The entry-level model to Mazda’s family car range is a city car capable of taking on the greatest of the rest; offered with anything from the sharp little 1.25 petrol to some 1.4 diesel along with a sporty 100PS 1600cc petrol, and supplying the expected Mazda values of high quality and clean cornering capability, the Mazda 2 is a small car with big ideas.

This really is borne by the surprisingly generous headroom and luggage space within the sculpted, high integrity body shell.

Despite its compact road footprint the Mazda 2 comes standard with good quality of ride – although the sport suspension option trades a number of that comfort for flatter cornering behaviour – and all sorts of models have sophisticated braking systems.