Overview

Should you buy one?

That all depends on what you intend to use it for. If you just want a sporty hatchback that looks great and drives well, the Mazda 3 could be perfect for your needs. We still think the 3 is one of the best hatchbacks on the market to drive – and it’s probably the ideal hatch if you’re single or coupled up. But the 3 makes sacrifices in other areas that ultimately limits its appeal for family buyers.

The Mazda 3 has plenty of rivals with a greater breadth of ability. The Ford Focus, for example, is almost as much fun to drive, but it has way more space inside. The Toyota Corolla is available with a proper self-charging hybrid system, too, which promises to save you even more money in fuel costs.

And while its naturally aspirated engines are great fun to wring out to the redline, they don’t feel as nippy as the smaller turbocharged units fitted to the like of the Volkswagen Golf and SEAT Leon. Mazda’s engines lack a lot of mid-range punch, which means you’ll be stirring through the gearbox more often to make progress. Depending on how much you enjoy driving, though, that might not be such a bad thing.

What’s new?

Mazda has always done things differently – and the 3 lives up to the company’s nonconformist mantra. It offers buyers something different to the usual family hatchback suspects, sporting low-slung design and a range of non-turbocharged engines. Its rivals favour boxier (more practical) styling and more efficient turbocharged and electrified engines.

So, who does it best? Mazda certainly thinks it’s on the right side of the fence, but there’s no denying the strength of the opposition. The Volkswagen Golf is a great all-rounder – and it can be specified with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. If that’s not eco-friendly enough for you, the Vauxhall Astra is available with a pure-electric powertrain.

Every Mazda 3 available in the UK is armed to the teeth with safety technology – and every model even has a head-up display as standard, as Mazda says it means there are fewer distractions for the driver. Higher-spec cars have equipment such as larger 18-inch alloys, a 360-degree parking camera system and electrically adjustable front seats.

If you’re looking to buy a Mazda 3, the model range is strikingly simple. There are just two mild hybrid petrol engines to choose from – the super-efficient e-Skyactiv G with 122hp and the more powerful e-Skyactiv X, which pushes out a more performance-friendly 186hp.

You have a little more choice on the equipment front, with five specifications to comb through. They’re called Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Houmra, Exclusive Line and Takumi, and they’re all available with either a manual or automatic gearbox. Want a diesel or a proper hybrid powertrain? Look elsewhere…

If you’re smitten by the Mazda 3, click through the next few pages to see if it can suit your lifestyle. In this review, you’ll learn everything you need to know, with insights on the car’s practicality, interior, running costs, driving experience and whether we recommend buying one. And if you’d like to learn how we came to these conclusions, check out how we test cars.