Mazda 3 MPS

Our verdict

The Mazda3 MPS uses the 2.3-litre motor from the Mazda6 MPS, so we’re talking 256bhp through the front wheels in a small hatch. Sounds brilliant, ends up being mega quick but dull. How did they manage that?

Comfort

A fairly hard ride is the trade-off for that roundaboutability, so don't expect to be able to cruise across the UK without some grumbles. The seats are good and there's plenty of room though.

Performance

Fairly blistering shove for a hot hatch that's easy to access and use on the road; try 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and 155mph on for size. That'll be the benefit of a large capacity 2.3-litre motor in a small(ish) car.

Cool

Has a certain wolf-in-sheep's-bloodied-carcass charm - there's nothing like an officially-sanctioned Q-car - but you have to be really very committed to the ethos not to qualify the car with the engine size and spec at every opportunity. Not that cool then.

Quality

As solid as any other Mazda product, so pretty good all round. Decent plastics, nice seats, great panel gaps. It's a solid car with a proven engine and transmission. Should be good.

Handling

Can hang on in a usefully terrier-like fashion, and uses its Q-car looks to great advantage. People will be genuinely upset they can't shake such a boring-looking motor. Torque-steer is surprisingly well controlled, but be sure to keep tyre pressures correct and on a flat bit of road or you'll suffer when you plant it.

Practicality

As practical as any mid-size five-door hatch in the Ford Focus vein. The boot is OK at 300litres, but not huge, but if you utilise the 60/40 split rear seats you can create a flat floor and double the carrying volume. There is no reasonable reason why we should regard reverse donuts as a practical thing, but we do. This car is very good at reverse donuts.

Running costs

This will be the most expensive Mazda3 to run thanks to that big motor and high-ish C02. A low 29.1mpg and group 17 insurance don't really help the argument when you realise that you'll still have to tell people you drive a Mazda3 MPS and then still explain what the hell it is.