How to choose the perfect family car (sponsored)

Practicality is one of the top priorities for anyone considering a family car. Models in this class are ultimate all-rounders that need to squeeze every member of your family and all your stuff into a manageably sized package. Mazda3 does that in style, which is why it should feature high on the shortlist of buyers in this market.

For starters, the driving position provides a wide range of adjustment. So whether it’s you, your partner or one of your teenage children at the helm, it takes a matter of seconds to get comfortable, with plenty of movement on the steering wheel and seat.

But this doesn’t come at the expense of passenger comfort. Climb into the rear, and you’ll see the Mazda3 offers outstanding levels of kneeroom while headroom is extremely generous too.

Mazda3 also compares well on equipment, with every version getting electric rear windows as standard. Plus, parents with young families will be pleased to hear that the rear doors open wide – getting aboard to click a child seat into the ISOFIX mountings couldn’t be easier in this car.

And even with a buggy in the boot, there’s still plenty of room for other stuff. Mazda3 has a generous 364 litres of luggage space in hatchback guise with the rear seats in place. Go for the Fastback saloon though and an even larger 419 litres is on offer.

Better still, if you don’t have any passengers to transport in the rear, the seats fold in seconds to free up a huge 1,263-litre maximum capacity – that’s better than the average of the three top-selling family cars. And the load bay is flat, so if you have a big item to get in, it’ll simply slide aboard – there are no irritating lips or ridges to lift it over, as in some rivals.

But the thoughtful touches on this Mazda3 don’t end there, because throughout the interior of the Mazda3, storage solutions are positioned just where you need them – from the large glovebox, cubbyholes and door pockets to the handy cup-holders in the front and rear.

Mazda knows families don’t travel light, and as our video above shows, with the practical Mazda3, you won’t have to.