It's new, it's got 256bhp and it's one of the fastest hot hatches you can buy. In this video, Vicki Butler-Henderson finds out if the Mazda3 MPS is as mean as it sounds. For more videos, news and reviews go to fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear
Hard to see why people wouldn't choose this over the GTI? How about cost and reliability? Wouldn't touch a VW unless it was inside of warranty. Mazda is more or less bullet proof.. and very cheap when things do go wrong. Torque steer, so what? How about rolling performance? This thing is magnificent in gear. Much more fun than a Golf. The GTI is for women or guys who think they're hip and trendy. MPS is for people who want something a little edgy and different. Nice car, great bang for $.
Martin Kent I have a gen 1 speed 3 and people complain about torque steer but in my opinion all you have to to is hold the wheel. Is that so difficult for people haha
Hashtag Tsunami I had a Clio 172 and l did the same as you, just hold the steering wheel. Damn fun car to drive. I'm driving a 2004 Mazda 6 at the moment and would like to get a series one 3 MPS as it doesn't shout like this model and I kind of prefer that. Must be my age!
LMAO. U r a fucking clueless idiot. My golf 5 1.9 tdi has a whooping 447k kilometers on the clock and it's still running perfectly. It always has, with regular basic maintenance it can run forever. VW reliability is remarkable, truly amazing.
and they also faked CO2 and mpg values by finetuning em just for the EU cycle meaning in real world use the Mazda was close to the mpg and CO2 but the GTI and the Ford RS used far more fuel that on paper
idk why everyone hates the front end of this car. I actually find it very nice to look at. It makes that car look a lot more sporty than the original 3
Interesting... MPS badge on the grille and a MZR 2.3 DISI TURBO badge just inside the hood scoop, neat little details that add a bit more flair to the car. Torque steer, unruly, raw and untamed... is exactly why I love my 2010 MS3. An upgraded rear motor mount (and maybe passenger motor mount) is mandatory - reduces torque steer, reduces shift jerkiness, etc.
"most of the Mazda's chassis DNA comes from the Ford Focus" strange... since the platform that the Focus is built on is just was used by Mazda several years before Ford even used it...
Børre Børresen Couse ford and Mazda do a lot of back to back They design engines together and most Mazda diesel is just ford engine. Wich is Pretty good sometimes;) Ford got some good diesels and fast easy to tune
@@mokbulhussain1476 The close ratio gearbox is excellent for acceleration and when driving very fast on a curvy road, but for everyday driving, you'll be changing gears ALOT compared to a normal car. The low profile tyres and 18 inch rims can be uncomfortable, so I've swapped them for normal 17 inch non performance tyres. Its much more comfortable now but it has less grip, so the wheels spin alot and I absolutely love it. The car is still great and looks/feels like new. The only things I have replaced so far are 1 headlamp, and I've just ordered a new suspension. One of the rear dust covers came off due to old age so I decided to replace them all in one go. They still work fine I can drive above 200kph and it all feels good.
3:50 because it will still cost the same to run in 10 year and parts will be cheap, also wont break down, and the electronics will work long after the rest of the car doesn't, unlike the golf
Good review. I recently purchased a 2012 Speed3 with option called "Tech Package" here in the U.S. -- same color as this review. I have drive the MKV GTI with DSG 2 years ago and I actually prefer the Speed3 over it as the reviewer said, it makes you feel alive. Speed3 has a lot more sporty feel unlike GTI when pushed. GTI seems more cramped interior wise, Speed3 feels more spacious and has better seating and cargo space. The six speed, close ratio, short throw shifter is like a jewel!
If you do some research the engine actually makes euro stage 5 emissions (some websites say 4) because of the unique design of the engine and catalytic converters by mazda, also most owners say mileage is good for a sports car. But not me, everytime i get into this car by feet turn into lead blocks
I finally got a chance to test drive a Speed 3 and the supposed big bad "Torque Steer" was not nearly as bad they make it out to be.For roughly $23k it's actually a damn slick little hatchback.
