Mazda 3
Economy: 64.2mpg, CO2/road tax: 117g/km/£30
Who says saving cash means you can’t have fun? Not Mazda – its 3 is one of the most entertaining family hatches around, and the 1.6-litre diesel version promises low fuel bills.
Better still, the car doesn’t look like an eco special – it has real visual impact. The cabin is distinctive and well equipped, with even entry S models getting air-con, electric windows and a trip computer. If only the 340-litre boot was bigger.
On the road, the 3 carries over the driver appeal of the sporty MX-5 and RX-8, and is a real thriller.
