The reinvention and subsequent success of the Mazda range has been interesting to watch of late. The MX-5 and RX-8 have lifted the brand's image hugely and the brand managers have been working hard to try and instil the more run of the mill models into the market's psyche alongside these image boosters. We recently drove the Mazda6 in two guises, Sport and MPS, and found it to be a real step up in ability capable of challenging the market favourites. Here we try the Mazda3, the modern interpretation of the 323 model, one of the maker's biggest sellers.

Mazda's smaller hatches have always struggled to find their niche in terms of looks. From boxy and bland in the early '80s, to anonymity in the '90s via some experimentation with fastbacks and coupe-type styling, never sure whether to comply with the masses or stand out from the crowd. The latest Mazda3 certainly isn't what you'd consider a beauty, but courtesy of a heavily sculpted bonnet, pronounced waistline with crafted glasshouse and some jewel effect light lenses front and rear it manages to avoid sliding into the blobular oblivion a lot of Japanese hatches find themselves in.

On the road, the driving experience is quite polished. A 104bhp 1.6-litre 16-valve four cylinder engine provides a perky and willing companion and there has obviously been some time and effort invested in ensuring that it emits the right sounds. Plenty of induction and exhaust noise is evident when pushing on, but the engine is suitably subdued at a cruise. The lively engine combines nicely with a slick-shifting gearbox with well-judged ratios. Performance is around the class average with 0-62mph in 11 seconds and a 114mph maximum, almost exactly the same as equivalent VW Golf and Ford Focus offerings. In-gear performance is equally capable with the engine having ample torque ensuring you don't need to rev the nuts off it to make decent progress. It also yields an average of almost 40mpg.

The steering is a little light but direct and accurate enough to be fun. The chassis strikes a sensible balance between ride and handling and possesses a decent level of exploitable grip before yielding to the inevitable, but gentle, onset of understeer. The brakes are feelsome and strong enough under heavy use. All in all it adds up to a fun family hatch that, whilst lacking the finesse and ultimate polish of a Focus, certainly has the breadth of dynamic capability necessary to hold its head up in the competitive mid-size hatch market and reflects the amount of effort invested in trying to make the new Mazda3 a fun car to drive.

Inside is roomy and spacious enough for four adults or a small family alike. The boot also offers plenty of room and the cabin contains the necessary cubbies and pockets for storing essentials. The seats are comfortable and supportive and it is easy to find a good driving position. The general fit and finish is good but it doesn't offer the same level of sophistication or style as the VW Golf; it's probably on a par with SEAT, somewhere around the class average.

The down side is the darkness of the cabin. Gloomy seat materials and dark dashboard plastics make for a fairly uninspiring place to travel. In a bid to break up the blandness that could be caused by the swathes of black plastic Mazda's designers have added a back-lit orange plastic strip across the centre of the dash. This strip flashes, Knight Rider style, when certain functions are carried out on the dash, for example turning up the stereo. It's a bit of a naff gimmick, but at least it offers a relief from the tedium of black plastic. The layout of the dash is sensible and straightforward to use and the instrument binnacle is clear and easy to read; the small pods look very Alfa-like, which is no bad thing.

Specification levels on this TS2 model are generous including as standard a leather steering wheel with stereo controls, a six CD in-dash changer, automatic climate control and one-touch electric windows all round in addition to the usual items you'd expect. The price of £13,950 is cheaper than similarly equipped rivals and the Mazda comes with an appropriately generous 3 year/ 60,000 mile warranty. A low insurance group rating of five rounds off a cheap to own and run package.

The Mazda3 is an improvement over some of the previous Mazda hatch offerings and reflects some of the 'Zoom-zoom' ethos. It could be better though. Compared to a Focus the 3 lacks true driver involvement and a Golf offers a far superior interior. The 3 is just a tad too average to trouble the top of the class, but is nevertheless a capable car in its own right. Mazda's reputation for making solid, dependable and practical hatches remains undiluted but the 3 needs a little bit more Zoom-zoom in the interior, looks and driver experience to lift it to the level needed to bother the establishment on all levels. As it is it offers a worthy alternative to those who seek options other than the usual European suspects, but has to go down as something of a nearly man.

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Mazda3 hatchback UK range review

- Mazda3 1.4 5dr S : £11,000
- Mazda3 1.4 5dr TS : £12,350
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr S : £11,950
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS : £13,150
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS Activematic : £14,150
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS2 : £13,950
- Mazda3 2.0 5dr TS2 : £14,950
- Mazda3 2.0 5dr Sport : £15,850
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr S Diesel (109ps) : £13,500
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS Diesel (109ps) : £14,950
- Mazda3 1.6 5dr TS2 Diesel (109ps) : £15,750