Fun and function

We reveal which used small hatchback best combines smart looks with decent practicality and a fun drive - the Mazda 3 or the MINI Clubman

DRIVERS who want a small but stylish car that's also practical and engaging to drive aren't necessarily spoiled for choice. There are some worthy contenders that will get the job done, but if you're sold on the unique style and brand values of the latest MINI, you may well end up wondering whether its estate-like Clubman model could fill the space on your drive.

With its extended rear luggage area and a vertically split tailgate, plus four doors for passengers, the Clubman usefully fills the gap between the regular MINI hatch and its slightly more pumped-up Countryman sibling. The latter has even more interior space and a traditional hatchback, but its higher ride height and greater weight mean it handles less keenly.

So does the Clubman cut it as a fun-to-drive but practical compact family car? Here we pitch it against the Mazda 3 hatchback, a model that, like the MINI, comes highly rated for its style and handling, but with a rather more mainstream character.

Mazda 3

High quality and spacious interior of sharply styled hatchback win the day

WE first tested this pair back to back when the third-generation Mazda 3 was fresh out of the blocks in 2019, and it scored a clear victory over the MINI.