The Russian Path of the Samurai

Earlier, we already shared our impressions of getting acquainted with the second generation Mazda3 MPS, which took place in Hamburg at the European presentation. But tests on perfectly smooth German autobahns do not give a full picture of how the car will behave in our conditions. Therefore, as soon as such an opportunity arose, we went to test the new "hot" "three" on the roads of the Moscow region.

Provocateur

Sporty modifications of mass-produced cars for most drivers are a kind of temptation. By purchasing such a car, you can easily become the fastest on the road without much effort: you don't need to delve into tuning or spend years honing the skills of truly fast and safe driving.

Mazda cars with the MPS letter have never skimped on horsepower to give the driver triumph in street races

In this regard, the first generation MPS was a double provocateur — 260 "horses" gave the hatchback excellent chances to emerge victorious from most sprints from traffic light to traffic light. Moreover, the car literally radiated aggression, which engineers from Hiroshima deliberately embedded in its character. The compact hatch, up to third gear, responded to pressing the gas pedal with wheelspin, tore the steering wheel from hands, and thoroughly shook on bumps due to the stiff suspension.

As a result, finding yourself on a free highway behind the wheel of the first Mazda3 MPS, it was extremely difficult to resist the temptation to perform high-speed maneuvers, and in city traffic jams, the ride resembled a walk with a fighting dog on a playground. In addition, the driver was stirred by the piercing voice of the turbocharged MZR DISI engine with a displacement of 2.3 liters, which easily penetrated the cabin through the sound insulation inherited by the "hot" hatch from the regular version.

Honestly, after several days of interacting with the first "three" MPS, I even had the thought that a separate category of license should be introduced for such "hot hatches." It could be called, say, "B-Sport," and it could only be obtained after a serious test of mental stability and driver skill.

After all, how else can one assess the skill of a person entrusted with a car that accelerates to a hundred in six seconds, if the test is limited to just backing into a garage? Especially since last autumn, when the "three" MPS could be taken from 31 thousand dollars, and banks willingly issued car loans, almost anyone could afford the Japanese "hot hatch."

Serious Approach

But a year has passed, dealers have the second generation MPS, and the desire to introduce strict restrictions for buyers of the "hot" "three" has disappeared — by the third year of life, the Mazda3 MPS has become more sedate. Moreover, so much so that at first it's hard to believe: engineers completely recalibrated torque control on the first three gears, removing part of the predecessor's aggression from the "hot" hatch.

Of course, without the "angry" jerk at the start, the second generation has become less emotional, but you don't regret this loss at all. After all, owners of such cars spend most of their time in the city, not on race tracks. And in the city, you quickly get tired of the constant tension in which the driver is held by the poorly controlled 380 Newton-meters by the traction control system and the sharp, if not jerky, reactions to the steering wheel of the first MPS.

Moreover, the new Mazda3 MPS is not only calmer but also more comfortable than its predecessor — in Hiroshima, softer suspension settings were selected, and now the "hot" "three" doesn't shake as much on small bumps, even despite the low-profile tires 225/40 R18.

However, the respectability of the new MPS does not mean it has lost its sporty grip. On the contrary, the second generation retained both the dynamics and precise handling of the first: acceleration to a hundred is the same 6.1 seconds, and the rear suspension still actively helps in corners, working in tandem with the front limited-slip differential. It turns out that the Japanese "hot hatch," even after changing generations, remains the same passionate provocateur that constantly prompts the driver to feats, even if there's an ordinary road under the wheels, not a race track.

For Fans

So, maybe it's still worth considering introducing a new "sporty" category in driver's licenses? Although the crisis and new customs duties have already created their own, monetary, barrier for those wishing to buy a "hot" "three." Prices for the second generation Mazda3 MPS currently start from 1 million 203 thousand rubles.

And yet, the Mazda3 MPS should not be bought to rub it in the faces of neighbors in traffic. This car is created for honest competition

Compared to the top Sport version of the regular "three" with a two-liter engine and five-speed automatic for 977 thousand rubles, this is not so much. But still, now you can't just approach the MPS. So there is hope that there will be even fewer "random" people behind the wheel of this car.

Technical Specifications of Mazda3 MPS