We usually reserve these comprehensive road tests for vehicles that could be loosely described as performance cars. I mean, what's the point of shunting mom's MPV, dad's SUV or sister's mid-range hatchback around the track for lap times? You could argue that the Mazda2's agile handling and strong-ish engine could see it qualify as a 'warm' hatchback, but the main reason we decided to put it through its paces like this is because it's the best car in the world.

To have achieved the World Car of the Year title and top gongs in numerous countries, including the 1.5 Individual version featured here winning our SAGMJ COTY award, it must be a real boundary pusher. It's won praise for being extremely stylish, but beyond its looks it's also surprisingly fun to drive and fuel efficient, thanks to weight saving measures that see the Mazda2 1.5 tipping the scales at just 960kg.

After pelting this car around a ride and handling circuit during the COTY evaluation, I really looked forward to seeing how this car would handle our Kyalami hot lap as its road holding just felt so positive. After our blast it emerged competitive with the 'baby performers', with its lap time of 2 minutes and 24.3 seconds, a second quicker than the Fiat Panda 100HP and two secs behind VW's Citi R-Line. What we can say with much certainly is that it's not the Mazda's road holding that held it back, but rather the overall bluntness of the engine, which is tuned for economy rather than racing.

Even its acceleration times fell behind our expectations. This 1.5-litre engine makes as much power as an average 1.6, yet the 0-100km/h and 80?120km/h times we attained were not much better than numerous 1.4-litre cars we've tested in the past.

The chassis could definitely handle more power. Handling is just sublime, for this kind of car, and throwing it around corners at speed inspires a feeling of confidence as the car simply glides through stably and with little roll. The steering is also great ? it's very direct and has a heavier and more communicative feel than we're accustomed to in this segment. Its cornering ability doesn't come at the expense of ride quality and though it is a little on the firm side, it's certainly not uncomfortable over uneven road surfaces.

Stepping into the cabin of the Mazda2 inspires mixed feelings. They've clearly tried to impart a sporty tone inside here with a dashboard design similar to the MX-5's, a dark colour scheme and some sporty touches. Some of these work well, like the fat-rimmed, leather-covered steering wheel with its circular centre and silver spokes. However, the facia surfaces are hard (everywhere) and shiny (in places) and certainly not the best effort in this class in terms of ambience. It is rather pleasant at night though with its red back lighting for the instruments and displays.

This is a very functional car though, especially this Individual model with its keyless entry and start system, which allows you to enter the locked vehicle (while the key is in your pocket) by pressing a button on the door handle and then start the car with a rotary knob where the ignition slot should be. All the controls are easy to operate and fall easily to hand, even the gear lever is placed high up and shifts are slick and smooth. One detail we don't like is the cubby hole, which has an open 'hole' on top, presumably to allow you to slot magazines in there with ease. It is a bit of an eyesore though.

Despite the Mazda2's tiny dimensions, like the Yaris, it competes with the best in this class when it comes to interior space, while the boot is also about average for the segment. Just a pity they didn't make it more versatile, as the rear seats have no 'recline' or 'slide forward' functions like we've seen on other modern cars.

As we've alluded to, the Individual model comes packed with luxury features. It's the first car in its segment to offer keyless start and also comes with goodies like climate control, six-CD audio system, and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers; and on the safety side, it offers front, side and curtain airbags backing up its five-star EuroNCAP credentials.

In the end, the Mazda5 1.5 Individual offers a lot of car for a lot of money. It's not a hot hatch, but still a very satisfying drive and has that 'big car' feel in almost every respect, right down to the features list. You can save about ten grand by opting for the Dynamic model, which loses a few safety and luxury items to the benefit of your bank balance. Either way, the Mazda2 is a classic case of you pay for what you get, but what you're getting is close to brilliant.

We Like:
Spunky styling, ease to drive, superb chassis and sensible economy.

We Don't:
High price, performance and interior versatility could be better.

AT A GLANCE

Engine: Good but could be better (7)
Drivetrain: Extra gear would be ideal (7)
Chassis: Excellent for a small car (9)
Cabin: Functional and kinda funky (8)
Styling: Leads the segment (9)
Value: Well equipped but pricey (7)
Safety: 5 NCAP stars (10)
Economy: Impressive for petrol (8)
Performance: Falls short of the benchmark (7)
Fun Factor: Best in class (8)
Total: 80