The turbocharged 2.3-litre petrol engine gives you 256bhp, so it’s no surprise that the MPS is incredibly fast when you treat it mean: mid-range acceleration is monumental. However, it’s surprisingly lazy at the bottom of the rev range, throttle responses are slightly sloppy, and when the power surge does come, the steering wheel writhes around in your hands.

Show the Mazda 3 a set of bends, and it’ll show you impressively tight body control and doggish grip. Your right foot will need some discipline, though – too much throttle mid-corner will set the front tyres spinning and the steering wheel writhing. Bumps in a bend have too much effect on your intended line, too, and while the ride isn’t cripplingly hard, it’s decidedly jiggly in town.

The engine makes a good noise when you give it a bootful, but settles down to a muted hum on the motorway. Road noise is the biggest issue, because there's a constant rumble, especially on coarser surfaces. Otherwise, the MPS is reasonably refined: wind noise is less of an issue.

The MPS certainly isn’t cheap to buy, but you do get a lot of power and a lot of kit for the money. However, residual values aren’t as strong as those of the rest of the Mazda 3 range, and a Ford Focus RS protects your investment better. The MPS won’t be cheap to run, either – all that power means high fuel and insurance bills.

The Mazda has a classier cabin than many rival hot hatches, but there are some hard plastics on the dash that mean it can’t match the very best on quality. Still, everything you touch feels sturdy, and Mazda's reliability record is excellent. The company has consistently finished near the top in both the annual JD Power customer satisfaction survey and our own reliability survey.

Like every Mazda 3, the MPS comes with standard safety kit including active front headrests, as well as twin front, side and curtain airbags. Stability and traction control systems are also present and correct, while an alarm and deadlocks help to deter thieves.

It's easy to make yourself comfortable, thanks to a steering wheel that adjusts for reach and rake, and a driver's seat that can be cranked up and down. You also get chunky controls for the stereo and heater, both of which come with cool flashing lights. Shame there are so many buttons on the steering wheel, and that the sat-nav screen is so tiny.

The 3 is roomy enough, seating four six-footers in comfort. Access to the rear can be rather tricky, though – the gap at the bottom of the doors makes it a little tight for getting your feet inside, and shoulder space is a little tight, too. The good-sized boot is well shaped, though, and the 60/40 split rear seats fold to make an almost flat extended load floor.

The MPS comes stocked with all the goodies you can think of. Sat-nav, Bluetooth, climate control, CD changer, cruise control, keyless entry, automatic lights and wipers, parking sensors, four powered windows, part-leather seats, metallic paint, privacy glass and a heated windscreen are all provided as standard.