How much do fun and youthful spirit cost a driver these days?

At Japanese automaker Mazda, it's $23,945, which is the starting price for a 2010 Mazdaspeed3.

With new exterior styling, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out as much horsepower as some V-6 engines, a hatchback shape and sport-tuned suspension, the Mazdaspeed3 is a fun-to-drive, youthful, five-passenger automobile.

There's no sedan version, though there is a Mazda3 sedan. The reason: The Mazdaspeed3 is sold around the world, and buyers in many other countries prefer the versatility of hatchbacks to the look of sedans.

In the United States, the Mazdaspeed3's starting price is more than $3,000 above a base hatchback.

The 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder generates 263 horsepower and 280 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm, compared with 167 horsepower and 168 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm in the Mazda3 with 2.5-liter, nonturbo four-cylinder.

There's a cost for that punch. The government fuel economy rating is 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway, and premium gasoline is required. This translates into a hefty fill-up of the 15.9-gallon tank at today's prices.

The hatchback feels lightweight during driving and weighs less than 3,300 pounds. There was plenty of power at the ready to make the test car zoom-zoom forward into traffic and around others on the highway. I peeled away from stoplights with verve.

Over time, I learned to rein in my fun and kept a close eye on my speed, because it was so easy to get moving faster than speed limits allowed.

The six-speed manual shifter didn't have quite the precision that I liked and felt a bit notchy, but I didn't miss a gear or fuss to get the shifter into the gear I wanted.

Mazda does not offer an automatic transmission for the Mazdaspeed3, though other versions of the Mazda3 can be had with a five-speed automatic.

The interior, available only in black, is nicely done. All controls were within easy reach in a new dashboard design that makes the driver the focus.

The mix of leather and fabric on the nicely form-fitting and supportive seats in the test car was attractive. These seats are unique to the Mazdaspeed3.

Automatic climate control is another standard feature. It comes with 18-inch tires standard, which aren't necessarily available on other hatchbacks.

At just under 15 feet long, the Mazdaspeed3 seemed compact as it turned into parking spots and fit neatly into the garage.

This little speedster is classified as a midsize car, however, only because of its usable interior space. That includes 36.2 inches of back-seat legroom. I was surprised to find I could sit in the back comfortably, with 38 inches of headroom.

I liked that the windows on the back doors were sizable, so I didn't feel constrained back there, and that it was easy to flip down the seat backs to allow cargo room for larger items.

The maximum cargo space, with rear seats folded, is 42.8 cubic feet.

The audio system -- optional Bose surround sound with 242 watts of power and 10 speakers -- drowned out the road noise that came through from the wider-than-last-year Dunlop performance tires.

The car can seem a bit busy, with noticeable road bumps coming through to passengers during travel combined with the loudness of the road noise.

The trade-off is a sporty ride, with strong, no-fade braking power, quick-response steering and admirable handling thanks to a stiffer body and suspension updates.

There's typical front-wheel drive behavior when a driver gets to the car's limits, but it's predictable and manageable.

All safety equipment is standard on the Mazdaspeed3, including traction control and electronic stability control.