots of good features, powered by a choice of petrol or diesel engines.

Mazda has done an excellent job inside and while the seats are a little small, they are more than adequate for this end of the market. The overall layout is clear and I got comfortable very quickly.

I had the 1.5-litre petrol engine version in the top-of-the-range GT model on test. There is a diesel-powered offering with a similar size engine and there’s not much difference in terms of pricing.

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The car is smooth and comfortable on the road, but it did not give the feeling of being overpowered. A combination of motorway driving and west Cork roads provided me with a fair appraisal over a distance of 968km.

The engine torque is low compared with some of the competition and that was noticeable on hilly roads. There were more gear changes needed than I expected from the five-speed gearbox but all along it was a smooth operation, with a light clutch feel.

This engine is reasonably fuel-efficient, but not at the top of the class. The official figure is 21.3km/litre (4.7l/100km or 60 mpg), and my driving style gave me a 20% lower figure, which to be fair is better than the result with many other cars. The CO2 rating at 110g/km (A3) gives a competitive annual road tax cost of just €190.

Like many of the superminis on the market, the Mazda2 has grown in size. This is a longer and more comfortable car than in the past, with good headroom and adequate legroom. The driving layout is good, the controls are well laid out and I was comfortable behind the wheel almost straight away.

Keyless entry and a push-button engine start system are standard for all models. There are two USB points to charge devices and there is a good Bluetooth system on all models. The car comes with an anti-theft engine immobiliser and alarm system on all models.

This is a modern car with a host of active safety systems, including anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic brake assist (EBA), dynamic stability control (DSC), traction control system (TCS), emergency stop signalling (ESS) and hill hold assist (HHA) as standard across the model range. It has a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating, which is a little surprising as it ticks all of the safety boxes, including Isofix units.

The GT version I drove had two additional safety features: lane departure warning and smart city brake support. The former is useful and not very intrusive, as well as being easy to disengage when driving on country roads. I didn’t venture to test the latter.

The GT version, with a €3,500 price premium, also came with 7in screen in the centre of the dash that provided satnav as well as other features such as car information and the radio settings. The styling on this is similar to that of the Mercedes-Benz models, but at a more affordable price. The unit is controlled by a rotary dial between the driver and passenger seat. The system is easy to get used to. The dials soon become easily identified without having to take your eyes off the road.

Compared to competition such as the Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo, this new Mazda is longer and has a longer wheelbase to give good road comfort. It is also the lightest car in the group and this, along with a good engine, helps the new Mazda2 to be rated second in a specs comparison.

The quietness, comfort and styling are most impressive. The boot space is average for the sector and what’s not impressive here is the lack of a spare wheel.

The entry price at €15,995 (£11,995 in NI) is competitive and that’s another reason for consideration. Mazdas hold their value well, the paint finish seems to last for ever in these Japanese-built cars and the Maza2 is a little on the exclusive side as there are few of them on the roads.

If you want to be different with a stylish and affordable small car, the Mazda2 is the answer.

Mazda2

Engine 1.5L petrol

Engine power 75bhp

0-100km/hr 12.1 seconds

Economy 21.3km/litre

Fuel tank capacity 44 litres

CO2 emissions 110g/km

Road tax band A3 (€190)

Main Service 20,000km/ 12 months

Safety rating 4 stars (2015)

Towing rating 1,100kg

Warranty Three years/ 100,000km

Entry price €15,995

NI price £11,995