Mazda 3 vs Volkswagen Golf - pictures

We tested a diesel Mazda 3 against a petrol-engined Volkswagen Golf to see which would come out on top.

Both the Mazda 3 1.5D and the 1.0 TSI Blue Motion VW Golf emit 99g/km of CO2.

The performance of the VW Golf was helped by the seven-speed DSG auto, helping it reach 60mph in just 9.4 seconds.

The Mazda 3's 104bhp 1.5-litre diesel feels a little sluggish, managing 0-60mph in 11.3 seconds.

In corners, the VW Golf is certainly entertaining. It's agile and responsive, with quick steering and good feedback through the wheel.

The engine in the 1.0 TSI Blue Motion VW Golf is very refined, only at high revs can you tell it is a three-cylinder. 

There's plenty of dark grey plastic inside the VW Golf, but the flash of silver trim does brighten things up a little. 

Compared with its rivals, the VW Golf looks quite restrained, even when finished with bright red paint.

The simple lines of the VW Golf make it appear upright, and in darker colours it doesn't really stand out from the crowd.

The Match Blue Motion edition of the VW Golf boasts a sat-nav as standard, plus cruise control and a DAB radio.

We returned 42.2mpg on the 1.0 TSI Blue Motion Volkswagen Golf on test.

Builld quality inside the VW Golf can't be faulted, and all the controls work with a smooth precision.