What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

For The 3 has a sparkling drive; and it's versatile, well priced and cheaper than a VW Golf

Against It has a firm-ish ride in town, and there's motorway wind roar. It's also frugal, but the diesel is weak

Verdict More character than past small Mazdas, but every bit as practical

Go for… 1.6 TS

Avoid… 2.0 Sport

Mazda 3 Hatchback
  • 1. A small number of early diesel models suffered turbo failure
  • 2. The interior is bland but pleasant, with big, clear dials and buttons
  • 3. The boot is a fair size and a good shape. The rear seats split 60/40 and drop to create a flat floor
  • 4. The cabin is roomy, although shoulder space is tight for three adults in the back
  • 5. The 1.6 petrol delivers the best trade-off between performance and costs
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Reader test team says:

Mazda 3 Hatchback 1.6 S 5dr

I bought my second hand Mazda 3 TS2 18 months…

Kelly Mansell

1 out of 5 stars

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Buy a Mazda 3 and you'll not be disappointed. …

Mark Whittlesea

5 out of 5 stars
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