With its flowing lines and sleek profile, the Mazda CX-3 has a uniform and stylish appearance.

It could be argued that Mazda has taken the more appealing aspects of the excellent CX-5 and condensed them into a more compact package to create the CX-3.

Not only is this crossover vehicle a good-looking machine, it also provides punchy performance to appeal to those who crave a bit of pace to accompany the practicality.

Indeed, when you first give the accelerator a hearty push, you’re likely to be fairly satisfied with the response from the petrol engine.

My test car’s 120 horsepower, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, delivered swift acceleration that was sufficient for most everyday situations.

At a time when many manufacturers are downsizing their engines and turbocharging them to gain more efficiency, Mazda’s choice of a 2.0-litre petrol unit for the CX-3 may be seen by some as being a little unconventional.

However, while retaining engine capacity, Mazda has come up with different ways to enhance the vehicle’s efficiency, including reductions in weight and better aerodynamics.

On West Yorkshire’s more rural winding roads, the CX-3 grips well through the corners, delivering sharp handling and a smooth ride.

This model was a front-wheel drive version, which seemed to provide decent grip, although there is also a four-wheel drive option for those who want to be assured of good traction.

Inside the cabin, there are plenty of quality materials and a rather attractive dashboard. All models come complete with a seven-inch touchscreen along with a rotary controller for use on the move.

This minimises the number of buttons that are needed, which in turn leads to a less cluttered feel.

The impressive sound system is a seven-speaker Bose unit, allowing Bluetooth connection to a smartphone, giving hands-free phone operation, text message send/receive and email readout.

There is no shortage of interior space and we were able to several family days out with plenty of leg and head room to add to comfort. Furthermore, the driver’s seat is height adjustable, adding to the feeling of comfort.

Boot space is very reasonable - perhaps what you might expect in the crossover sector - with the extra bonus of a false floor for added room.

Safety systems are par for the course these days with crossovers and the CX-3 has features such as automatic braking systems.

Smart brake support makes use of radar and a camera to check the road and apply the brakes if a dangerous situation arises.

Meanwhile, blind spot monitoring uses radar to keep an eye on the road to the sides and rear, warning of vehicles approaching in adjacent lanes with a flashing indicator in the side mirror.

A lane departure warning system examines the lane markings using a camera and warns the driver of unintentional lane changes.

In terms of looks, the CX-3 sports a front end with the Mazda family feel, including a grille and headlights that are familiar from other models.

But there’s no doubt that this car looks best when viewed from the side, with its long bonnet giving the vehicle a dynamic appearance.

The line of the bonnet then flows downwards beneath the front doors and through the rear doors, with this sharp line often catching the sunlight and creating an impressive muscular effect.

I found this model to be consistent with the Mazda brand’s current vision for design - its so-called ‘SKYACTIV’ philosophy that involves building cars that are efficient, lighter, handsome and enjoyable to drive.

While it may be true that some of the CX-3’s rivals are cheaper, this powerful, efficient and stylish vehicle is certainly worthy of serious consideration.