3 MPS: Sensible suit hides banzai heart - Buying & owning

For this kind of car, group 17 insurance looks reasonable, while an average of 29.1mpg is encouraging. However, make the most of the performance and you'll get nowhere near that economy figure. CO2 output is high, so company car drivers can expect to pay tax on 33% of the list price.

The MPS's interior differs little from that of the rest of the Mazda 3, range so although some of the materials look a wee bit down-market, they are of a good quality and the overall build is first rate.

Given Mazda’s reputation for building cars that last - consistently performing in the top three for reliability and customer satisfaction - you should have no worries concerning the longevity of the MPS. Thrash it every day and it'll keep coming back for more.

There’s a host of safety kit including twin front and side airbags, plus curtain bags that extend into the rear to protect occupants from side impacts. Whiplash-minimising front seat restraints are also fitted, as are ISOFIX child seat fixing points. Electronic stability control comes standard, along with a Thatcham Category 1 alarm and deadlocks.