SMALL family cars are among the most popular across Europe, and in the UK we love to have the practicality of five doors, which is why we lap up hatchbacks and SUVs so enthusiastically.
Saloons can do well if they wear the right badge, but anything other than premium brands tend to struggle with four-door cars, so when Mazda introduced a saloon version of its 3 Mk3 a decade ago, there were bemused faces all round. Despite this, the 3 Mk4 range also featured a saloon which, like its forebear, sold in small numbers.
Right when the Mazda 3 Mk3 was being phased out, Hyundai launched its third-generation i30, and just like Mazda, it offered a Fastback edition. However, this time it came in a hatchback configuration, despite its very similar profile.…