2007 Mazda MazdaSpeed 3 First Drive

Mazda MazdaSpeed 3: First Drive — Wild child. That's how Mazda engineers describe the newest member of the MazdaSpeed family. Obvious hyperbole aside, pinning a label like this on the 2007 Mazda MazdaSpeed 3 is a little misleading. Of course this high-performance version of the automaker's popular compact hatchback has a wild side — stuffing a ridiculously powerful turbocharged motor into a lightweight body will do that. But to our way of thinking, the fact that this new model is one of the world's quickest front-wheel drive cars is only part of its appeal: it's also practical for everyday life.

That's right: After spending the day driving the MazdaSpeed 3 on street and racetrack, what really makes this car so attractive is the way it combines giggle-inducing performance with everyday practicality. Add a window sticker in the mid-20s, and we predict a lot of folks are going to get a little wild child themselves over the zoom-zoom folks' latest offering.