The 3 seems anachronistic, though, existing alongside the EVs that are flooding the forecourts. This is a 2.5-litre petrol-engined manual hatchback that costs under £30k. How many times have you read that in a new car test or report over the past couple of years?
What the 3 represents might not be the car du jour, then, but that is to undersell what a delight it has been to drive and to live with.
The Mazda brand is a left-field option, yet it quietly makes mostly decent cars (the MX-5 is exceptional while a couple of others are mediocre). I have enjoyed both the understated niche choice of a hatchback in a world of SUVs and that it’s slightly rarier and less obvious than, say, a Volkswagen Golf or even a Toyota Corolla.
I have never been totally convinced by its rear end, but the vibrant colour, the Mazda classic of Soul Red Crystal paint (a £950 option), would be my pick time and time again.
I am now largely adapted to a world of quiet start-ups, so the 2.5-litre engine sounds loud when I fire up the car on my quiet street. But that observation is quickly forgotten, and I’ve not once noticed the engine being noisy or growly on a journey, which can only be a good sign.
Despite having 2488cc to its name, the 3 makes a conservative 138bhp, which translates to a sedate 0-62mph time of 9.5sec. Even so, it has never felt underpowered be it along local B-roads or on the motorway. Add in the accurate steering and highly enjoyable manual ‘box hailed in previous reports, and this is an unexpectedly desirable car to drive. (It is available as an automatic, too, if I can’t convince you a manual is worth it.)
It has also proved to be practical. That it fits neatly on my very short drive is a boon, yet it’s well packaged inside. The all-black interior – not uncommon for Japanese brands – is claustrophobic at times, but on the upside it seems to help it maintain a neat, clean, fresh appearance more than some other options. The boot is, on paper, smaller than those of its rivals, but again it is well designed to maximise space and access.
The infotainment system and controls could look outdated compared with touchscreens twice the size – not surprising given the Mk4 3 was launched seven years ago – but it really did a fine job of making life easy. The screen was big enough and the various dials and buttons, including, most notably, the one in the centre console, made commands on the move straightforward and safer than in many contemporaries.
