Dear Drive…. what hybrid can we buy to replace our 2010 Mazda 3?

Greig contacted us on Instagram and asks:

Gifting your 2010 Mazda 3 is very generous!

To replace it with a hybrid of similar size, yields one immediate option. The 2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Available as either a sedan or hatch, the Corolla Hybrid (from $27,395) is a two-time winner of the Drive Car of the Year Best Small Car category and a constant favourite among the Drive team.

Stylish, well-featured and capable of real-world fuel efficiency, the Corolla is a solid all-rounder in a segment of high-quality competitors, but it is the only hybrid. The only downside is a relatively small boot in the hatch (340L in your current Mazda 3 hatch, to 333L in the Corolla) but the sedan offers 430L if you need more space.

Alternatively, you can look at a Toyota Yaris Cross (from $28,990) or CH-R SUV (from $37,665) , both of which have hybrid options, if you want something a little more in line with the SUV crowd.

Or, looking to other brands, the Kia Niro (from $39,990 S-Hybrid) and Hyundai Ioniq (from $35,690 Elite Hybrid) are both available with hybrid, PHEV or full-electric options, but are a big step up in price from the Corolla.

Have a question about your next set of wheels or just need some car advice? No query is too big, small or obscure! Call in to the radio show (Trent on 2GB Sydney 1:30pm Monday and 9pm Wednesday, 5AA South Australia 1:30pm Tuesday, and James on 3AW Melbourne 9pm each Thursday), or contact us by email here: contactus@drive.com.au.