Our long-termer, Mazda3, is about to reach its 20,000 mile milestone and is still looking good. It is also a pleasure to drive.

Our range-topper is packed full of features which all add to the driving experience. It is both sporty and stylish and is designed to impress.

The commute to work continues to attain fuel consumption figures around 50mpg, although on occasion I’ve managed to nudge this up to the mid 50s without a motorway in sight.

The dark grey colour is a great choice this time of year with so much salt on the roads. Between trips to the local hand car wash the car continues to look good while others in the car park look filthy.

My biggest gripe remains the poor rear-view visibility. Over time, I thought I would become accustomed to the small triangular tinted windows before the C-pillar. To leave home, however, I have to reverse down a drive and over a narrow bridge, something that has remained a constant challenge, with a few near misses.

Leanne Patterson