THE current Mazda3 is the company's most successful car in the UK.
It has racked-up 64,636 sales during its run and helped Mazda to pass Nissan and become the third biggest selling Japanese brand in Britain, behind Toyota and Honda.
So the new 3 has a tough act to follow, especially as it is being launched in the midst of a recession.
Mazda UK managing director Jeremy Thomson is confident the newcomer will be a huge success even in a smaller market and he believes it has all the attributes to do well during the current financial crisis.
Designed and developed in Germany for European tastes and roads the new 3 has what it takes to compete against the Ford Focus and Vauxhall's Astra - its two main competitors.
To be honest, it doesn't look terribly different from the model it replaces apart from the smart new front which now features the family nose.
It is handsome and sleek and is instantly recognisable as a Mazda. It also enjoys new green credentials which are so important to private customers and fleet buyers.
Engineers worked hard to reduce the weight of the new car and the result is improved fuel economy of 16% across the range and CO2 emissions cut by up to 19%.
Prices of the 14 model line-up start at £13,500 and rise to £19,900 in the now familiar S, TS, TS2 and Sport trims. The sporty and powerful MPS priced at £21,500 will delight enthusiasts when it arrives later this year.
There are six engines to choose from, three petrol in 1.6, 2.0-litre and 2.3-litre forms and a trio of turbodiesels, including a 1.6 109PS unit, 150PS 2.2-litre and a 185PS version of the same engine.
All models boast class leading safety credentials and feature stability and traction control systems as well as ABS and six airbags.
Inside, the dash layout has been improved and now resembles the sibling 6, with cowled instruments and soft-touch plastics.
There is comfortable seating for four and maybe five for shorter journeys, but rear leg room is not great.
All models feature air-con for creature comfort and MP3 connectivity. Luggage space is about average with 340 litres available and 1,360 litres with the rear seats folded.
Fuel saving I-stop technology is standard on the 2.0-litre Sport model and the stop/start system takes just 0.35 of a second to re-start the car.
I found the1.6-litre diesel to be the pick of the bunch. Priced at £15,760 in mid-range TS trim, it offers a more than decent blend of power and economy.
It is capable of up to 62mpg if you treat it gently and has a tax friendly C02 figure of 119g/km, resulting in an annual road fund licence of just £35. Business users will also be tempted as it fits in to the lowest company car tax bracket.
On the open roads the new 3 was a real pleasure to drive. Its excellent chassis provided the right balance of ride and comfort and the steering was sharp and positive.
The new Mazda3 is very agile and dealt easily with all kind of surfaces.
Build quality is first class and rivals anything in the sector. It has a stylish upmarket feel about it and is also well equipped making it a serious challenger in the toughest of markets.