Mazda 3 MPS (2006) CAR review

So this is the most powerful hot hatch on the market? Doesn’t look like it.

Maybe not, but the Millennium Falcon didn’t look like much either and look how that went. Deep beneath the exterior of what looks a fairly standard cardigan-wearing 3 lurks a 255bhp blown four which endows the Mazda with a 155mph top speed and the ability to reach 62mph in six seconds. Only some 18 inch alloys, a small rear spoiler, big bore exhaust and deeper bumpers are there are to warn spotty malnourished Saxo drivers that they're about to get left for dead.

Other carmakers are going all brash with their hot hatches? Does Mazda’s different approach work?

While stealth mode succeeds with the 6 MPS – mainly because it’s a much better-looking car to start with - it doesn’t with the frumpy 3. Mazda’s European designers wanted to give it full treatment to seek attention like the Focus ST, Astra VXR and Golf GTI, but their designs didn’t get the green light over Japan’s conservative effort. There will be a £500 styling pack with bigger spoiler, lowered suspension and RX8 PZ wing mirrors to try and sex it up a bit.