MOST cars these days are good. Most cars these days have very little wrong with them.

Generally, it’s a case of choosing what suits you and what you like.

But sometimes you get into a car and, unexpectedly, it puts a smile on your face.

The Mazda2 is one of those cars.

I knew it’d be good – well built, nice to look at, good value, clean and efficient.

But what I wasn’t expecting was for it to be so great to drive.

It handles superbly and the manual gearbox is excellent, with a really nice feel.

The 1.5, 90ps, engine that I tested was lively, fizzy and fun. There are three versions – with 75ps, 90ps and 115ps, complemented by a 1.5 diesel with 105ps.

All are good options and Nissan’s Skyactiv tech makes them efficient – combined mpg on the petrols is either side of 60 to the gallon, while the diesel gets to a fuel-station-avoiding 83 and just 89g/km of CO2.

And on the inside things are just as good.

You’ll probably laugh at this, but for me the interior reminded me of the new Audi TT.

It is well-made, stylish and has everything you need.

The good news is that all cars get decent spec – even base SE has electric front windows, audio steering wheel controls, air con, hill hold and a rear roof spoiler.

Move up and you get alloys, electric rear windows and door mirrors, cruise control, Bluetooth, leather trim, the simple-but-good 7in touchscreen, digital radio and a lane departure warning system.

Top-end gets bigger wheels, auto lights and wipers, climate control and rear parking sensors, while the Sport Nav trim that I tested gets a nice (but subtle) bodykit. Heated seats, leather and nav are options.

It was a nice surprise, the Mazda2, and it deserves to do well.

And if the imminent new MX5 is in the same ilk – and it will be – we’re in for a treat there too.

Prices start from a rather reasonable £11,995 and top out at a still-rather-reasonable £16,595.

Find out more at Magna Mazda, which has showrooms in Canford Cliffs, Poole, and Barrack Road, Christchurch; visit magnamazda.co.uk