Some said the regular Mazda 3 MPS didn’t look enough like a hot hatch and the Sports Aero kit addresses these concerns with its own grille, bonnet, spoiler, BMW M3-inspired mirrors and skirts. It also has 18-inch wheels and a chrome-finished exhaust pipe. It is a very good-looking car, though maybe a little conservative when set next to more shouty hot-hatches. You’ll catch the eye of petrol heads but it depends whether you’re after a more “look at me” car than that.

8/10

2. Looks inside

Like the car’s exterior the interior is fairly subtle in declaring its hot-hatch abilities. The red-stitched leather and cloth seats are the most visible sign this is not the regular Mazda 3. We found them comfortable and they fit in with the dark grey dash plastics. The red-stitching is also found on the gear stick and steering wheel, both of which are well positioned and comfortable. The red illuminated dials and light running across the BOSE stereo provide a nice contrast. 

7/10

3. Practicality

The Mazda 3 MPS makes no compromise when it comes to practicality. The low-opening boot offers 290 litres of space which can be increased to 619 litres with the rear seats flat. The cabin feels spacious with two front cupholders, generous glove box and central storage area. As with most hot-hatches the Mazda 3 MPS combines being liveable with its impressive performance.

7/10

4. Ride and Handling

The Mazda 3 MPS shares the same engine as the one which powers the manufacturer’s performance saloon, the Mazda 6 MPS. This is a mixed blessing. It means lots of power to see off most of its rivals but not all of it is delivered where you want – to the road. A limited slip differential (this allows the car’s wheels to rotate at different speeds) helps, as do a host of driver aids listed in the safety section but we still found the front end wriggled when you put your foot down from rest. Steering improves at higher speeds but not to a degree which would concern the car’s rivals. However, the chassis feels stiff going through bends. The ride is firm too, as one would expect from a hot-hatch, but not uncomfortable.

7/10

5. Performance

As mentioned above the Mazda 3 MPS is powered by the same 260bhp 2.3-litre engine as the Mazda 6 MPS. This is performance which shoos off most of its rivals – delivering 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and giving it a top speed of 155mph. The six-speed gearbox is assured. On performance alone the Mazda 3 MPS is more than a match for any of its competitors.

10/10

6. Running Costs

Hot hatch performance has an impact on the wallet. Group 17 insurance doesn’t come cheap and CO2 emissions of 231g/km place it in top car tax band G with a £400 annual bill. Average fuel consumption is 29.1mpg.

7/10

7. Reliability

The Mazda 3 MPS is a relatively new addition to the range having been on sale in the UK since 2008 but the Japanese manufacturer has an excellent reputation - ranking second in the reliability index.

9/10

8. Safety

The Mazda 3 achieved a four-star rating following EuroNCAP crash testing. Traction control system, dynamic stability control anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution and emergency brake assist all help to keep the car’s huge reserves of power on the road.

7/10

9. Equipment

Our model featured MPS sports styling with model specific grille, bonnet, skirts and spoiler, large chrome exhaust pipe, 18-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels. The Sports Aero Kit added sports mirrors, larger spoiler and lowered suspension. Inside, the MPS badge adds leather and cloth bucket seats. A BOSE stereo is supplied  with 6CD autochanger plus there’s climate control air conditioning, xenon headlights and automatic windscreen wipers.

9/10

10. X-Factor

That 260bhp 2.3 litre engine. OK some of that power isn’t delivered as we’d like but there sure is a lot of it.

8/10