Mazda 3 (BK)

Mazda 3 (BK) asks for a buyer who wants an older compact hatchback or sedan with a lively chassis and a straightforward cabin, not a towering crossover or a tech-heavy new car. By our assessment, its big strength is the way it drives: the steering and suspension tuning made this generation feel more alert than many calm, soft competitors. The downside is age itself, because an older car brings the usual wear, noise isolation that is not class-leading, and trim that feels from another era once newer interiors are parked next to it. In daily use it is the sort of car that feels tidy on city roads and settled on a longer run, but not plush. Mazda 3 (BK) sits among the better-known compact cars of its time, with a reputation for being more engaging than purely appliance-like rivals. It suits someone who values response and simple ownership more than a big screen and a high seating position, and the number 3 belongs to the model name rather than anything else here.