• More interior space than the 3 hatchback
• Bigger boot as well, but access restricted
• Less outright versatility than a hatchback

The 3 Saloon’s longer body translates to a bit more interior space compared with the hatchback. And, despite the more awkward access, the boot is bigger too.

Up front, though, things are the same. Despite the cocooning driving position, there’s plenty of room and some usefully large door bins and a sizeable space beneath the big, squishy armrest.

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Access to the back seats is slightly easier than in the hatch – the roof isn’t quite as sloping as in the five-door, which also helps reduce the sense of claustrophobia you can get from the rear of the hatchback.

Boot space and storage

The 450-litre boot is bigger than the 330-litre hatchback’s, but less flexible – and we think this is a problem. While it’s much better for carrying lots of smaller items like shopping bags or soft luggage, you’ll soon struggle with bulkier loads.

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You can flip down the rear seat backs to expand the space, so there’s ample room for longer items. But unlike a hatchback, you can’t just remove the parcel shelf for taller items, so you’re limited by the saloon’s narrow opening and low ceiling. As a result, you’ll struggle to fit more than two large suitcases in at once.

How easy is it to park?

Front and rear parking sensors plus a rear-view camera are standard on all versions of the Mazda 3 Saloon, with the higher-spec Takumi model also benefiting from a 360-degree camera system.

Don’t be surprised if you find you need it. This might be a small car, but its chunky pillars do their best to restrict visibility, especially to the rear.

How safe is the Mazda 3 Saloon?

• Five stars for five-door Mazda 3
• Saloon gets the same score
• Driver assistance kit also available

Tested in 2019, the Mazda 3 hatchback was awarded a full five-star rating by Euro NCAP, with particularly good scores in adult occupant protection – 98% in fact.

A full suite of airbags throughout the car help, but there’s also Isofix in the rear seats to help keep child seats in place, while standard-fit autonomous emergency braking (Mazda calls it Smart Brake Support) and lane-assist boost the safety kit count.

Watch the Euro NCAP crash test video