Key facts:
Model tested: Mazda 2 1.3 TS Air-Con
Price: £10,345
Date tested: November 2010
Road tester: Martin Gurdon

The Mazda2's mix of good looks, enjoyable driving characteristics and quality ambience has won it many new friends over the past three years. Now Mazda has given it some low-key upgrades.

Telling the new Mazda2 from its predecessor requires an eagle eye. The car looked right already, so externally it's got slightly re-profiled bumpers and air intakes, plus a few detail trim changes.

Changes to the suspension give a smoother ride and inside the car is now trimmed with the sort of soft, classy materials and surfaces that make many Volkswagens feel a cut above their rivals.

The driving position is comfortable, the no-nonsense instruments and controls are idiot-proof, and the Mazda feels more spacious than the exterior dimensions would suggest.

This extends to the rear, where there's a decent amount of space for a pair of adults. Headroom is excellent too. In fact the Mazda2 does not feel like a small car inside.

The only gripe with the interior layout is that when the rear seat backrests are folded, they stand proud of the rest of the boot. You can't tip up the rear seat base cushions and fold the backrests flat into the floor.

The Mazda2 is engaging to drive; the steering is light and direct, and the car responds briskly and accurately.

Pushed through bends it doesn't roll excessively, isn't thrown by poor surfaces and is communicative without being twitchy. There's plenty of warning when the tyres begin running out of grip, and the car remains controllable and confidence inspiring.

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A variety of 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol engines is offered, together with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. We drove both petrols, mated to five-speed gearboxes.

Both motors sounded busy when extended, but don't give the impression of strain, and remained smooth under hard acceleration. They also provide power from low speeds all the way to the red line, giving lively performance.

For the small-engined car, with the higher of two power outputs, Mazda claims 0-62mph acceleration of 13.6sec, a top speed of 106mph, with a combined mpg of 55.4mpg and 119g/km of CO2.

Inside, Mazda has stuck with changes to make the car better rather than get it noticed. The interiors of all the test cars featured a lot of dark fabrics and plastics, but there was nothing cheap about any of these things.

The end result is unpretentious but has a quality feel to it lacking in some bigger, costlier cars. Even before the changes, the Mazda2 was formidably good, something borne out by how little Mazda has felt the need to change it. Where they have done it's been usefully improved. Anybody who liked the old one will probably like its replacement even more.