New Mazda 3 Review – Better than a VW Golf?

In our new in-depth Mazda 3 review, we take a close look at the £25k family car with a BETTER interior than a BMW 1 Series or Mercedes A-Class! But how does the 2026 Mazda 3 stack up against its direct rivals, and should you forget the VW Golf in favour of what might just be the best value hatchback on sale today? 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe! If you enjoyed this Mazda 3 review, hit subscribe to keep up to date with our latest new car reviews, reveals, group tests & top 10s: @whatcar 🚗 Looking for a specific model? Read our full, detailed written review on the Mazda 3 and see how it ranks against its closest rivals here: http://www.whatcar.com With a starting price of just £25,300, the Mazda 3 undercuts its competition significantly – but is it the smart choice for your driveway? In this review, we praise Mazda's choice to skip frustrating touchscreen climate controls and stick with real, physical buttons that are less distracting to use while driving. We also check out the practicality of the boot and address the Mazda 3's biggest weakness: rear seat space. Finally, we jump behind the wheel to test the unusual, naturally aspirated 2.5L e-Skyactiv G 140 and 2.0L e-Skyactiv X 186 engines. Does up to 50mpg efficiency make up for the lack of low-rev pull? What Car? is the UK's biggest car-buying brand and has been helping buyers for more than 50 years. Our tests are widely regarded as the most independent and in-depth. Our YouTube channel brings you trusted reviews on all types of car, plus car news, reveals and features. In-depth written reviews are available on our website whatcar.com, where you'll also find advice features and the latest new and used car deals. Follow What Car? here: LIKE What Car? on Facebook: https://goo.gl/yv5jF8 FOLLOW What Car? on Twitter: https://goo.gl/SJzmT8 Check out our full video catalog: https://bit.ly/2W81iu9 #Mazda3Review #Mazda3 #Hatchback #FamilyCar #VWGolf #BMW1Series #WhatCar #mazda Video chapters: 0:00 – Intro: Is the Mazda 3 ready to stand in for the Ford Focus? 0:58 – Exterior design: Simple Kodo styling 3:18 – Pricing & trims: Prime-line vs our pick, Centre-line! 4:38 – Engine choices: 2.5L e-Skyactiv G vs 2.0L e-Skyactiv X 6:20 – Practicality: Boot space vs Skoda Octavia & Honda Civic 7:36 – The dealbreaker? Rear seat space test 8:46 – Front space & driving position 10:24 – Physical buttons & dials 12:34 – Interior quality: Better than a BMW 1 Series? 13:38 – Visibility & safety Equipment 14:39 – Engines: The reality of non-turbo engines 17:18 – Driving: Refinement, ride comfort & handling 21:23 – Verdict: A better buy than a Golf or Scala?