Mazda2 range   Women's view

Once, small Mazdas worth buying began and ended with the MX-5 Sports Car. Thats no longer the case, as June Neary discovers

If like me, you reach for the remote control or failing that a claw hammer as soon as Mazdas zoom-zoom commercials hit the screen, you may well have missed out on the fact that the Mazda brand is going places. The sporty MX-5 roadster has always been a personal favourite, but the Mazda6, the Mazda3 and the Mazda2 we feature here are also well worth consideration. The 2 is Mazdas attempt to inject a bit of pizzazz into its supermini offering, a quality notably lacking in its predecessor, Mazdas take on a Ford Fusion. At the front, theres the traditional V-shaped Mazda grille and the headlights are very deftly smeared into the front bumper assembly.

Likewise the tail lights are neatly integrated into the tailgate which, from a practical perspective, doesnt have the widest aperture as a result. Still, when budget small cars like the Proton Satria Neo now look as good as they do, the expectation for a company such as Mazda is cranked ever higher. And first impressions are good: its a car that under fifties would be happy to be seen in. I just about qualify.

The Mazda2 is a car that majors on practicality. Although only one five-door bodystyle is available, the shape means it looks and feels spacious. The interior features a number of welcome design touches such as a glove box with integrated magazine rack. Theres also a floor console between the front seats with a large rear tray affixed.

In total theres 250 litres of storage space which isnt half bad for a supermini. Silver on black detailing on the fascia gives a rather more grown up look and feel than many key rivals.

Theres no shortage of room behind the wheel, and its easy to achieve a comfortable driving position. All round visibility is a Mazda2 strong point, the designers concentrating on reducing the amount of blind spots. The turning circle is commendably tight which means that seven point turns in the road become a thing of the past. Having tested this car straight after a Citroen Berlingo, a car with a turning circle visible from space, the Mazda2s manoeuvrability was a welcome plus.

All the engines on offer are forgettable, if willing and reasonably economical. Only the 1.5-litre petrol unit has any sort of real zip to it, with the 1.3-litre petrol variant that most customers will buy taking 14 seconds to reach sixty on the way to 104mph.

The 1.4-litre diesel manages to average over 60mpg but does have the unfortunate drawback of being a little noisy.

With prices starting at just £8,500, the Mazda2 isnt going to blow many budgets. Even at entry level, you get a decent kit quotient. This runs to ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, driver and front passenger airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, CD radio with AUX jack and two speakers, multi-function glovebox with magazine rack, Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser and electric door mirrors. At the top of the line-up sits the 1.

5-litre petrol model costing £11,799 and wearing a Sport badge apparently justified by its full sports styling kit. Buyers of this model can expect 16-inch alloy wheels, dynamic stability control, traction control, cruise control, fog lights, rain sensing wipers and auto lights, electric rear windows, a trip computer, speed alarm, six audio speakers and climate control air-conditioning.

The Mazda brand has made huge advances within the past couple of years. I remember visiting the Motor Show at the NEC a while back and walking straight past the Mazda stand, seduced instead by the promise of a decent cup of coffee and a Danish from Ford. Fortunately that wouldnt happen these days. Mazda have turned themselves around and if the Mazda2 is anything to go by, theyre still gaining momentum.

Could I live with a Mazda2? Certainly. Would I buy a Mazda2? A definite maybe.