MAZDA is thriving in the UK at the moment thanks to its stylish SKYACTIV model range.
The Japanese company has fresh offerings in nearly every sector of the market and is enjoying a sales boom.
It recently acted to fill a gap in its range by introducing the CX-3 - its first entry into the small SUV segment and once again it has delivered a cracker.
Designed to challenge the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and MINI Countryman amongst others, the new CX-3 looks good and performs well.
There are 18 models on offer priced from £17,595 to £24,695 and buyers can select from five trim levels - SE, SE Nav, SE-L, SE-L Nav and Sport Nav.
Customers are spoiled for choice and can select from a number of petrol and diesel engines, two or four-wheel-drive and manual or automatic transmissions.
This means there is something in the range for every taste and I recently tried out one of the petrol powered models.
The CX-3follows the same Kodo design cues as its larger sibling the CX-5 and is a handsome car to look at, boasting the signature ‘wing' front grille, sculpted bonnet, sharp coupe profiling, smart headlamp clusters and tasty alloys.
The interior is nicely crafted and the build quality is excellent - a clear sign that Mazda is aiming to take business away from the premium marques.
The cabin is clutter-free and the instruments are modern and easy to read and the controls easy to use.
All models boast a seven-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and multi-function steering wheel as standard while the range-topping Sport Nav models include a seven-speaker BOSE sound system, a sat nav system with three years free European mapping updates, and a head-up display.
Safety equipment includes a full complement of airbags, hill-hold assist, traction control and emergency stop signalling as standard. In addition the SE-L and Sport Nav models feature smart city braking and lane departure warning systems.
The interior offers decent space with enough room for four adults to travel in comfort and the boot can take up to 350 litres of luggage, rising to 1,260 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats flat. There is also an underfloor compartment to keep valuable items out of sight.
This car was the 150ps AWD Sport Nav priced at £22,495.
Good for 124mph, the smooth engine tackled the sprint to 62mph in 8.7 seconds and proved to be a great motorway cruiser. Claimed fuel economy is a touch over 44mpg with emissions of 150g/km.
The CX-3 always feels eager out on the road and it is almost as dynamic as the Mazda 2 supermini on which it is based. It feels nimble and well-planted at all times and the steering is responsive and well weighted.
The ride is slightly on the firm side but it is never uncomfortable and gives the CX-3 a sportier character than most other crossovers.
This car had all the equipment you could ever want including an excellent navigation system and a superb Premium Bose sound system.