Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £11,950 to £19,900
Quick and quiet restart; punchy petrol engine; decent handling.
CO2 and fuel economy figures are good, but not sensational; i-Stop won't work in certain circumstances.
The combination of a stop/start system and 2.0-litre petrol engine is a good start for Mazda's new technology.
The i-Stop system has a number of programmed situations in which it won't work, mainly relating to occupant comfort, safety and security. For example, in the event of the driver or passenger removing their seatbelt or opening the door, the car can't be restarted by pressing the clutch, requiring a key to be used in the ignition.
Standard safety equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), plus a new Emergency Stop Signalling (ESS) system that automatically activates the car's hazard warning lights on harsh braking.
Keyless entry and remote central locking also come as standard.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Mazda Mazda3
wrote on 16 12 2006