Mazda 3 Hatchback (2013 - 2019) 2.0 (165bhp) Sport Nav 5d Owner Review

Looking at these cars from the front they look mean and so, so cool. The sides have an almost Cortina Coke bottle angular look that glides down from a sporty looking rear.
19" alloys and twin exhausts are the only clues as to its hidden identity as a 165bhp 0-60 in just under 8 seconds beast.
Of course there are more powerful and faster cars out there including the 2nd gen MPs, but this car does not try to be an AMG. It is a cruiser that is equally as happy coasting at 50 as it is powering past Sunday drivers. And it has the power to blast down a country road, grip each corner and rocket away with such grace that you may be forgiven for thinking this was a car twice it's price range.
Inside there's cream and black leather that smells so good as it greets you upon opening the door, the seats hold you in the cocoon of the cockpit and you become away that this interior is really plush. Leather door panels, a leather left arm rest/storage lid, leather steering wheel all with stitching which gives it a quality high end look above that of cheaper rivals.
The interior is straight out of the MX5, the handbrake and gearstick are at mid torso height, the sport nav gets the single rev counter with digital Speedo inset. So as a result, anything that fly's off the passenger seat and lands on the floor stays on the floor due to the height of the centre console.
The stereo is a little temperamental, the touchscreen is notorious for glitches but 90% of the time works well. And when it does the Bose speakers show just why Bose is classed as a premium sound system.
I am really pleased with my car, it feels so premium, drives premium and I have driven some of the best cars to grace our roads.
If you are unsure then wonder no more, Mazda may be the quiet kid in the class however the Mazda 3 3rd generation is a real gem and a future classic.