Driving

EVEN though the BMW is fairly enjoyable to drive, there are some areas where the Mazda proves to be even better The weighting and precision of the steering are spot on, and the feel through the pedals is fantastic – these are things that you can appreciate even when you ’ re shuffling along in traffic or going for a relaxed drive

As with its rivals here, there’s a certain firm edge to the 3’s ride over smaller bumps, but otherwise the overall set-up feels like the softest here It’s not so soft that it’s at sea in corners, though In fact, the body roll is very well judged, giving you just enough of a feeling about how the car edges towards the limits of its grip through the corners The Mazda is neatly balanced, grip is strong and overall it’s great to drive for a car of this type – it’s even a shade more fun than the BMW

However, those drivers that have become used to the torque of the turbocharged petrol engines that most of the Mazda’s rivals use these days will

Performance Engine needs revs to get going, but sharp handling means the Mazda betters the BMW in places