HAVE a guess what engine powers this little Mazda3.

Is it a cheery 1-litre three-pot similar to a Volkswagen Polo?

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A sweet 1.2-litre turbo à la Vauxhall Corsa?

Or even a 1.5-litre hybrid like a Toyota Yaris?

The answer is none of the above.

It is actually a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.

That’s a B-I-G lump for a little squirt.

Bigger than anything you’ll find in a Kia Sportage or Nissan Qashqai, come to think of it.

The reason being, Mazda has always dared to be different.

It doesn’t do “downsizing”. In other words using a smaller capacity engine and fitting a turbo to it.

It prefers “right-sizing”. Having the correct capacity engine for the job, so it is less stressed and more efficient.

Also, this new engine, combined with 48v mild hybrid tech, produces more torque lower down the rev range than the old 2-litre, improving real-world performance.

Cylinder-deactivation tech shuts down two cylinders under light loads, lowering CO2 and adding a smidge of mpg.

So it’s a really clever engine for a vehicle that’s aged well, drives sweetly and is brimming with big-car kit from £25k.

Slick six-speed manual or auto? I’d go manual. It’s one of the best in the business and an absolute joy to thread down a B-road.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the fastest ride at the fairground but it corners tidily, with good body control, and feels solid and safe.

If you need 4WD, try a CX-30.

The cabin is another example of Mazda’s mission to provide the highest quality for the money.

Clarkson once said the Mazda3 is ‘probably the most amazing car on sale in Britain’

Head-up display, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and a reversing camera all come as standard. We like that.

We also like the skinny, leather-wrapped steering wheel, squishy elbow pads, chunky ­footrest, big cup holders, old-school ­volume and heating controls, and grab handles galore.

It’s almost like they know exactly what people want from a car.

Clarkson once said the Mazda3 is “probably the most amazing car on sale in Britain”.

A pint of Hawkstone Lager says he’ll like the 2025 version even more.

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