Our Mazda 3 long termer has proved itself to be economical, comfortable to ride and possess impressive handling. But how would the manufacturer fair when we tested their aftersales procedure?

Our Mazda 3 long termer reached its 15000 miles in January which meant it was time to book the hatchback in for a service.

After a quick phone call to our local Mazda dealer, the car was booked in on the Friday of that week.

I was very impressed with the ease and flexibility that Mazda showed during the process, the car was collected from the office just after 9am and returned before 5.30pm the same day. Being the Mazda’s first service, you don’t expect anything to go wrong, the Mazda gleamed in the parking lot and purred back to life when I turned the ignition key, the interior was also spotless and dust free, a perk I wasn’t expecting.

Besides the car bonnet being left ajar and no service record initially being supplied, I have no real complaints, in-fact it felt like I was stepping into a new car again.

It wasn’t until I set off on my journey home and was flashed by the forth on-coming car that I realised that my lights were not on. Having being used to the Mazda’s automatic light setting, it made me realise how forgetful and dare I say it, Lazy, it can make us drivers. But now I have had the automatic lights and windscreen wipers, I just couldn’t be without them, they make driving the Mazda even more pleasurable and give you that little extra luxury sometimes missing from other manufacturers.

Overall the Mazda continues to impress and I keep being surprised when another feature captures my notice.

Drinks holders in the back seats I discovered this weekend after I told my niece she couldn’t take her MacDonald’s milkshake in the back of the car and was promptly informed about them.

Author: Debbie Wood