Three good choices. Mazda 3 my personal favourite because I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the engineering, the excellent steering and the superb six-speed automatic transmission. The Honda Civic should be economical for a 1.8 automatic because its hideous shape is very aerodynamic.

Jazz hybrid is okay on the motorway, but there is a new Jazz on the other side of the World and that will be built in the UK as well from early next year. The Toyota Yaris HSD works better as a hybrid. And, on the subject of hybrids, don't dismiss the Toyota Auris HSD.