The Mazda3 stands head and shoulders above its rivals, a panel of experts recently said.

Judging at the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) Scottish Car of the Year Awards last week, a team of journalists named the vehicle as the best in the family car category.

They noted that while there was lots of competition this year – in all shapes and sizes – the Mazda3 "pushed the boundaries" and met the needs of its users with style and quality.

Bill Caven is president of the ASMW and said the motor was "a new version of an old favourite".

"It is no wonder that the all-new Mazda3 ticks all the right boxes when it comes to families making an informed choice regarding their car purchase," he added.

The manufacturer’s joy at winning the award may have been shared by Volkswagen, which saw its Polo model given the award for best small car of the year.

Engine options and a wide range of trim levels were two reasons cited by the judges as to why the vehicle took the prize.

Please share your thoughts

You must be logged in to post a comment.