Sometimes it pays to look beyond the obvious. Mazda's 3 may be something of a leftfield choice compared to the household names that dominate the family hatchback market – like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus – but if you’re looking for something sleek, stylish and great to drive, and you want a car that stands out from the crowd, then consider leasing the Mazda3.
Stylish.
Economical.
Good to drive.
Mazda3 lets you drive a brand-new car for less, making fixed monthly payments for 2-5 years. After that, when your deal ends, you return the car. There’s no depreciation costs or balloon payment to worry about because you’re essentially ‘renting’ the car.
All you need to do is choose your Mazda3 lease model, your annual mileage, upfront payment and contract length. Once your contract is finalised, we’ll deliver the car for free – it couldn’t be simpler. To find out more about how contract hire works, take a look at our easy-to-understand guide to car leasing.
There’s a feelgood factor to the Mazda 3. It’s well-made, nice to sit in and great to drive – making it a more indulgent experience than what you’d get in a typical family hatchback. Where most cars in this class justify themselves to your head, the Mazda 3 also appeals to the heart. Its coupe-like styling looks great and there are loads of nice little details to drink in elsewhere, such as an unusually slick manual gearbox and a perfectly sculpted steering wheel that feels great to hold.
There’s room for drivers of all shapes and sizes to get comfortable in the front of the Mazda3, but its sloping roofline means there’s not as much space in the back as you’ll find in some rivals. Likewise, the boot capacity is a solid but unexceptional 334 litres in the hatchback.
Unlike many of its competitors, the Mazda3 is also available in 4-door saloon format. This has a taller roofline that provides a bit more rear-seat room, plus it offers a substantial increase in boot space at 450 litres. That’s enough to hold several large suitcases.
Both the Mazda3’s petrol engines are mild hybrids, while the more powerful version also uses Mazda’s Skyactiv-X fuel-saving technology. This runs on normal petrol, but uses cutting-edge technology to operate in a more efficient way; closer in principle to a diesel engine, is the simple summation. The upshot is that it’s impressively economical for a 2.0-litre petrol engine, with an official fuel consumption figure of up to 54.3mpg in manual hatchback form, while the saloon is better still at up to 56.5mpg.
The lower-powered e-Skyactiv-G engine can’t quite match those figures, but it’s still more economical than most of its petrol rivals, with an official figure of up to 51.4mpg. As always, we’d treat these laboratory figures with a pinch of salt, but experience has shown that the Skyactiv engines tend to fare better than most when it comes to the real world.
The Mazda3 hatchback follows a classic 5-door profile with a curvaceous coupe twist.
A smart compact saloon with the same taut, athletic lines as the hatchback.
Trim levels available: SE-L, SE-L Lux, Sport, GT Sport, GT Sport Tech.
Equipment levels are quite generous on the Mazda3. All models come with the 8.8-inch screen infotainment system, including DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Entry-level SE-L models get air conditioning, parking sensors and a head-up display unit (HUD).
The Mazda3 excels when it comes to style and quality. Inside, the cabin materials are up there with premium German options, such as the BMW 1 Series and the Volkswagen Golf, while the Mazda’s swooping curves arguably make for a more attractive design.
It also strikes an impressive balance between comfort and driver involvement, although the Ford Focus remains the class-leader for all-round ability. The SEAT Leon is a match for the Focus when it comes to agility, although its firm suspension doesn’t offer quite the same level of comfort.
If you’re looking for more space, it’s worth checking out the Skoda Scala and its bigger brother the Octavia, with their Tardis-like boots and generous rear-seat accommodation. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something that can match the Mazda 3’s impressive fuel economy, the new Toyota Corolla hybrid is a good option.
The current Mazda3 is a relatively new model without much specific information out there on reliability yet, but Mazda as a brand has a good reputation. It scored a top-10 finish (out of 31 brands) in the 2020 reliability survey from What Car?.
At 334 litres, the Mazda3 hatchback’s boot is competitive in its class – although some rivals offer considerably more. It’s helped by a conveniently square shape that allows you to make the most of the available space if you’re carrying bulky objects. The saloon offers more space at 450 litres, but its small boot opening makes it harder to load luggage.
There are 5 trim levels, which cover all the equipment options that you can have on the Mazda3. The only optional extras are special paint and trim finishes. You’ll pay a premium for the up-spec GT Sport and GT Sport Tech models, but they’re worth investigating, with a brilliant 12-speaker Bose hi-fi, a heated steering wheel and 8-way-adjustable leather seats.
The Mazda 3 is reasonably practical for a car of its size. There are some neat touches, such as a compartment for your sunglasses in the roof above your head, and a selection of cubby holes – but it’s not as spacious nor as versatile as some competitors.
Leasing a Mazda 3 is simple and hassle free with Vanarama. We help you find the perfect vehicle at the very best price. With affordable monthly payments and a fully customisable plan, you can upgrade your vehicle today with full confidence you’ve got the best deal. Contact us today and join the thousand of customers who rate us Excellent on Trustpilot.
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