I've already given the thumbs up to the Mazda2, at least in five-door form, but I went back for another taste of the 'two' this week when the three-door version rolled up onto my driveway. There had to be a sportier version of course, if only to justify the Mazda zoom zoom philosophy and those endless ads. This, for the time being at least, isn't any kind of hot hatch. It's just a more dynamic-looking small car for those who don't necessarily need five doors. As that suits me, then it's so far, so good.

I liked the steeply rising waist line, elegantly sculpted flanks and subtly bulging wheel arches. For me, the Mazda2 three-door is a case study in how to build a perfectly proportioned supermini. Even at rest, it looks as if it's charged up and ready to roll, and with even bigger wheels than the stock rims it could look absolutely potent. With a drag coefficient of just 0.31, it's not just a pretty shape either. At the front, there's the traditional V-shaped Mazda grille and the headlights are very deftly smeared into the front bumper assembly. Likewise the tail lights are neatly integrated into the tailgate which, from a practical perspective, doesn't have the widest aperture as a result. Still, when budget small cars like the Proton Satria Neo now look as good as they do, the expectation for a company such as Mazda is cranked ever higher. The three-door features a mechanism that tips the front seatback and slides the seat forward for one of the segment's widest access widths. A relatively long 2490mm wheelbase ensures that spec in the rear isn't too claustrophobic although the rising waistline means that smaller kids may have a job seeing out. 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.

There's no shortage of room behind the wheel, and it's easy to achieve a comfortable driving position and silver on black detailing on the fascia gives a rather more grown up look and feel than many key rivals. All round visibility is a Mazda2 strong point, the designers concentrating on reducing the amount of blind spots. The turning circle is commendably tight which means that seven point turns in the road become a thing of the past. Having tested this car straight after a Citroen Berlingo, a car with a turning circle visible from space, the Mazda2's manoeuvrability was a welcome plus. All the engines on offer are forgettable, if willing and reasonably economical. Only the 1.5-litre petrol unit has any sort of real zip to it, with the 1.3-litre petrol variant that most customers will buy taking 14 seconds to reach sixty on the way to 104mph. The other option is the 1.4-litre diesel that's capable of over 65mpg on the combined cycle.

It was quite refreshing to be introduced to a sporty-looking three-door supermini that isn't pretending to be some kind of shopping rocket - with all the attendant high insurance premiums and unwanted attention that brings with it. Instead, the Mazda2 three-door brings a bit of welcome vitality to what can become a rather staid sector of the market in a form that most of us can appreciate. It's the kind of car that the Mazda I knew a few years ago just wouldn't have made. That it now sits on showroom floors is indicative of just what kind of brand this is nowadays. Zoom Zoom? For once, it's an advertising message with some substance behind it.