Mazda Mazda3 Saloon White

There’s only one choice of engine in the Mazda3 Saloon – unlike the three in the hatch – and it’s a 2.0-litre petrol unit called Skyactiv-X, which has 180 horsepower. Without getting too technical, it’s rather different under the skin than most other rival engines. Mazda said it’s designed to mimic the low-down grunt and fuel economy of diesel, and with petrol being cheaper, it’s very pretty attractive in theory. While it does have a bit more low-down grunt than a regular, non-turbocharged petrol engine, it still needs higher revs to get the most out of it, and isn’t quite as punchy as some small-capacity turbocharged engines from rivals can feel. It does have impressively low CO2 emissions though, which will have a positive impact on tax bills, although they’re not as low as Toyota’s hybrid-powered Corolla Saloon. Mazda owners can choose between an excellent six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic.