MATCH-UP

OUR VERDICT

Solidly built, lovely to drive, refined and goodlooking, the Mazda3 is criminally underrated. Only the tight luggage bay and middling performance cost it points.

OUR VERDICT

Stylish, luxuriously equipped and punchy, the Mégane deserves to sell better. Rear legroom is tight, though, and it isn’t quite as rounded as the Mazda.

OUR VERDICT

Simply outgunned. Good elements such as ride comfort and space aren’t enough for us to excuse the subpar plastics, stodgy drive and lack of meaningful performance.