Second Hand Sense:GIVEN ITS close relationship to both the Ford Focus and the Volvo S40, the Mazda 3 is a surprisingly disappointing contender in its class. Its saloon version is extremely bland and lacking in identity. Whatever charm it has is reflected in the styling to the hatchback, which at least gives the car a profile one might remember in a crowded car park.
That the car was styled in Japan with a focus on the European market goes some way to explaining its design deficiencies. A Japanese car company executive once told me that the reason Japanese cars would eventually have to be styled in Europe was simply because there was no car design tradition in Japan.
Mazda is, of course, a small company in the overall scheme of things, but one would have expected that Ford's shareholding in it might have yielded more with the Mazda 3. In fairness, the 3 is a good car to drive with impressive engines from Ford, an easy and willing driving style and neat gearboxes and steering.
The inside, however, is drab. Attempts to brighten things up with neat instruments are let down by an otherwise pretty featureless dashboard. It's a spacious cabin nevertheless. The boot is also good but the rear seats in the hatchback don't have the flexibility they should have when it comes to loads.
The 3 has a choice of engines, but the ones that make the most sense are the 1.6-litre petrol versions and, for those who need it, the 1.6-litre diesel. All the engines are well proven and have been found to be reliable - one of the Mazda's strengths. The 1.4-litre with 84 horse power is a good all-rounder. It's a good city car that won't be uncomfortable on the odd long journey.
The 3 has a four-star (out of a possible five) rating in the EuroNCAP tests and did not get five because the danger to the femurs of the driver and front seat passenger were deemed to be excessive. The car has been around since 2004 and has proven itself very dependable.
A 2005 hatchback with the 1.4-litre engine, electric windows, air conditioning, multiple airbags and ABS and with 74,000km up is on offer for €10,950. A 1.6-litre petrol of the same age is priced at around the same. A 2006 diesel with 30,000km and the same equipment is on offer for €13,500.
STAR RATING: 4/10