The compact sedan isn’t quite dead yet
Compact sport sedans were once a popular and vibrant segment in North America, ripe with competitive offerings from some of the world’s most coveted brands. Nowadays, however, most of those brands have shifted their focus away from sedans and other traditional cars and instead toward crossovers that prioritize functionality and higher ride height over driving thrills and sporty looks. Thanks to Subaru and Mazda, however, the idea of a compact, all-wheel drive, economical, and exciting sedan isn’t completely dead just yet.
The Subaru WRX and the Mazda3 Turbo represent some of the most competitive options in their respective classes. Thanks to these brands, buyers can still enjoy the smile-inducing thrill of an affordable sports sedan combined with refined interiors and economical yet powerful engines. All that being said, let’s take a look at whether the Subaru wins out with its manual transmission and unbeatable cornering traction or if the Mazda charms us more with its refined cabin environment and sleek looks.
Subaru
The Subaru WRX is more exciting to drive than the Mazda3 Turbo
If not merely for the fact that you can have the Subaru WRX with a six-speed manual transmission, while the Mazda3 Turbo can only be equipped with a six-speed automatic, the WRX is simply the more intuitive and engaging car to drive when you’re pushing it. With its tried and tested Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, its 271-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, and a curb weight of just under 3,400 pounds, the WRX has some serious street cred under its belt. Although the Mazda3 Turbo’s boosted, 2.5-liter inline-four engine tops out at just 250 horsepower, its 320 lb-ft of torque beats out the WRX’s 258 lb-ft rating.
Mazda
All that torque translates into rapid acceleration and readily available power in the Mazda when you need it. Despite having 62 less lb-ft of torque than the Mazda3 Turbo, the WRX benefits from a far more linear power band, which makes for a much more predictable response when you’re out for a spirited drive on some nice twisty roads or on a track. It does, however, come at the cost of having to rev out the engine more than you’d have to with the Mazda to achieve the same speed. This all means that the WRX is a lot more fun and intuitive to drive when you’re just driving for fun, but the Mazda3 Turbo is better tuned for life around town as a daily driver.
Not only does the standard Subaru WRX’s setup lean more heavily towards the “spirited drive” compared to the Mazda3 Turbo’s everyday-focused dynamics, but Subaru also offers the WRX tS, which adds STI-tuned adjustable dampers, Brembo brakes, torque vectoring, and selectable drive modes, making an already-exciting driving experience even more visceral and controllable. Subaru’s accessories catalog offers even more performance-enhancing equipment such as sport exhaust systems, short shifter kits, and STI gear knobs, further signifying the WRX’s “excitement-first, practicality-second” intentions.
Subaru
The Subaru WRX and Mazda3 Turbo have nearly identical MSRPs, but the Mazda3 feels more premium
Where the Subaru WRX leans into its sporting heritage, the Mazda3 Turbo leans toward comfort and a premium feel. Official pricing for the 2025 Subaru WRX has yet to be released, but the 2024 Subaru WRX Base starts at $32,735, whereas the 2025 Mazda3 2.5 Carbon Turbo starts at just $32,300. Despite saving you over $500 from the get-go, the lowest-priced Mazda3 Turbo trim comes with more features than the base WRX. While the basic WRX comes with a cloth interior and 17-inch alloy wheels, the Mazda3 2.5 Carbon Turbo comes equipped with leatherette upholstery and 18-inch alloy wheels. The Mazda3 Turbo has superior fuel economy over the WRX as well, with an EPA-estimated rating of 32 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg in the city, compared to the Subaru’s 26 mpg highway rating and 19 mpg city rating.
The Mazda3 Turbo isn’t just “more premium” than the WRX on paper, either. If you’ve ever experienced the cabin environments of both of these vehicles, then you’ll likely have noticed within seconds of entering the Mazda3 that it’s a noticeably more inviting place to sit. The Mazda3’s material quality feels vastly superior to the WRX’s, and the seamlessly integrated infotainment screen wins out over the WRX’s laggy and intrusive screen that desperately wishes it was an iPad but instead feels like a cheap knock-off screen.
Mazda
If you’re after even more practicality, the Mazda3 Turbo can also be had as a hatchback
We love hatchbacks here at Autoblog, thanks to their incredible ability to blend practicality and functionality with sedan-like handling and sleek style. If you feel the same way as we do, the Mazda3 Turbo can also be had as a hatchback. Although Subaru used to offer the WRX in hatchback guise, the beloved lift-back variant has been absent in the WRX lineup since 2013. Although the Mazda3 Sport Turbo hatchback loses some visibility compared to its four-door sedan counterpart, it’s not only one of the best-looking hatchbacks you can buy, but the Mazda3 Hatchback might just be one of the most aesthetically appealing cars for sale in this decade, even in spite of its incredibly affordable price tag. If its practicality and striking proportions you’re after, it’s tough to pass up the Mazda3 Turbo hatchback as a serious contender.
Mazda
Final thoughts
On paper, and as a daily driver, the Mazda3 Turbo seems to trump the Subaru WRX in terms of value for money and perhaps even in terms of performance. Behind the wheel, however, that’s an entirely different story. To add some context, I spent nearly four years of my life working in sales at a Mazda dealership and am a passionate fan of the brand, having owned many of their products myself. I’ve recommended and sold Mazda products, including the Mazda3 Turbo, to many of my family members, who love and adore them and also remain passionate about the brand.
As previously mentioned, the Mazda3 Turbo makes for a superior daily driver compared to the WRX, with its improved fuel economy, comfortable interior, and standard automatic transmission. Despite all this, I still purchased the Subaru WRX for myself. If you’re someone who cares even just a little bit more about how your sport sedan drives when you’re not just stuck in traffic or commuting to work, compared to how it handles boring daily life, the Mazda3 Turbo doesn’t hold a candle to the WRX. Yes, its standard six-speed manual transmission is a huge determining factor here, but the WRX’s intuitive dynamics extend far beyond its stick-shift gearbox. The WRX’s steering is far more responsive and provides more driver feedback, its power band is more linear and engaging, and its low-mounted, longitudinally-arranged powertrain makes for effective weight distribution that results in vastly superior hard cornering compared to the Mazda.
Thus, if you’re looking for a solid daily driver that happens to be exciting to drive, the Mazda3 Turbo is probably the best way to go. However, if you’re looking for an exciting car that just so happens to be a sound daily driver as well, the Subaru WRX is incredibly difficult to beat for enthusiasts who prioritize driver engagement over everyday comfort.
