If you fancy a new car then it's almost guaranteed that Mazda will have the one to fit your requirements.

If it's an open topped sports car you can't get much better than the MX5; if it's a straight saloon then the Mazda6 takes some beating and for a small car enter the new Mazda2, one of the best vehicles on the road today.

It's only been in the showrooms for a couple of months and the dealers can't get enough of them. It's easy to see why.

Prices start at £8,500 and Mazda is confident that the 2 will prove to be so popular that its small car sales will triple next year to 12,000 units a sales hike by 300 per cent. The car not only out-performs the model it replaces in every department it is also 100kg lighter than its predecessor.

It now weighs under 1,000kg which not only reduces fuel consumption by some 15 per cent, but it also ensures agile handling characteristics.

Mazda has deliberately kept the model line-up simple - a choice of three engines and three equipment levels, in three models (TS, TS2 and Sport).

This is possible because Mazda are always generous with the standard equipment and on the 1.3-litre bottom of the range there is: 15-inch steel wheels, ABS with Emergency Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution, driver and passenger front airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, electric front windows, driver seat height adjust, CD radio with auxiliary jack and two speakers, multi-function glovebox with magazine rack, alarm and immobiliser and electric, heated door mirrors In the past if you wanted a car with these sort of toys you'd have been paying more than £1,000.

The next model has 11 additional equipment items and topping the range the new Mazda2 Sport, powered by a 1.5-litre 103ps engine and fitted with a sports styling kit includes enough to furnish a modern house.

Well not exactly, but there are grilles, sports bumpers, side skirts and roof spoilerplus stability control, traction control, cruise control, front fog lights, auto lights and wipers, along with electric rear windows, trip computer, speed alarm, two additional audio speakers (total six) and climate control air-conditioning. Prices from £8,499 to £11,799.