Why The Mazda 3 MPS Is Fast Becoming A Proper Performance Bargain

Last week’s launch of the new Mazda 3 was, well, one of those things that didn’t really provoke a whole lot of excitement from the public at large. The 3 has always played second fiddle to cars like the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra in the sales tables, with the British public having bestowed upon each new model something of a lukewarm reception at best.

There’s reason to be excited, though, because each generation of 3 to come before has brought with it a slightly demented hot version in the shape of the MPS, or Mazdaspeed 3 for our readers over in the US & Canada. And while the fastest 3s might not be right at the front of the hot hatch pack, the one thing they promise is power, and plenty of it too.

Some complained of bland looks; others loved the MPS's stealth appeal

That was exactly what made the first-generation MPS so popular among a small but enthusiastic group of owners. And can you blame them? It was once the most powerful front-wheel-drive hatch in production, its 2.3-litre four-pot turbo producing 256bhp. That allowed it to hit 60mph in 6.1 seconds, before going on to an electronically-limited maximum of 155mph.

All that power had to be tamed, of course, and the MPS had the tools to do it: most notably, a GKN limited-slip differential, teamed up with a sophisticated torque management system that varied the amount of torque available depending on the angle of the front wheels. The result was a car that gripped hard in corners, far better than you might expect from a front-driver with such a whopping amount of power.

GKN-engineered limited-slip diff meant the Mazda pulled well in the twisty bits

And yet, despite this, contemporary reviewers often said that the MPS wasn't quite as characterful as its rivals. It didn’t have the warbly charm of a Focus ST, the solidity of a Golf GTI, or the precision and poise of a Renault Megane R26. What it did offer, though, was effortless punch, plenty of grip, a refined ride and a shed-load of toys. This, then, was a GT among hot hatches - comfortable, capable, well-equipped and quick.

Today, the MPS offers a socking great mid-range shove, combined with a superb chassis that revels in hard driving. And let’s not forget, of course, that the 2.3-litre engine was eminently tuneable; 300bhp is but a remap away, with even greater gains available for little extra outlay. This is, in other words, a pretty quick car to start with, that can be turned into one with some serious performance for just a little bit more cash.

256bhp's just the start - the MPS tunes well, and 290bhp's within easy reach.

And the best bit is that it’s starting to look like seriously good value for money, too. Nice MPSs are starting from around the £6,000 mark these days – check this one out, for example, with a reasonable 53,000 miles on the clock, a full history, and the optional aero pack. Yours for £5,995. Not bad when an equivalent Focus ST will set you back a little under £3,000 more. Don’t forget that the Focus is 31bhp down on the Mazda, too, and lacks that all-important LSD up front.

It might not be the last word in driving dynamics, then, and it certainly doesn’t offer the most scintillating of soundtracks. It isn’t a benchmark-setting, game-changing hot hatch, like the Peugeot 205, Renault Clio 172 or Fiesta ST, in other words. But for the money, there’s little out there that can offer the sort of poke the 3 MPS can, and if you’re after something that’s relatively new, eminently reliable, reasonable to buy and easy to tweak later on, there’s little better. And that’s why we rate it as an emerging performance bargain.

Video: Mazda 3 MPS vs Veloster Turbo