Curious or nervous front passengers travel in ignorance, blissful or otherwise, as they cannot monitor the Mazda 3’s speed due to a cowled speedo dial not being visible much below an academic 100mph, at which point comment would be advisable.

This advice should be followed particularly at the start of trips as, for all the car’s active and passive safety, including six airbags, there is a quirk as several minutes and potentially a mile or two elapse before front seat occupants receive an audible warning that they have forgotten to belt up.

Mazda 3 2.2d 150PS Sport 5-door manual
Mileage 8109
Claimed combined
consumption		 52.3mpg
Our average consumption 45.0mpg
P11D price £18,260
Model price range £13,500 -£21,500
CO2 (tax) 144g/km/19%
BIK 20/40% per month £58/£116
Service interval 12,500mls
Insurance group 10E
Warranty 3yrs/60,000mls
Boot space (min/max) 300/1360 litres
Engine size/power 2184cc/150PS
Top speed/0-62mph 127mph/9.2secs
Why we’re running it Can it step up to its
class mark like the 6?
Positive Stops as well as it goes
Negative Badly placed handbrake

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