| Overall Rating |
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| Description |
| Recommended. A new mid-sized family hatchback and saloon that comes over as more sensible than the company's advertising would have you believe, but offers a strong all-round package, especially to private buyers. |
| Handling |
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| Comfort |
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| Quality & Reliability |
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| Performance |
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| Roominess |
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| Running Costs |
 |
| Value for Money |
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| Stereo/Sat Nav |
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| Best Models |
| 1.6 TS (petrol and diesel) |
| Worst Models |
| 1.4 S |
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| Road Test |
| Underneath its slightly conservative styling the Mazda 3 is in good company, being closely related to the second-generation Ford Focus (and C-Max). That means excellent driving dynamics, good handling and an absorbent, if occasionally slightly firm, ride. It also comes with an extremely clever impact-absorption structure, gifted by its other half-sister, the new Volvo S40. Inside the strong, durable cabin is well designed and offers a good feeling of quality. The entry level 1.4 litre petrol engine lacks motorway guts but should be fine in town, more powerful 1.6 and 2.0 litre petrol motors becoming decently rapid. The cleverest engine in the range is the common-rail 1.6 litre MZ-CD turbo-diesel, which gives strong performance (109 bhp) despite its modest capacity. Equipment levels are reasonable, although both aircon and curtain airbags are an extra cost option on the base 'S', slightly disappointingly. |
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