I love my Mazdaspeed 3! This car was designed for skilled drivers just like the ZR1. Ever see one of these shows, like top gear, rate a ZR1? They claim it is rough, unrefined and completely out of control. Yet it puts down some of the best track times on the planet. The Mazdaspeed 3 is the same. For those of you looking for an easy car that requires no skill go buy yourself a GTI, but don't expect to see a Mazaspeed 3 in your rear view mirror.
I was following one of these a few months back in my little golf GT. It was hard to keep up with in the straights but holy shit was it slow in the corners - to the point of irritation. Looked like it was always on the verge of understeer, maybe bad tires?
After watching so many reviews on the Mazdaspeed3 and the Golf GTI, I can't help but think that they are so close in comparison, that I would be heart torn to choose. They are both such good cars, in very different ways.
I wished they had this white color on the 2011 Speed3, the only options that they gave me was lipstick red, panzy blue, boring gray and overused black! So I went with the black one. One question is there a breaking point on the turbo when buying new?
@PARCE93 its where the torque of the engine makes the steering wheel move to the side. if the car is power full enough it can be quite a handle full keeping it in a straight line while accelerating hard.
I’ve had a (left) drifting problem with my Mazda 3 MPS from new. I constantly need to correct it. Its been to 2 Mazda dealers on 4 separate occasions. Even in the right lane where the camber of the road should take you to the right, mine goes left. There is no sign of physical damage nor uneven tyre wear, its had a 4 wheel alignment several times but still no improvement . The Mazda garage has said its ‘just what this spec of car does‘. Does anyone else experience this with their MPS?
@Gilliatt83 I was curious of that very same thing. Apparently there are vast differences between bellhousing and output shafts, vast enough for the Mazda drag racing team to say its ridiculously expensive. The original mazdaspeed3's tranny was special designed to save space and keep a 6th gear, guess its too difficult to modify. Superchargers are available for the MX-5 atleast.
For some reason this video DOES NOT describe my 2012 Mazdaspeed 3 which is the same car but the steering wheel is on the opposite side, it's MUCH better than how she described it
bouncy ride? i was recently in the previous version on this car and was very surprised at the comfort! and as for the torque steer? what torque steer? i couldnt believe the handling just ate up every corner with ease
@ChamaliVR6 -- Is the Golf R even sold in the US? The R32 was a sales bust here because it was $10,000 more than the MazdaSpeed3 (and its worthy competitors), but it was slower because it was ridiculously heavy for such a small car. I hope the new R is much lighter, or it wont be able to keep up with the MPS/Speed3 from a rolling start either.
I had one. I liked it, blew the turbo, was covered under warranty, I eventually got bored with it though, because the power limiting in the 1st 3 gears really started to annoy me. Forth gear before you get full power is ridiculous for a road car, try and actually use that power when you can only get it in forth and say goodbye to your license. It was a very fun car but I ended up trading it in for a Subaru WRX STi. I do miss how silly that MPS was though. One of the most fun cars I ever owned.
I chip tuned it very soon after to remove the power suppression. I still have mine since 2011, i put smaller 17 inch lightweight rims on it so now it spins its tires all the time lol. Everythings still working like new, best car ive ever had!
my 07 MPS completely stock pulls hard from 2nd gear. The trick is having the wheel dead straight. The moment you have slight turn on the wheel, it will limit boost quite abit.
What do you guys think! I'm from Australia and I'm still studying. I'm currently in year12 doing my studies and working 4 shifts each 3hrs a week at Kmart. So far I've got over $7000 saved in my bank and I'm keen on one of these for my first car. All the money is my hard earned cash from working for 2yr at Kmart and I'm going to make sure I have 10k by the end of the year. My parents will pay the rest but I will be working full time next year to save money to pay the rest of the car off for my parents and enough for university fees!
