Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 has always been overlooked in the family hatch market, a quietly excellent alternative to the usual suspects. Now it’s back with a new platform and higher-aimed sights set on building Mazda’s global sales. As before it’ll be also be available as a threebox saloon. Unlike before, there’s some intriguing new tech under its singularly long bonnet. This is the ‡irst Mazda to feature the new Skyactiv-X compression-ignition engine, a petrol that can perform like a diesel under certain conditions, with potential big gains in economy. Maybe this time it’ll ‡ly a little higher above the radar.