WHEN I drove the 2.0-litre Mazda 3 I couldn’t believe how good it was, with performance to beat the band and road holding and handling to match.
But perhaps because it is smaller and lighter, the ride never quite matched up to the larger Mazda6, which uses the same floorpan.
Like the 6, it’s still great to drive and does everything else so well that it can be forgiven this small quirk.
Engines are 1.4 82bhp, 1.6 103bhp and the 2.0-litre 147bhp petrol or there are also 1.6 diesels with 88 and 107bhp, and a 2.0-litre with 140bhp.
All have the same excellent, well balanced grip and road holding so that a twisting road is huge fun.
Mazdas have excellent build quality and one of the best reliability records of any car on the market, so as long as you get the service history, you are pretty safe buying them second-hand.
Interior
The cabin is great with all controls well to hand, the driving position is excellent, the gearchange superb and the clutch light.
Rear legroom is among the best in class and equipment is generous even in lower order cars.
FAST FACTS
Mazda3
Price: Pay about £3,500 for an ’05 05-reg TS, or £7,500 for an ’09 09-reg Sport
Mechanical: 103bhp, 1,598cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 114mph
0-62mph: 10.6 seconds
Combined mpg: 39
Insurance group: 10
CO2 emissions: 172g/km
Marks: 10/10
Main rival: VW Golf