Faults:

Clutch, passenger window jammed, and some subframe rust advisory at MOT time, but my mechanic assures me the rest of the car is solid.

The rest was wear and tear. It does go through brake pads like crazy, not sure why, I drive carefully. I blame my wife who brakes too hard.

General Comments:

Mazda 3 is a typical family hatchback, nothing special but gets you from A to B.

Reasonably reliable for an older car. As with any car - Service it on time and do any belts that are needed and they don't give too much trouble.

Comfortable, but a little cramped in the rear. Interior very dull and grey. Some blind spots when reversing. Otherwise good to drive, 1.6 diesel is fast and always does around 48 - 52 mpg. Cheap to run, reasonable repair and insurance costs. Boot space rather small but gets the week's shopping in, can't complain too much. The missus loves it, for reasons I don't know. I just think it's a plain old boring car.

Good looking this generation, but the smaller alloy wheels and grey paintwork are doing it no favors. I have seen higher sportier specification Mazda 3's in bright colors with bigger wheels - really makes this car stand out, but ordinary models are too dull.

Still, it's a decent modern family hatchback, nothing to hate and not much to love either, just a pretty mediocre car. I'll keep it until it becomes uneconomical to keep going.

Faults:

Air con dead, rear electric windows won't work, many suspension and exhaust parts replaced at my last MOT and service.

I look after the car - it gets the service and oil changes and belts it needs as per schedule. Some rust is starting on the front arches, acceptable at 10 years old, but Mazda of this generation is known to rust a little early. Mechanic assures me the under-body and sub frame are in good order despite this surface/cosmetic rust.

General Comments:

My Mazda 3 "Venture" is very smart looking in black - it has black wheels, tints, black exterior and interior.

1.6 petrol is a little slow but you can get 40 mpg + out of it. Tax and insurance are cheap enough. I would recommend it over the diesel - friend has the same car and has had diesel problems with his, but my petrol engine has been very reliable.

Fun to drive, handles nicely, decent amount of space for a mid range hatch.

Equipment levels are good - I have electrics all round and heated seats.

Basically this car is a good alternative to the more common hatchbacks you see about on the road. If buying used watch for rust; if it looks OK and the car has full history, go for it, this car has never let me down.

Faults:

Nothing

General Comments:

Very quick indeed, but not very economical for a diesel (my Volvo V70 D5 was better in that respect).

A bit of a disappointment in respect of the things that were standard on the previous Mazda 3 Sport, but are now absent e.g.

No headlamp washers anymore.

No Xenon headlights anymore.

No one touch control of the windows (apart from driver's window) anymore.

No windscreen washer fluid level warning light anymore.

Limited adjustment of the seats.

No Skyactiv engine in Europe, despite the rest of the world markets having it.

Expensive metallic paint; it's standard in the USA!

No engine temperature gauge anymore.

Very small satnav screen with no speed indication.

Very noisy Toyo tyres.