Mazda 3

Our verdict

It’s good. And finally deserves to overcome the slightly bland image it’s been carrying thus far.

Comfort

Mazda's biggest seller globally, the 3 has evolved over time from a bit of a blandbox to a very acceptable hatch. It's spacious enough for everything you might need and keeps noise levels to a minimum. More solid and refined than ever before, it's now a serious rival to more established hatches.

Performance

The well-over-200bhp MPS is yet to be driven, but weirdly even the small-engined granny-spec 1.6-litre four is pretty entertaining. OK, so it's not fast, but it revs freely and even sounds a bit sporty. The 2.2 diesel is probably the one to go for though: 182bhp, 294lb ft of torque, 129mph top end and a 62mph sprint of just over eight seconds. Pretty much batters the 2.0d Focus at which it's aimed. 

Cool

This is where the 3 falls down, not least because nobody seems to really know what it is from the name. Even owners struggle. That makes the MPS versions excellent street sleepers though - lots of power and speed in a relatively anonymous face. The latest generation looks much better though - so perhaps it's time that Mazda gained back some ground?  

Quality

Better built than ever before, more refined, though some of the interior plastics are still on the cheap side. Mazda has been making progress, but the 3 still falls a little bit short in a couple of areas.  

Handling

The chassis is basically an ‘evolved' version of the Ford Focus and in no way the worse for that. In fact, the Mazda 3 handles very tidily: poised, nicely precise and above all fun. The revised steering is weightier and has more feeling than before - it's good. 

Practicality

Hatch-shapes usually lend themselves to being practical and the 3 is no exception. The boot's big, the seats split and fold - it's all good, if not exceptional. 

Running costs

Only 149g/km of C02 from the 2.2-litre diesel is pretty good. Insurance is cheap and so is servicing, though residuals are a little hollow.