Mazda 3 MPS
Mazda may have been slow to get on the hot-hatch bandwagon, but boy, they’re
making up for it now. Not so long ago 200bhp was highly credible but now Mazda
have wellied us with a 2.3 turbo engine that delivers a whopping 256bhp.
Needless to say, performance is barnstorming, scarily so until you get used
to it. It is undoubtedly quicker than anything in its class with a 0-62 of
6.1sec and a top speed limited to 155mph. The classic problems faced by a car
with so much power going solely through the front wheels are torque-steer -
you want to steer the car in one direction, the power wants to take it somewhere
else - and loss of grip when pulling away and at the limit. The boffins at
Mazda have come up with a myriad of measures to keep this in check and they’ve
pulled it off.
Thanks to a sophisticated steering and traction-control set-up there’s
no discernible torque-steer nor will the wheels spin madly when pulling away.
Trying to find a car’s limit on public roads is foolhardy so we didn’t
try but it has masses of grip and is clearly way within its comfort-zone when
taking corners at a decent pace.
The engine is smooth responsive and devoid of turbo-lag and the short-throw
gearbox is lovely and sweet. The result is blistering pace throughout the rev-range.
Steering is light initially but weights up nicely at speed but it’s not
quite up with the very best for sporting feedback - inevitable given the gadgetry
keeping all that extra power in check and the payoff for its GTI baiting speed.
Visually and ergonomically it doesn’t differ too much from the standard
3 - a bigger grille, a couple of extra bulges and air intakes and an optional
spoiler on the outside and semi-bucket seats, polished metal pedals and subtle
trim changes inside add a sporting touch. It rides very well, is comfortable,
spacious, well equipped and surprisingly civilised when the mood takes you.
The 3 MPS offers performance to embarrass supercars for people who don’t
need to and for all it’s power and speed it’s nothing like the
hairy chested brute you’d expect from the figures so well done Mazda.
Top speed: 155mph
0-62: 6.1secs
Price: £18,995
Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI
One could be forgiven for thinking the Touareg has the wrong badge on the bonnet.
Don’t get me wrong, VW make great cars but the Touareg really does punch
above its weight: the chassis is used in Porsche’s Cayenne, the engine’s
Audi’s excellent 3.0 TDI V6, it’s heavily specced and build quality’s
as good as any of the big 4x4s. Furthermore, the new version adds a swathe
of new safety features and an updated look.
Firstly, what hasn’t changed? The chassis is still as good as any giving
the Touareg a great platform to build from. Handling and steering are particularly
sharp and it can be thrown into corners with zest making for a fun, rewarding
drive. The 3.0 TDI with its 369lb ft of torque is an excellent match providing
masses of grunt for towing and mud-plugging but perfectly capable of swift
progress on the open road - it also mates well with the ‘tiptronic’ box.
The Touareg’s hushed and refined at cruising speeds and rides well whilst
remaining an accomplished off-roader to boot.
Inside it’s a spacious five-seater, with plenty of luggage space. Driving
position, controls and visibility are pretty much the same and build quality
and tactility are as good as many exec brands. Spec is high across the range
with even base models coming with climate, full electrics and hill descent
assist. Options include variable air suspension.
So, what has changed? Well about 2300 components apparently. The most obvious
are at the front with the new VW family grille and headlamp arrays. In addition
there are more subtle styling changes outside and in. The result is a more
modern, dynamic, aggressive almost, profile. Less obvious but as important
are the many new safety features. The main developments include ABSplus, to
help braking on loose surfaces, roll-over sensors, trailer stabilisation, improved
ESP and, as options, front and side scan which automatically monitor the road
for danger and prompt/act accordingly.
All this from a VW badge and with a VW price tag - that’s a lot of bang
for your buck.
Top speed: 129mph
0-62: 9.2secs
Price: from £30, 257
We home in on some impressive automotive hardware
Cruise missiles