Before we got the Jetta Diesel, (50 mpg
), we looked real hard at a Mazda 3S. Useful room with the hatch, good power with the 2.3l and handled very well. Downside for us? Only 35 mpg and a rust warrenty that was only 5 years vs the VW's 12 years. (We kept the last one for 12 1/2 years.)
Les