2019 Mazda 2 vs Mazda 3

What's the difference?

Mazda has done a top job of capturing the minds of Australia's car buyers with its strong 'Kodo' design language.

It's a genius move. Everything from an almost $70,000 top-spec CX-9 to this car, the sub-$20k Mazda2 - the cheapest vehicle Mazda sells - share a familiar face, delicate bodywork and classy trim.

Look closely, though, and there are some chinks in this little car's attractive armour. What should be a fleet-special appears to flounder in the face of the Hyundai Accent, a car so old it's about to be de-commissioned.

So, are the fleets on to something? Even at this bargain-basement price, is the Mazda2 Neo a tall order? A bait and switch, if you will, for the apparent crowd favourite - the up-specced Maxx.

Stick with me, and we'll find out.

If you will indulge me, I'd like you to cast your mind back to the mid-90s. If you're too young, ask your parents or Google to do the same.

Have a peek at the pretty but not especially amazing 323 Astina. Some folks call it a four-door coupe, but it's a sedan. It was not nearly as attractive as the more adventurous hatchback.

The 323 went dull for almost a decade and then when the 3 arrived, it was the sedan that I thought was the looker. Sure, they weren't completely different like the old days, but the proportions were nicer and it was just a better thing to look at.

Then along came the most recent fourth-generation 3, the BP. The hatch, I think, is the gorgeous one while the sedan is a more sober. And while still made of lovely proportions, it seems to have been... flattened a bit.

Thorough as we are here at CarsGuide, I spent a week with the new sedan to ponder not only its looks, but whether it's much different to the hatch.