Small Cars under $35K: Gold Star Value Awards 2015

Mazda3 stars with more grunt.

Mazda 3 SP25

It helps to be well below the $35K ceiling in this category, which every finalist is because, while the purchase price isn’t scored, a more expensive initial outlay equates to more lost to depreciation, regardless of a good retained value. But the $25,190 asked for Mazda’s SP25 mid-ranger gets you a small car with an appealing level of equipment, a bigger, gruntier 2.5-litre engine than under the bonnet of lesser versions, and enough style to draw in the punters.

The 3’s excellent 66 percent retained value is largely responsible for its win, helped by a best-practice 12-month service interval. The 6.5L/100km fuel economy isn’t quite as impressive as that of 2.0-litre 3s, or the truly frugal players in the class such as the Golf and Peugeot 308, but is nonetheless good enough to contain annual fuel cost (on 91 RON) to a level most small-car buyers will easily wear.

Hyundai i30 Active diesel

Volkswagen Golf 92TSI wagon