What does it cost?
For The Mazda 3 2.3 MPS has the in-your-face styling that hot-hatch fans crave and it’s also blisteringly fast. It’s practical enough for the hooligan with a family, and it’s stuffed with kit.
Against Sloppy throttle responses take the edge off the MPS’s pace, and the steering wheel writhes in your hands when you put the hammer down. The cabin is dull and some of the materials are of slightly questionable quality.
What Car? says
The Mazda 3 2.3 MPS is fast, there’s no doubt about that. However, there are some flaws in its dynamics, and it’s one of the most expensive hot hatches to run.
What Car? readers say
4.25
View the whole Mazda 3 Hatchback range
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
There are lots of engine and trim options to choose from, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them. The entry-level 1.6 petrol is fairly slow, but it’s adequate if you don’t want to get anywhere in a hurry. Of all the engines available, we’d recommend the smooth and punchy 1.6 diesel.
We’d point you towards Venture trim, too, which gets climate control, alloys, sat nav, USB connectivity, auto lights and wipers, cruise control and Bluetooth.
Discount-wise, you might struggle to get to 10% (although you should always try) – anywhere between 5% and 8% will be a decent enough deal.
Reader test team says:
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Our pick of the range
Mazda 3 Hatchback 1.6D Tamura 5dr
The Mazda 3 1.6D Tamura is a good-value package, but upgrade to the Venture if you can.
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