IN this job you usually drive a car for a few days before passing judgement on it and sometimes that is more than enough.

When you get one you really like it is hard to part with it and that has always been the case when I sampled different versions of Mazda's CX-5.

So this time I am getting the opportunity to spend a lot more time with the compact crossover as a replacement for my large family hatch which has moved on.

Mazda was fairly late to the crossover party but when they did arrive back in 2012 with the CX-5 they certainly made an entrance that helped to change the Japanese firm's fortunes.

It was the first of their vehicles to feature the company's SKYACTIV technology which used lightweight materials and new efficient powertrains to deliver low running costs without compromising Mazda's reputation for driving pleasure and performance.

The model was also the first vehicle in the range to display their new Kodo design philosophy which now features across their range.

Its striking design gave it a bold and sporty appearance which is still fresh today after a few small tweaks in 2015.

My new companion is the top Sport Nav model fitted with the more powerful 175ps diesel unit driving all four wheels via a slick six-speed manual gearbox.

It looks great and gets plenty attention thanks to its bold front grille, muscular wheel arches with handsome 19-inch gunmetal alloys, twin exhausts, rear spoiler and LED headlamps and running lights.

It also boasts tinted windows, body-coloured mirrors and many other nice design features.

Inside it is equally impressive in this spec with heated leather-clad front seats that are power adjustable, a cracking Bose sound system and a host of other features including full air conditioning.

A seven-inch colour touchscreen is well placed and a rotary dial located behind the gearstick lets you access all the other latest techno features.

There is bags of space for five passengers to travel in comfort and with a 503-litre boot which can be increased to 1,620 with the split rear seats folded flat it promises to be ideal for a trip to IKEA.

The punchy engine delivers its power without fuss and has a top speed of 129mph with the sprint to 62mph taking 8.8 seconds - not bad for a car of this size.

It is also proving to be surprisingly agile and its AWD grip is already proving useful in the current foul winter weather.

Economy is a claimed 54.3mpg and I will bring you updates on that over the next few months.

The car is also fitted with an £800 optional Safety Pack which I will also get a chance to sample over the winter months.