Mazda 3 Saloon review

The chassis and interior dimensions of the 3 Saloon are unchanged from the 3 hatchback, so there’s still a decent amount of space in the front. Even tall adults will be spared any major space issues, because there's plenty of leg, shoulder and head room.

There's a good assortment of storage areas inside, too, including bottle holders in both doors, a rubber-coated non-slip area ahead of the gearlever and a reasonably deep glovebox. 

In the back, anyone particularly tall will find their knees in close proximity to the front seat and their head brushing the sloping roof. It's tight for three adults across the rear bench, too, but at least those extra windows behind the rear pillars make it feel light and not too claustrophobic. 

As with most rivals, the rear seatbacks split 60/40 and lie flat when folded down. As in the larger Mazda 6 saloon, there are levers in the boot that you pull to make the seatbacks fold down. This saves you having to fumble around through the rear doors to release them. 

There’s more boot space than you get in the Audi A3 Saloon or Mercedes A-Class Saloon. The only problem is the small aperture, which, combined with a high lip, makes loading bulky items difficult. However, if you’re looking for an executive car for less than £25,000, the Skoda Superb is unbeaten for space, wherever inside you’re looking.