What’s not?
- We haven’t yet driven the 1.5-litre petrol version that kicks off the Mazda3 range but based on how the 2.0-litre can feel sluggish we’d say approach with care.
- There’s no 99g/km version just yet, which means that as a company car buyer you won’t be able to get a Mazda3 that slots into the lower company car tax band as you can with some of its rivals.
- While the Mazda3 is as comfortable as a Volkswagen Golf it’s not quite as refined. At high speeds there’s quite a bit of road noise you wouldn’t get in the Golf. On the plus side, there’s very little wind noise.
- It’s a fairly minor problem but if you’re after a really spacious car then the Mazda3 isn’t the best choice – its 350-litre boot is beaten by the both the Focus and the Golf.
Business Car Manager verdict
Mazda has managed to turn the Mazda3 from a fringe contender in to a real mainstream competitor. Not only does it looks stylish but it’s also great fun to drive, feels high quality and comes with a really competitive price-tag.
Its efficient petrol engines also make a great alternative to the usual diesels for company car buyers.
Without the 3% diesel company car tax supplement applied to them, they can be just as cheap to run as a sub-100g/km diesel – especially for those company car drivers doing 10,000 miles or fewer a year. And you’ll benefit from cheaper fuel at the pumps too.
