Review of the new Mazda2 1.6D Sport

With Sport trim and a diesel engine, the Mazda2 1.6D Sport strikes an intriguing balance between the sporty and the sensible. If your wallet isn't quite equipped to handle the hit that running a thoroughbred hot hatchback would administer, this would appear to be a neat compromise.

This generation Mazda2 sparked a sea change in the way small cars were being designed. There are any number of overweight superminis that not only incorporate many redundant features but also commit the unforgivable sin of not utilising their available space effectively. The Mazda2 is a full 100kg lighter than its predecessor which is a reverse to this 'more is better' philosophy and has helped spark a trend towards leaner, fitter small cars. It all bodes very well for the livelier models in the Mazda2 range like the 1.6D Sport.

Even in light of its compact size and light weight, there are those who will write the Mazda2 1.6D Sport off as lacking the raw power needed in an athletic supermini. It has a 1.6-litre engine which is a good start but just 89bhp is being generated when the four-cylinder unit is at full chat. That's not the stuff of fire spitting performance and 0-62mph takes 11.4s which is acceptable for a diesel supermini but little more. Some recompense is supplied by the 215Nm of torque that's generated at just 1,750rpm for a lively feel through the middle of the rev range and more comes from the happy coincidence that the Mazda2 is one of the sharpest handling superminis out there.

"The 1.6D engine can return a phenomenal 67.3mpg on the combined cycle"

If you've got your finger on the pulse of automotive corporate affairs, you'll realise that despite its latter day successes, Mazda hasn't gone it alone with the Mazda2 range. The car shares its underpinnings with the latest Fiesta and benefits from the same supple ride and alert responses. The chassis itself is simple but very rigid, Mazda using MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam at the back to keep costs down.

Styling is a major Mazda2 strength and the Sport trim level accentuates the car's edgy curves with a sports body kit and projector headlamps. It's undeniably a pretty little car and that holds in three or five-door form, the two bodystyles looking very similar. The interior features a number of welcome design touches such as a glove box with integrated magazine rack. There's also a floor console between the front seats with a large rear tray affixed. In total there's 250 litres of storage space which isn't half bad for a supermini and there's 787-litres with the back seats folded. Silver on black detailing on the fascia gives a rather more grown-up look and feel than many key rivals.

The three-door car features elongated front doors to aid access to the rear. Leg room is reasonable for back seat passengers, although headroom is a little tight for tall occupants. Mazda is particularly proud of the 100kg weight saving made on this model over the old Mazda2, the reduction being achieved through the firm's 'gram strategy'. This involves the painstaking analysis of every component used in the vehicle to see where tiny amounts of weight can be saved. By shaving grams of parts throughout the Mazda2, a total reduction of 100kg was achieved leading to major benefits in terms of dynamics and efficiency.

The Sport trim level sits atop of the Mazda2 range and comes with a detailed specification as a result. Mazda has given all models essentials like air-conditioning, remote central locking, a CD stereo with auxiliary input for connecting MP3 players and six airbags. On top of that lot, the Sport piles in with its bodykit and upgraded headlamps, Dynamic Stability Control, traction control, front fog lights, a trip computer, climate control, automatic lights and automatic wipers.

Both three and five door versions are available, with the latter commanding the usual £500 premium. The alternative to this 1.6-litre diesel engine, for those who must have diesel power, is the 67bhp 1.4-litre unit that is priced some £1,600 less. The Sport trim level is additionally available with the 1.5-litre petrol engine which has a higher revving, more energetic character but can't equal the running costs of the 1.6D.

The diesel Mazda2 models might look expensive compared to the petrol alternatives but drive them enough and you'll get your money back with interest. The 1.6D engine can return a phenomenal 67.3mpg on the combined cycle assisted by its low kerb weight. That leads to emissions of just 107g/km and all the associated tax advantages. With insurance in group 5, way below what you'd pay for a seriously sporting hatch, it all starts to make sense.

The word Sport is tagged on to a lot of cars that don't necessarily deserve it and with just 89bhp available, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Mazda2 1.6D Sport is one of them. It isn't bat-out-of-hell fast, certainly, but the lightweight Mazda2 platform with its lithe suspension and pointy steering serves up good amounts of dynamic entertainment that negate the need for headline grabbing horsepower to an extent. The 1.6D Sport's strength is the way it marries the Mazda's basic sportiness with reasonable performance and exceptional economy. The equipment levels aren't bad either.