Mazda 3 (2024) Review

Nobody makes a compact car look like this. The hatchback has a haunch over the rear wheel that belongs on something costing three times as much, and the sedan is cleaner and calmer than any rival. The interior is the real achievement: a low, wide dash, tight panel gaps, damped switchgear, and leather on the upper trims that shames cars from the German brands. It steers with weight and precision that flatter an average driver, and the ride is firm but never crude.

Then you sit in the back, or try to see out of the hatchback over that thick rear pillar, and the compromises land. Rear legroom is tight, the boot is small, and the infotainment refuses touch input while moving, forcing you through a rotary controller that is fine for menus and infuriating for maps. The 2.5 litre four is smooth and unremarkable, and the turbo version is quick without ever sounding like it enjoys it. Reliability is strong and running costs are ordinary. Values slip faster than the Japanese mainstream because the badge carries less weight used. Buy it because you want to look at it every morning.