Just like the larger Mazda6, the 3 also impressed when it was launched, taking the Japanese hatch to new and previously unheard of heights.
It’s now seen as more of a sub-premium model than a regular mainstream hatch contender, which is why AutoGuide pitted it against the other car that fit that criteria (long before the Mazda did), the VW Golf.
Were you to be choosing on design alone, we hope we’re not alone in saying the Mazda wins hands down, both inside and out, though the VW’s interior looks airier and more practicality-oriented.
Both cars are good to drive and both prove quite efficient too – even if the formula is very different, they achieve similar fuel consumption numbers.
Choosing between a VW and a Mazda in this sector is something new, and it stands to the latter’s credit for making it happen in just one generation’s time.