They are all excellent cars in every respect, and are the benchmarks against which we were reviewing the Mazda 2 on twisty and bumpy roads in the very north of Scotland.

I first set eyes on the new 2 at the Frankfurt motor show and found it represented one of the biggest shifts between two generations of the same car.

And seeing it on the tarmac at Inverness airport, it's immediately identifiable as a Mazda, with its angular headlights and triangular grille. Step around the back and it gets all curvy; reminiscent of other superminis on sale at the moment.

Pounce

That's not to say it's unoriginal though. Designed with the European market in mind (hence the lack of the original's high roof, favoured in Japan), there're plenty of neat touches. The sporty flare on the front wheel arches and the way the bottom edge of the side windows rake up towards the rear, make the car look like it's ready to pounce.

And the two cars we drove in TS2 and Sport trim come with 15- and 16-inch alloys as standard; only the entry-level TS does without.

Stepping inside, and clarity and comfort were clearly the buzzwords when sketching the 2.

There's excellent visibility all round with a large windscreen and wing mirrors accompanied by windscreen pillars which are easy to see around. Manoeuvring in a couple of tight spots was simple; helped by light steering.

The steering wheel and driver's seat both adjust for height, making it easy to get a comfortable driving position. And all the controls were sensibly laid out and clearly labelled.

The TS2 model we drove came with a host of useful kit, including air-con, front electric windows and a four-speaker MP3-compatible CD player with auxiliary input, while the Sport model adds audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, cruise control, front and rear electric windows and climate control.

On a car costing less than £12,000, that's an impressive spec sheet.

We've seen cars boasting plenty of kit which are pretty hopeless on the road; but we can report the 2 offers at least as much fun as its rivals.

It might only offer 73, 84 or 101bhp from a choice of two 1.3 engines and a 1.5-litre, but the two we tried (84 and 101bhp) proved to be eager and offered enough punch to easily power through most roads on our Highland test route without problems.

Both the 1.3 and 1.5 offered enough performance for most drivers, with 0-62mph times of 12.5 and 10.1 seconds and top speeds of 104mph and 117mph respectively.

Wait for the hot model

Performance junkies have not been forgotten by Mazda UK as a spokesman told us: "There will be a MPS performance model if the market demands it". Expect 150bhp and an eight second 0-60mph time.

Mazda's spokesman went on to say how class-leading power wouldn't be necessary due to the 2's weight-reduction programme. The new 2 weighs 100kg less than the previous model, which reaps rewards both in terms of straight line performance and handling ability.

With a much lower centre of gravity than before, the new Mazda 2 cuts through corners with the minimum of fuss, with responsive steering that offers plenty of resistance; although it falls short of the feedback offered by a Mini Cooper.

Despite that, the Mazda 2 was all the car we needed on narrow, bumpy roads scything through the Highlands – and was massive fun.

Of course, most Mazda 2s will find themselves mooching around town, with the occasional motorway run, and for that, it is perfect. And not having a huge engine means low emissions of between 129 and 140g/km of CO2, placing all models in tax band C.

For a tiny car, Mazda has built a good space package, with enough room for a couple of generously-proportioned occupants up front and bags of headroom in the rear. The boot's 250-litre capacity is on par with its rivals, but a relatively high lip means luggage has to be lifted into the boot.

Magazine rack

There's also lots of space for oddments, including a large glovebox, with a clever rack built in its door which is a convenient place to store atlases or magazines.

The Mazda 2 hasn't been crash tested by EuroNCAP yet, but the previous model scored four out of five. All models get driver and passenger airbags, but the entry-level TS does without the front side and curtain 'bags the other models receive.

All models come equipped with ABS, brakeforce distribution and brake assist, while the Sport is the only model to get a stability and traction control system.

What's next?

The Mazda 2 is currently only available in a five-door guise, although a three-door version will be coming soon; as is a diesel engine.

A hot hatch MPS version could join the line up if there's enough demand – and there should be because the chassis could handle lots of extra power.

But in the new 2, Mazda has a supermini which offers plenty of thrills – enough to drag sales away from the supermini establishment.

Click here for more pictures of the Mazda 2

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