Small crossovers are the big growth area right now, with the Nissan Juke, Vauxhall Mokka, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008 all recording strong sales, while new entrants include the Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500X and this recent arrival – Mazda’s CX-3.

Mazda has enjoyed decent success with the larger CX-5 crossover since its launch three years ago, and it has now moved into the segment that blends a small off-roader with a supermini.

We’ve gone for the mid-level SE-L trim, and treated ourselves to the Nav version, which is on the price list as a separate model at an additional £600, rather than requiring drivers to tick an options box.

The SE-L gets all the standard kit you’d want (see the list of ‘Equipment’, above right), adding climate control, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, heated front seats, city brake, and lane departure warning among the additional items in the £1400 step up from the entry SE trim. Mazda’s options list extends only to metallic, mica or pearlescent paint, of which we’ve opted for the off-white Ceramic metallic colour.

The only engine choice from a business perspective is the 105hp 1.5-litre diesel in two-wheel drive form. There are a pair of petrol engines, but all petrol alternatives are at least hitting 130g/km, whereas our two-wheel drive diesel is at 105g/km. That does jump to 123g/km if you want the all-wheel drive derivative, and to 136g/km for the all-wheel drive auto – the only diesel auto offered.

The interior is nicely laid out, with the seven-inch touchscreen being the focal point for audio, navigation and Bluetooth systems, although it’s good to see not everything runs through the same screen due to the climate controls still being on the dash. Some manufacturers have gone too far in recent times in taking all controls off the dash, which means coming out of navigation screen to change the aircon settings.

As well as via the touchscreen, the systems can be easily controlled by a combination of dials and buttons down to the left of the driver, while the audio system links up with the Aha and Stitcher radio streaming mobile phone apps on top of offering FM, AM, DAB, Bluetooth, USB and aux-in audio options.

The cabin is well laid out and of a decent quality, although it is all very black, with only some red rims to the air vent breaking up the dark materials.