THE HOT HATCH THAT TIME FORGOT

摘要

The Mazda 3 MPS is a quick, comfortable and reliable hot hatch with more power than a VW Golf R32, yet few people even know it exists. John Evans says that's their loss Mention the Mazda 3 of 2003-2013 and most people will struggle to recall it. Regale them with tales of the 256bhp MPS variant launched in 2006, and they'll write you off as 'a person to avoid'. The fact is, the Mazda Performance Series is a hot hatch known only to car junkies who nod approvingly at a power output that exceeded the 247bhp of the Mk5 Volkswagen Golf R32 and was only 5bhp shy of the Audi S3.