| Taking my terrier for a walk is never a relaxing | | | | overboard into boy racer territory. A bulky but |
| experience. It's go, go, go all the way, with no | | | | low-lying black dashboard is adorned with a grey |
| time to sit back and admire the scenery or even | | | | and silver centre stack and hooded main dials are |
| slow down for a second. | | | | well protected from light pollution, Alfa style. |
| Much like taking the Mazda3 MPS hot hatch for a | | | | Like all Mazdas, most displays are neat, simple and |
| spin, really. With a jaw-dropping 256bhp from a | | | | easy to follow, though some of the |
| turbocharged 2.3-litre turbocharged four engine, | | | | heat-ventilation markings are confusing and set |
| there's an almost obscene amount of power to | | | | low down. |
| tap into for such a modest-sized five-door. | | | | The worrying thing for Mazda is that although it's |
| And performance is equally as devastating - a | | | | hottest of the hot, today's opposition has some |
| lightning 6.1 seconds from standstill to 62mph, | | | | really high-grade contenders, many of which |
| making this the quickest hatch around and a | | | | actually look more impressive. |
| limited 155mph top speed that's comfortably | | | | The Focus ST, Golf GTI and Astra VXR all have |
| more than double the legal limit. | | | | more presence than the Mazda, which has rather |
| Yes, the Mazda3 MPS is very, very quick ad it | | | | unconvincing side skirts, fussy bumper |
| also proves itself a compulsively attacking drive - | | | | adornments around the foglamps, a rear spoiler |
| this is one car that doesn't really want or deserve | | | | and big-bore exhaust. And there's no three-door |
| to trundle around town and belongs out on the | | | | version, usually favoured by hot hatch purists. |
| open road. | | | | On a purely practical note, the Mazda 3 MPS has a |
| Flooring the accelerator and lifting the clutch is a | | | | wide, unobstructed and useful boot and an |
| brave thing to do on a car like this and I was | | | | easy-release system ensures the rear seat tip |
| rightly wary of the power blitz this unleashes. The | | | | forward easily to free up more space. |
| initial disappointment is that there just isn't enough | | | | But there's no double-tumble action, so the load |
| steering feedback dialled in at lower speeds, which | | | | space ends up almost flat rather than horizontal. |
| distances the driver from what's happening | | | | As an understated hot hatch with the most, the |
| between tyres and tarmac. | | | | Mazda3 MPS is a firebrand that can see off all |
| But steering does firm up better at higher speeds | | | | class rivals on the road. But its low-key image |
| and there's the bonus of a lightning-quick, springy | | | | could prove a curse rather than a blessing in a |
| six-speed gearbox to whip through the changes | | | | market where image really counts. |
| as you progress. | | | | Factfile: |
| But with traffic as it is on our roads, I rarely got | | | | * Mazda3 MPS sports hatch, £18,995 |
| the chance to sit the car comfortably in top gear | | | | (£19,495 with Sports Aero Kit). |
| for long without having to change down, though | | | | * BOSE sound system standard on all MPS |
| this would obviously be a bonus on a long-haul | | | | models. |
| journey. | | | | * Most powerful front-drive car on the market, |
| Manoeuvring the little Mazda is a consistent | | | | with 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and |
| pleasure. The hatch tackles everything with | | | | electronically-limited 155mph top speed. |
| supreme confidence that you can throw at it and | | | | * Powered by 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engine with a |
| relishes the opportunity to snap through bends | | | | turbocharger and advanced direct-injection spark |
| while remaining stubbornly horizontal rather than | | | | ignition. |
| dropping a shoulder. There's a huge amount of | | | | * Class-leading 260PS and 380 Nm of torque. |
| reassuring grip, and the balance is there to add to | | | | * Stiffer springs, larger anti-roll bars and |
| the driving experience. | | | | high-performance dampers. |
| Ride is generally good for this type of car - | | | | * MPS-branded sports seas, leather-wrapped |
| bumps are more heard than felt - and firm but | | | | steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake. |
| comfortable, supportive sports seats are finely | | | | * Climate control air-con, high-power Xenon |
| adjustable, shoring you up in all the right places. | | | | headlamps, auto lights and rain-sensing wipers. |
| Inside, the MPS is sportily themed without going | | | | |