Mazda 3 1.5D car review – ‘It’s a marriage of convenience rather than a love match’

It's unlikely you'll feel moved to race anyone at the lights

Beware the car that companies buy you because they feel as though they have to; it will come with stupid conditions to make sure you don't enjoy yourself. That is a generalised view, with no particular relevance to the Mazda 3 1.5D, except that it was devised to look as though it belonged to a mid-range marketing executive and to fit into a low carbon bracket at the same time, which is like wanting a handbag that is chic but will fit your wellies.

Now, that is unfair: this looks a lot like the rest in the range, which is to say, slightly sharkish in the exterior styling, but with narrow, elegant features and an air of reliability - a bit like a slim, reasonable shark. It's hard to imagine, but you'll know it when you see it.