The Mazda CX-3 was named best compact SUV at the 2016 Fleet News Awards and compact it is: rear leg room is a restrictive 888mm, which is pretty similar to the Mazda 2 and some way behind key crossover rivals. Also the boot is quite small at 350 litres (although average for the sector).

Having previously driven the Seat Alhambra, the Mazda feels like a toy car in comparison and my kids constantly kicking the back of my seat by accident is fast becoming a frustration.

I also find the driving position cramped and no matter how many adjustments I make to the seat and steering wheel position I just can’t quite get comfortable. If you frequently transport rear seat passengers or luggage, then the bigger CX-5 would be a more suitable alternative.

With winter upon us the heated front seats are a welcome addition. But on a particularly frosty morning I noticed ice on the inside of the windscreen (see below) which perhaps points to a seal failure?

On my first long journey the sat-nav proved a little laggy, making roundabouts in particular more challenging as the screen could not keep up with the car’s actual road position. Perhaps this was a one-off glitch but worth keeping an eye on.

Luke Neal