EVEN BY today’s ultra-competitive standards, three years is a pretty quick turnaround for introducing a facelifted version of a car.

That is what has happened with the Mazda2 supermini however, and it demonstrates the importance of the compact hatchback to the Japanese manufacturer that it is being kept as fresh and up-to-date as possible.

The compact hatchback Mazda2 has been a big success since it was first introduced in late 2007. Attractive exterior styling, an impressive chassis and a strict weight-saving programme that allowed it to reverse the industry trend and prove lighter as well as more economical than its predecessor have contributed to sales of more than 207,000 across Europe.

Being the recipient of the 2008 World Car of the Year award in 2008 didn’t harm its credential either.

Regardless, in the quest for an even more attractive driving and owning experience Mazda has refreshed the five-door and three-door line-up with a series of changes.

Lightness was a key element with the previous version; it weighed some 100kg less than its predecessor. That weight saving has been retained in the latest variant but the body has been stiffened allowing Mazda’s engineers to soften the suspension slightly.

As a result, the Mazda2’s ride is impressively cosseting for a small city car. Rougher road surfaces are dealt with efficiently and the revised chassis settings prove particularly adept at absorbing the metronomic thumps of some motorway surfaces.

Crucially, the Mazda2’s stability has not been unduly affected by the suspension changes. The focus is on comfort rather than sports driving appeal but the direct and responsive feel to the steering is backed up by an ability to change direction nimbly and strong roadholding.

As with the revisions under the skin, the exterior changes are subtle but effective. While the rear and distinctively styled side profile remain unchanged, the front end has been the recipient of changes to bring it in line with the updated Mazda3, Mazda5 and Mazda6 models.

The upper grille now features the larger wing motif across its span on all models, the lower five-point grille is much larger and more similar to that of the larger models, giving the small car a great deal more presence, and highly stylised fog lamp bezels in the bottom corner of the front bumpers boast a more grown-up, executive appeal.

It’s inside that current Mazda2 owners will notice the biggest difference, however.

The revised centre console and dashboard layout now uses a piano black surround for the neat audio control layout, the instrument binnacle has been redesigned with white-on-black dials, additional silver detailing is present around air vents and ventilation controls and new soft touch materials have been introduced for the areas most likely to come into contact with occupants.

The resulting interior is contemporary, comfortable and easy on the eye. The driving position is a bonus, too, aided by the ideal positioning of the gear lever and the neat and ergonomic control layout. The downside comes in the form of the extended A-pillars that, although integral to the smart design, do restrict the view into corners.

Despite this, it’s an easy car to drive and live with.

For added practicality five-door versions are available, but the three-door does an excellent job as a more affordable version of a smart city car.