There’s a very thin line between premium and mainstream offerings in the small and compact segments, and the following comparative review proves it.
Auto Express magazine tested evenly priced diesel versions of the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Mazda3 to see if premium cars have an edge over a mainstream rival. But there’s a reason the Mazda3 carried a similar price to the premium cars: it featured a much more powerful 150hp 2.2-liter diesel engine and a lot more kit.
The BMW 1-Series had the base 116hp 2.0-liter diesel and the Audi A3 came with a 110hp 1.6-liter diesel. Needless to say, the Mazda3 proved to be more agile, but it also beat the Germans in terms of the engine’s refinement. It’s not exactly news, but this test proves you can get a well-equipped mainstream hatchback for the same amount of money you’d spend on a base premium model.
And the Mazda3 even had a few more aces up its sleeves, as you can see in the video review posted below.