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