Mazda3 MPS 2006 Review

7-day Test

The small performance car segment just got hotter with the recent launch of the Mazda3 MPS (review here). The car has unassuming looks but make no mistake -- it has power to burn and practicality and manners to boot.

The five-door hatch is the second car to share Mazda's MPS (Mazda Performance Series) nameplate after the 6 MPS (review here) and the little Q car more than lives up to the badge. According to Mazda it is their hottest car ever -- 6 MPS, MX-5 and RX-8 included.

It's simple maths really -- throw a powerful engine in a smaller, lighter package and you're going to get fireworks.

There's something to be said about the simple unadorned lines of the 3 MPS. It's elegant with little to indicate there's menace lurking beneath. It looks like it has pumped its muscles a little -- in all the right places -- while the thick exhaust pipe is the only ‘unsubtle' item in the whole package. There are no Batman-sized wings or scoops so you won't attract unwanted attention and you shouldn't get hassled for a drag race at the lights.

The 3 MPS has plenty of room front and back and the stowage space under the rear hatch can swallow plenty of shopping bags or a couple of suitcases for that holiday with the kids. Its very classy inside and the half leather seats on the Sports Pack are comfortable and cosseting.

Everything comes to hand further demonstrating much thought was given to the donor Mazda3's design in terms of ergonomics and the sensible placing of hand controls and storage compartments.

The MPS is specced-up with climate control air-conditioning, front fog lamps, alloy pedals, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, switchable Dynamic Stability Control, six airbags, ABS brakes, and a MP3 compatible six-disc audio system. The optional Sports Pack -- fitted to our test car -- comes with leather trim, Xenon headlights, BOSE stereo and polished 18-inch alloys which bumps the price up to nearly $44K.

Sharing most of the same mechanicals as the fantastic all-wheel drive Mazda6 MPS, the 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder pumps out 190kW and 380Nm -- figures that not too long ago would have been at home under the bonnet of a hairy chested V8.

Even at a tick over 1400kg the 3 MPS still has an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 7.4kg/kW. It's enough for a claimed 6.1sec sprint to 100km/h. HOwever, the attraction of the 3 MPS is its useable power -- you'd have to thrash the car to put down some pretty impressive 'times'.

It's the fastest car in its segment by a margin easily beating the Holden Astra SRi, Renault Megane F1, Ford Focus XR5 and Golf GTi. Academic though it may be, the 3 MPS's top speed is limited to 250km/h.

The six-speed manual gearbox -- also shared with the 6 MPS -- is a treat. The changes have a reassuring weight and the ratios are well spaced. During spirited driving on sweeping roads its best to plonk the shifter into third and rely on the engine's wide powerband and impressive torque to deliver the necessary urge in almost any circumstance.

If you're cruising at 110km/h on the highway in sixth and want to overtake a B-double, no problem. Just a squirt of the accelerator will suffice and the car will surge forward confidently. No need to change gears. From 2000rpm upwards the engine goes ballistic and one gets the sense that it could go on forever -- there is that much grunt.

Just as well the big ventilated all-round discs do a superb job pulling the car up from speed.

Mazda has done its best to downplay torque steer -- the bugbear of front-wheel drivers. It's done a fair job but the some wheel tugging when you push the front through corners remains.

Another small shortcoming is the car's heavy clutch. It can become tiresome in slow-moving traffic and takes some care for smooth take offs. Pussy foot around with the pedal and the clutch will snap back at you.

The 3MPS's skinny-ish 215/45 R18 tyres at first glance don't look like they're up to handling the twisty stuff and the car's front-drive only layout might make you think that grip isn't a strong point. How wrong you'd be. Not only can this car go incredibly fast on the straights it can handle corners supremely well too such is the 3 MPS's excellent chassis package.

About the only thing the 3 MPS doesn't deliver in spades is a suitable muscular exhaust note to announce to the world you're driving a super-quick motor car. But that's precisely the point. This is a car for those who enjoy performance but don't necessarily want to direct attention to the fact.

Sure $40K may sound like a lot to pay for a Mazda3 but it's actually a performance bargain.

Related CarPoint reviews:
Mazda3 MPS launch review
Mazda3 launch review