Mazda remains quite an odd car company - despite the odd flash of brilliance it has yet to find the kind of consistency that sets a mainstream manufacturer apart from the budget and offbeat brands. Ironically it's Ford's long-term stake in Mazda that is finally starting to pay off as the US manufacturer looks to offload part of its investment in return for lots of cash.
The 3 has always been very well received, though, and its mid-life facelift has only served to make it more desirable. Perhaps the only car in the Mazda range on which the open-mouthed 'Zoom Zoom' face works, the 3 certainly sticks out from other family hatchbacks on the market.
Changes to the car's aerodynamics were made to try and lessen the unacceptable wind roar. The welcome changes mean that the Mazda is less hard work on a longer journey - that's not to say that noise has been eradicated though; there is still an ever-present background noise on the go.
The handling is very precise - the direct steering making it easy to place the car on the road, but it still feels artificial. The downside of the sporting set-up is the firm ride that although resists body roll well, is a little too firm for rutted British roads.
The interior is much improved over previous Mazdas, still finished in the same hard-wearing plastics you'll find in the Japanese cars, but more pleasant to look at and use. The cabin is roomy enough, seating four people in comfort. That said, we feel the boot is on the small size for a car of this class.
There are two petrol and two diesel engines on offer in the 3 - both of the entry-level engines in each format feel a little wheezy and underpowered, and out of the two more powerful units we would go for the 2.2-litre diesel, which offers a broad band of torque and plenty enough flexibility to cover the sort of motoring you're going to do in the car.
The MPS performance model is a strong contender amongst the second division hot hatches - it impresses with its power and handling, but lacks the dynamic flair of cars like the Megane RS or Focus ST.
All in all the Mazda 3 sets itself apart by not trying to be too much like the mainstream - it has character, and is a good drive to boot.