IT IS easily one of the top sellers in the small-car segment – particularly if you drop fleet sales from the tallies each month – but the Mazda3 is under siege from vastly improved Korean contenders, as well as the more established Japanese and European opposition.

A minor facelift cloaks a more significant upgrade to the safety features and driving technology as Mazda claims improvements on what was already a decent daily driver even in its most basic of variants.

Upgrades to the infotainment system, cabin layout changes and a steering wheel inherited from the new CX-9 may well be overshadowed by the improvements to the drivetrain and active safety systems – some of which were previously optional.

One of the best cars to drive in the segment, the SkyActiv-equipped Mazda3 Maxx offers plenty to a small-car buyer.

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