SMALL cars with small engines can deliver big surprises and that is exactly the case with Mazda's new CX-3 compact crossover.

How does 68 to the gallon sound? And that's a real world figure not something cooked up in a laboratory test.

Full equipped including sat nav, the Cx-3 is a well finished and competent all rounder.

Powered by a 1.5-litre diesel engine developing 105ps, the CX-3 is set up for front wheel drive although in true crossover fashion it resembles an SUV.

In top grade Sport Nav trim the CX-3 costs from £21,895 which makes it very competitive especially against the likes of the Nissan Juke and the Renault Captur.

The engine is the only diesel on offer in the CX-3 line up and uses Mazda's fuel-efficient SKYACTIV technology allied to stop/start to produce some outstanding economy.

Officially it is rated at 70.6mpg with emissions of 105g/km and while that would be pie in the sky for many a car it's quite realistic for the CX-3.

Over a good run through the Leicestershire countryside we managed to average 68.4mpg according to the onboard trip computer and at times the fuel consumption was well above the official figure which is astonishing.

The CX-3 performs well and can handle everyday motoring conditions in an accomplished fashion with a 0 to 60 time of 10.1 seconds, topping out at 110mph.

The six speed manual gearbox has a nice short throw - which is the case with all Mazdas and although the ride was on the firm side it makes for a sporty feel.

Inside, the CX-3 has a quality feel and is well finished with a stitched leather panel across the dashboard and two tone covers in the doors.

It can seat four adults in a fair amount of comfort - five is a bit of a squeeze - and headroom throughout is good.

Luggage space ranges from 287 litres to 1,197 and there is underfloor storage in the boot as well as door pockets and bottle holders all round.

As well as having sat nav as standard (as the trim level suggests) there is also a head up display which shows the vehicle's speed, navigation instructions and the status of the lane departure warning system in the driver's line of sight.

The lane departure warning is quite aggressive. Cross the centre line or stray off course and the graphic shows a severely skidding vehicle while there is an unmissable audible warning which sounds like a faulty cathode ray tube shorting out in an old-fashioned television set.

Nevertheless it is doing its job and that's what such safety set ups are all about.

The information available from the navigation system is beyond the norm and can not only show information about what is in the immediate vicinity such as shops, restaurants or service stations it can also tell you about driving national driving rules and regulations -handy when travelling abroad.

For instance, you can find out the speed limits on various roads in the Ukraine and what is permissible from a blood/alcohol point of view.

Overall the CX-3 is highly contemporary inside and out, drives well and is among the most economical vehicles around.

In every way it is an attractive option for younger motorists who want something trendy while for the more mature driver it is ideal for those who want to downsize.