Don Duke I'm in WA and I haven't heard that they are illegal for P players. Might need to do some researching, but yeh I know they kick ass, defiantly not a STI though
I've got the US version of this car. The Mazdaspeed 3. And I have to agree with pretty much everything said here. although I don't mind the somewhat bland interior the torque steer always wants to pull the wheel out of your hand on hard acceleration. You have to pay attention to it or things could go wrong, fast. That being said I've found mine to be great fun to drive. Although the Sat. Nav. screen could be a little closer and bigger, as it was in the previous generation.
interior quality in my gen2 speed 3 is amazing and everyone who gets in my car always points out how nice it is, the GTI has PLAID seats... mine has a sick red and black dots mixed with real leather. And all the leather in the car is stitched together with red just like the 458 italia and F12
What I miss about the new Mazda3s (i.e. from 2010) is how the instrument cluster hood doesn't have the 3 cylinders anymore -- I thought that looked awesome and unique. Now they just have two cylinders that stick out, with some junk squashed between them.
You can complain about the interior, the ride, etc, but there's no escaping the fact it's both cheaper and faster than a Golf!!!! It's a handsome machine too!
just out of curiosity, at 1:30 is she doing the usual thing where people confuse torque steer with understeer? torque steer is a result of HAVING grip and that grip pulling you to one side while trying to go in a straight line; understeer can be caused by getting on the throttle while cornering and LOSING front end grip as a result (which seems to me to be what shes describing... i could be wrong) Also she talked about turbo lag and then later mentioned that above 2500rpm power is instant (so no turbo lag). does she think turbo lag is being below the working range of the turbo (under 2500rpm) and waiting for the engine to get up to 2500rpm? turbo lag is the split second delay of power when you initially put your foot down while the engine is ALREADY IN the working range of the turbo. Also the "2 and a half L" engine is a 2.3 i could be wrong with what i said but IF im right then thats half of the review being bullshit, useless material. It makes me question a lot of the info i listened to in other videos that, unlike this, were about cars i dont actually own and in turn didnt notice the faults. ........ rant over LOL
numbereightyseven He's actually right about turbo lag. Lag is the delay to boost if you floor it whilst in boost range. Boost threshold is what ricers call "lag". Threshold is the rpm range needed in order to actually spool up the compressor. You obviously can't floor a turbo car at idle and expect full boost
@SUPERPIDGEON /Looks good.. I'm off to a Dealership tomorrow to look at a red Demo' 985 miles on the clock. This new model seems in demand so....I'll probably buy it....Any tips ??. .DJ.
wait... did she say torque steer is not a particularly nice sensation? DUDE!!! i LOVE the torque steer in my MS3... it's inSANE - makes me feel like i'm really driving something beastly! she's nuts, man. it's a BLAST to drive.
I'm looking forward to the comparison review between the MPS 3, Megane RS250 and the new Focus ST when they're available. I like being spoiled for choice : )
@KittyKranker Did you have an MS3 a couple years ago? Thought I recognized your username. I've still got the one I bought is October 2006. Tracked it (road course) a few times. Still a great sleeper on the street, but the guys at the track all know about these by now.
@tacticalHID fifth gear's been around for about the same time as new Top Gear started in early 00's. While TG focuses more on entertaining, FG gets straight to technical specifications. Vicki has raced against Jeremy countless times
Things like torque steer, firm suspension, and that "raw" feel are all things I personally enjoy in a car. Cars that are calm, refined, etc are just a bore to drive.
oh okay.. the video description says that this MPS gets 256bhp and I know for sure that my speed get 263bhp.. so maybe some changes to the mechanics are tweaked a little more
The Speed 3/ 3 MPS/ Axela MPS is the ultimate automobile. Affordable, fun, fast, safe, reliable - and with personality in truck-fulls. Come-on, how many performance cars have a cheeky grin like that?
