Someone once said less is more. I don't know who stated this first, but in the case of the Mazda2, it would appear a truer word was never said. Mazda have reduced the weight of this car significantly, though seemingly not at the expense of character as this car is designed to put a smile on your face.

Clearly Mazda have a great deal of common sense in their ranks. Once again, they have used their connections with Ford to share the platform for the second generation version of their Mazda2 supermini. Sharing it's underpinnings with the latest Fiesta, the wise amongst you will quickly realise this car could be very good car indeed.

With Ford developing a conveyer belt of winning automotive solutions in every bracket, their latest Fiesta was designed at the outset to continue the trend set by the Focus, Mondeo and S-MAX. The Mazda2 therefore has a significant edge over it's peers, and with Mazda working hard to reduce the weight of the vehicle, yet utilising quality materials and giving it character in abundance, they are aiming to establish a presence in the supermini market never before achieved by this brand.

In making the car over 100 kilos lighter than is predecessor, Mazda have given themselves the opportunity to use a relatively small, low power engine. The 1.3 litre engine is available in two different power outputs, one with 75PS, and another with 86PS. This may not sound a lot, but around town, you're unlikely to ever notice any issues. Venture out of town towards the A roads and it's likely to be found wanting as acceleration towards the top end just isn't readily available. Overtaking is rarely an option, and going up a hill can be tiresome. This doesn't necessarily detract from the car's appeal though. You just need to realise that like all modern cars, the Mazda2 has its limitations.

Around town, the 1.3 has enough power and with its clever electronic power steering assistance, nipping in and out of small spaces around schools and supermarkets is a doddle. The suspension too is nicely balanced, managing to combine comfort and suppleness, yet it doesn't allow the drive to wallow overly around the bends. The power steering can feel a little woolly around the edges when you're at high speed, but this isn't too much of a problem, and you soon get used to it behind the wheel. Clearly Mazda have paid attention to the driver dynamics of this car, and with a good level of success.

"The car really grips you with its personality."

Mazda have kept things simple, yet effective inside the cabin. Some of the plastic finishes are not the best, but it's well screwed together, and everything is laid out in a sensible well thought out way. This theme continues with excellent storage inside the cabin. There's a sporty edge to the details too. Seemingly all the dials and vents are circular in design, and their design seems to have evolved rather than to have been pieced together from the parts bin.

The sporty edge continues outside the car where the look tends to resemble the stance of a hot-hatch, rather than that of a supermini. The overhangs are minimal at each end, the bumpers body coloured and if you specify the alloy wheel option, you end up with what is to my mind easily the best looking of all the superminis. The trend continues as the lights, front and rear, have been tastefully designed, blending fluently into the overall design. Feeling nimble, yet solid, taught but somehow agile, the 2 is right at the top of the supermini charts with the Toyota Yaris.

Superminis are here to stay with increasing demands on environmentally friendly cars and machines that can safely transport the kids to school, yet double as a shopping cart. The 2 though, is the first car for a long time to buck the trend which until now has suggested evolution is built on a diet of doughnuts. This smaller, more compact feel makes it slightly unique amongst its peers, with nothing else of this quality to benchmark it against.

The basic 1.3 Mazda2 will offer just enough go for the majority of its owners. For those wanting a little more, there's a 1.5, and there's even a diesel option available, but with engines this frugal, the benefits of a diesel in this sector seem minimal, unless you're covering high mileages. There are two levels of trim. The basic TS includes anti lock breaks, electric front windows and mirrors, twin airbags and a CD stereo. Sensibly, in this ever increasingly techno age, the car also includes an input for your MP3 player. Step up to the TS2 spec and you get some alloy wheels, more airbags, split rear seats and air conditioning.

Part of the benefit to superminis is their relatively low running costs, and that rule isn't broken here. The weight loss program the 2 has been through means improved fuel economy and assuming you're not a budding rally driver, the weight reduction should mean brakes and tyres last a little longer too. The 1.3 represents the bargain of the range. Notably, the basically equipped diesel model is a full thousand pounds more expensive than a similarly specified 1.3 petrol variant. All the time the petrol engine is averaging a remarkable 52.3mpg, there is little need, and few reasons, to go down the diesel route.

Residual prices too should stay high as demand should be strong especially once the masses acknowledge the similarities with the Ford Fiesta. The 1.3 starts at a very reasonable £8,499 in TS guise. If you desire the higher powered 1.3 engine and extra options available in the TS2, you'll need to find an extra £1,500. Cost per mile works out at reasonable 27.1 pence per mile for the lower powered model and less than two pence more for the higher powered version. Clearly this is a car that shouldn't break the bank and the car measures up well against its likely peers.

Personally I've never been a fan of diets, but here in the Mazda2, the theory works really well, especially as the lightness has no negative affect on safety. The car really grips you with its personality and fearlessly goes about the chores of a modern family. In my view, the Mazda2 is a car every would-be supermini owner should at the very least audition.

TOP 4 2 DEALS

The results below show the top 2 deals on buyacar

	Mazda 2 1.3 TS 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £143	Saving £490	Price £8,104
	Mazda 2 1.3 TS2 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £164	Saving £893	Price £8,711
	Mazda 2 1.3 TS 3dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £134	Saving £469	Price £7,625
	Mazda 2 1.3 TS2 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £173	Saving £928	Price £9,176

typical 13.37% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000