It's a fairly easy question to answer if the funds are there for a brand-new model, as one of the key attributes that most parents want for their kids is the latest safety technology. And for good reason.

Beyond that, you want something that's easy to manouevre, has good vision and, obviously, not too powerful.

In the end, the latest crop of city cars are generally the best picks as they are not only affordable but meet all of those requirements. Among them, the Mazda2 is our reigning Drive Car of the Year class champion on the basis of its safety, economy, style, features and cheeky dynamics.

It's been a while since the all-new hatch arrived in showrooms, so ahead of the sedan version joining the range next month we've added a top-shelf Genki version to our long-term garage. Its timing just so happens to coincide with my teenage son, Emmerson, acquiring his learner's licence and we will be using it to refine his skills behind the wheel over the next few months.

The Genki is ideal for this situation, even if it does come at a premium with a starting price of $19,990 (plus on-road costs), as it comes loaded with convenient features such as a head-up display, reverse camera and parking sensors - all of which make it easier for him to concentrate on the basic techniques to begin with. That it also fitted with automated emergency braking (or Smart City Brake Support in Mazda-speak) that operates between 4-30km/h provides a sense of peace of mind when I'm in the jump seat.

It's also just the right size too, and even though it's primary target is for young females he reckons its looks pretty cool on its 16-inch alloy wheels. There's plenty of space for his six-foot frame (plus an extra couple of inches of hipster haircut) to fit comfortably in the driver's seat, which is complemented by reach and rake adjustment to the steering. While we don't use the back seat very often, it can easily accommodate his younger sister and the 250L boot, while not overly huge for full family duties, is certainly accommodating enough for weekly shopping trips and the school runs.

The Mazda's real strengths, however, lie in its mechanical package. The 81kW/141Nm 1.5-litre engine is not only peppy at the top of its rev range, but also possesses a smooth and linear power delivery from low engine speeds and is pretty economical as we've recorded an average consumption figure of just under 6L/100km – marginally more than Mazda's 5.2L/100km claim, but respectable considering most of the driving so far has been in stop-start suburban streets.

The six-speed manual gearbox and well-weighted clutch are getting a workout, but there's a sweet action between both that makes it easy to get moving. That the stop-start function automatically re-fires the engine on the occasional stalled launch is a massive help.

The Genki's steering is nice and direct and its spritely dynamic qualities help transmit the changes in road conditions – whether its alterations in camber or the crown of the road, or when it's wet – which provides an element of confidence to both occupants on the road.

So far, it's all been smooth sailing for Emmerson and the Mazda has proven to be a perfect first car to learn the basics in. We'll keep you posted on the progress of both over the next few months.

Mazda2 Genki

Price: $19,990 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl petrol

Power: 81kW at 6000rpm

Torque: 141Nm at 4000rpm

Transmission: 6-spd manual, FWD

Consumption: 5.9L/100km (recorded average)