THERE won’t be a more important new car launch in 2014 than the third-generation Mazda3.

New from the ground up, Mazda expects its small-sized staple to not only be its own top-seller in Australia, but the entire industry’s.

Its predecessor lost that particular crown to the Toyota Corolla in 2013, but Mazda – Australia’s largest full-line importer – believes it has what it takes to return to the pinnacle.

Of course, it’s not just about winning the sales race – to be considered the best car in the segment, not merely the most popular, it will have to supplant the Volkswagen Golf.

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