The Mazda 3 MPS will undercut key hot hatch rivals when it goes on sale later this year. It packs a potent 256bhp punch from its 2.3-litre turbo petrol engine, yet will cost £21,500. That’s nearly a grand less than the VW Golf GTI, which is also 49bhp worse off. It’s also around £4K less than the performance hero of the moment, the Ford Focus RS…

Like the Ford, its power is all front-driven. It is a saner choice than an RS, though, with five doors instead of three, a 224g/km CO2 output (making annual road tax £215 – taxing the outgoing MPS costs £405) and group 17 insurance.

While sales begin later in 2009, the rest of the Mazda 3 range is available from May 18. Prices stretch from £13,500 to £19,900, with engines ranging from a 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol to an all-new 2.2-litre diesel, offering 182bhp and an 8.2sec 0-62 time as well as a combined 50mpg. There are four and five-door bodystyles.