Mazda 3 Leasing

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. For comparison, a Vauxhall Astra offers 370 litres, while the Skoda Octavia boasts a vast 600-litre boot.

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. However, the downside is that it comes with a relatively small boot opening, which makes it harder to load bulky items.

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 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.

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