FORGET the catchy slogans and the advertising jargon tend to litter just about every car marketing campaign.

To stand out in the super-competitive world of family hatchbacks, the vehicle itself has to be different...very different.

The Big Names like VW, Ford and Vauxhall have things much their own way with well-built, reliable products like Golf, Focus and Astra.

But there's still room for interlopers - if they are good enough. And the Mazda3 is just that.

Bucking the trend for tiny engines, the Mazda3 150 Sport Nav  - price £22,545 - packs a sturdy 2.2-litre diesel that puts it in the warm-hatch sector performance-wise without the sort of fuel consumption penalty keen drivers usually have to pay.

With a 130mph max and nifty acceleration to 62mph in just 8.1 seconds, it has the sort of credentials that more normally go with more expensive models.

Despite the five-door body with a practical 364 litre boot and space for five adults, it has all the curves in the right places to give it the elegant proportions that its predecessor lacked.

And with the help of KODO - soul of motoring design language and Skyactive technology which concentrates on lightness and making driving exhilarating, the 3 in its sportiest form blends outstanding economy - an official 68.9mpg - with sharp handling and vigorous performance.

Complementing the pace, is handling that's deft and sensitive. Few family models manage to approach the 3's level of steering-feel or have a manual six-speed gearbox with such a light easy change.

It is almost as if its designers have incorporated a little of the DNA from the legendary MX-5 roadster.

The cabin or workplace is appropriately businesslike with a large rev counter dominating the binnacle in front of the driver. A digital inset read-out informs you of the exact speed.

In the centre of the dash and standing vertical is seven-inch touch screen, similar to that in the Merc A and C-Class. Beneath are the ventilation, heating and air con controls.

The steering wheel spokes are sprinkled with further switches. It all works well but a splash of colour to relieve the mass of dark plastic would be a welcome relief.

Legroom and space is generally pretty good, but six-footers in the back seats may find their heads close to the ceiling. And I can't quite understand why the front door pockets are so miniscule... I could barely squeeze in my Oakley shades.

With such a willing and vocally subdued diesel four cylinder, you tend to drive enthusiastically.

Neverthless, my average fuel consumption hovered around the 48-50mpg mark - far better than I expected. Noise levels were vastly reduced over the earlier version thanks to a 30 per cent boost in torsional rigidity.

The Sport packs in plenty of standard kit including alloys, full connectivity, and Smart City Brake System to cut the chance of low speed collisions and Hill Hold Assist.

Hugely practical for young families, yet more fun to drive than many sports cars, the Mazda3 earns its place beside the established front-runners.