It seems that no model range is complete without a compact SUV in the family and so it’s no surprise that Mazda have introduced the CX-3.

It’s not, as its name might lead you to believe, based on the Mazda 3 but, instead, carries much of the DNA of the impressive supermini, the 2.

It shares the Kodo design language with all of the firm’s other recent offerings and, in my opinion, is the most alluring interpretation. The styling is coherent, sharp and exuberant. The extra metal that the CX-3 offers provides a much better template for the intricate creases and flowing surfaces that the Kodo theme introduced.

What is particularly admirable about the CX-3 is the way that, despite the additional bulk that its SUV status conveys, it never looks anything less than sleek, whichever angle it’s viewed from. It’s a clever design feat that elevates it above the norm in this sector.

The interior will look familiar to anyone who’s climbed inside any of Mazda’s other updated models. The seven-inch touchscreen multimedia system sits atop the dash which does lend it the look of an aftermarket addition rather than an integrated unit, but it works well, is simple to use, and the screen is bright and crisp.

You’ll find it in every model and it runs Mazda’s MZD-Connect software which works with compatible Android and iOS phones to provide access to free mobile content via Aha or Stitcher apps. These cloud-based platforms feature thousands of stations, personalised location-based services and both Twitter and Facebook feeds. MZD-Connect also supports iPod, MP3 and CD playback, plus SMS and email readout functions.

The controls have a nice feel to them, with flashes of chrome and a leather-look insert just below the air vents. Top of the range Sport Nav versions come equipped with half black leatherette seats with red piping as well as red soft touch knee pads. My test car was fitted with the half stone leather, half black LUX SUEDE interior trim which, while going some way to help lift what is otherwise a rather conservative, sombre cabin, is a rather pricey option at £800.

Despite sharing the same platform and wheelbase with the 2, the taller profile of the CX-3 has liberated 20mm more leg room for front-seat passengers and 30mm more for those in the rear. It’s welcome, of course, but not class-leading.

The seats are comfortable and, thanks to plenty of adjustment in the steering column, the driving position good. There’s plenty of storage with a decent sized glove box, deep door pockets and large cup holders.

Boot space is impressive thanks in no small part to the false floor, which is standard across the range, and the CX-3 will swallow 287 litres in five-seat mode and 1,197-litres in two-seat mode.

The SKYACTIV 1.5-litre diesel engine produces 104bhp and, in my test car, the slick six-speed gearbox sent power to the front wheels but CX-3 is available in all-wheel-drive mated to either a manual or automatic ‘boxes.

It’s a relatively refined unit, with very little clatter on start-up but, while it can be a little intrusive at low revs, once up to cruising speed it fades away to little more than a distant hum.

Performance is strong, with 62mph arriving in a competitive 10.1 seconds while in-gear flexibility is impressive, making overtaking an effortless experience.

The gearbox has a confident, positive action and the pedals, while substantially weighted, are well-matched to car’s character.

Perhaps the CX-3’s Achilles heel – and it’s worth noting that, having visited other reviews, it would appear that this applies only to diesel-engined variants – is its ride and handling. It’s an area in which Mazda have almost universally excelled and, given the dynamic success of the 2, it came as a bit of a shock to discover that the CX-3 fails to shine in quite the same way as its little brother.

First and foremost there’s a disconnect between the wheels on the road and the wheel in your hands and, to compound matters, the weight of the steering is a bit hit and miss which has the effect of sapping the driver’s confidence. Fortunately there’s not enough grip to really put the CX-3’s less than impressive cornering balance to the test and that impacts on the fluidity and incisiveness that you’d expect to find in a Mazda.

It doesn’t fare so well on uneven roads either, with crests and bumps unsettling the car to the extent where it can take a while to sort itself out. Tackle higher frequency imperfections and the problem is exacerbated and the suspension thumps away audibly beneath the occupants.

The CX-3 is undoubtedly a good-looking car. Its appeal is dampened somewhat by its disappointing ride and lacklustre handling. For the majority of potential buyers, its dynamic shortcomings won’t be, and shouldn’t be, enough to dissuade them but, compared to some of its rivals, its price might.

The standard list of equipment might appear impressive in isolation but the CX-3 has been launched into an ultra-competitive market where its biggest rivals are significantly cheaper. Fuel economy from the diesel is impressive and residual values are predicted to be reasonably strong but the fact remains that the CX-3, in diesel form at least, struggles to build a compelling argument for itself.

Mazda CX-3 1.5 105ps 2WD Sport Nav Diesel

Price: £21,895

As tested: £22,555

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Power: 104bhp

Torque: 199lbft @ 1,600rpm

Maximum speed: 110mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 10.1sec

Combined: 70.6mpg

Emissions (CO2): 105g/km

For more information about Mazda cars visit www.mazda.co.uk