The 3 has been Mazda’s top-seller for years and for good reason.

Compact but roomy, well-built, and very good value, there has long been a ready market from a variety of buyers from families and retired types looking for a reliable and long-serving all-rounder to more fun-orientated drivers looking for the outright performance and thrill-factor of the potent MPS.

And the new model doesn’t disappoint. It’s roomy, handsome, performs strongly and handles superbly. And fuel economy is up, while emissions and weight are down.

The new styling ensures that visually, it fits in strongly between the company’s latest 2 and 6 series.

There are a total of 14 models with four spec levels, available from May 18, with the MPS rocketship landing later in the year.

There’s a choice of no less than seven engines available, three petrols and three new diesels, as well as the sporty, 260ps 2.3-litre petrol available when the MPS arrives.

The petrols are a 150ps two-litre, a 105ps 1.6-litre and the new eco-friendly, 151ps two-litre direct injection spark ignition (DISI) model. This features Mazda’s new fuel-stretching ‘i-stop‘ system that cuts emission levels from 189g/km to 159g/km.

The new diesels are 185ps and 150ps, 2.2-litre units and a 1.6-litre unit offering 109ps.

Gearbox choice comprises a five or six-speed manual and a five-speed automatic.

I drove the 105ps petrol automatic and the new 150ps diesel, both in Sport specification, around and among the Scottish Highlands on wonderful, winding foothill roads and fast dual carriageways.

After an easy climb in, the seating and wheel are highly adjustable and there’ll be few drivers who cannot get comfortably positioned.

The main dials are easy to see, though the red figures used are not so good, but Mazda’s very good information display is standard on all models which overcomes this well.

As is usual with the marque, the quality of the cabin fixtures and fittings is high and it all feels typically good and solid. There are rather a lot of buttons and switches on the stylish centre console, but they’ll no doubt become second nature after a while.

The six-speed manual box was a pleasure, with good ratios and a long-legged top giving 70mph at just 2,000rpm.

Overtaking was a breeze, with plenty of torque and little turbo lag.

The Sport is a very well-equipped machine, some might say to a fault; with its 17 switches and buttons on the steering wheel.

Although these include stuff like cruise control and telephone settings, it’s still rather a lot for a Philistine like me. But I accept there seems to be a demand for it these days.

Likewise, the centre console is inundated with a bewildering array of buttons and controls, but a new owner will presumably soon get the hang of it all.

Mazda’s prices are always competitive, although today’s feeble pound sterling means they’re inevitably a little higher.

The range (and a jolly good range it is too) costs from £13,500 to £19,900 and is available in Mazda’s familiar S, TS TS2 and Sport versions. The MPS will cost £21,500.

And those prices include class-leading levels of safety equipment, including a dynamic stability control, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control and six airbags as standard.

The new Mazda3 is in the showrooms from this week. Call or visit Wey Valley Mazda to try one.