Consumer Reports tests STi and EVO
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Consumer Reports tests STi and EVO
The stereotypical image of a sports car is a small, low-slung two-seater, with little or no rear-passenger space and barely enough cargo room to carry groceries. The reality, however, is changing. New designs are blending high performance with a higher degree of practicality
Of the five sports cars we tested for this issue, two—the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (commonly called the Evo)—are four-door sedans with a reasonable backseat and trunk.
Another four-door model, the Mazda RX-8, is a coupe with two small rear-hinged doors in back to allow easier access to its small but usable rear seat. The other two cars
-the Nissan 350Z and the Chrysler Crossfire—are two-seaters with no room for rear passengers.
All cost about $30,000 and provide excellent acceleration and braking. But handling and driving character vary. As with many sporty cars, the trade-offs for good performance are ride comfort, interior quiet, and fuel economy The STi and Evo are all-wheel drive; the other three cars are rear-wheel drive. All require premium fuel.
The Subaru STi was the highest-scoring car in this group and one of two that we can recommend. (See CR Quick on page 61 for our criteria.) It's a high-performance version of the Impreza sedan and is very similar to Subaru's
professional rally racing cars (see CloseUp, opposite page). The first WRX model, which was introduced in 2001, was also patterned after the rally-car design and has been our top pick in the Fun-to-Drive category since we tested it for our December 2001 report. Available as a sedan or wagon, the $25,000 Subaru WRX is a relatively inexpensive car that successfully blends sporty performance with four-door practicality.
The STi version, available only as a sedan, is closer to the real race car. It delivers quicker acceleration and better handling, but it is stiffer and noisier. It also costs $6,500 more than the WRX.
The Mazda RX-8, new for 2004, is a successor to the
RX-7 two-seat sports car, which was introduced for 1979 and hasn't been imported since 1995. It's essentially a 2+2 coupe (with two front seats and two small rear seats), and it has the added convenience of small rear doors. Like its predecessors, the RX-8 uses a rotary "Wankel" engine, now the only production car to do so. The engine has a pair of three-sided rotors instead of pistons to create compression. It is smaller and lighter than other types of engines and revs exceptionally smoothly. However, it gets lower gas mileage, and its emissions aren't as clean.
Like the STi, the Mitsubishi Evo is a high-performance version of an existing small sedan, the Lancer, and a close replica of the company's rally racing cars. The Evo has been sold in Europe and Japan for several years, but this eighth-generation model is the first to be imported to the U.S.
The Nissan 350Z, introduced for 2003, is fifth in the line ofDatsun/Nissan"Z" cars, which started with the 1970 240Z and was discontinued in 1996. The 350Z Touring model we tested comes with a 287-hp version of the 3.5-liter V6 found in several other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles.
The 2004 Chrysler Crossfire, built in Germany, is being touted as the first car from DaimlerChrysler to be co-developed by the American and German groups. The Crossfire is based on the outgoing Mercedes-Benz SLK, which was introduced in 1997 and is being redesigned for 2005. Although a new model, the Crossfire relies on a seven-year-old design and can't compete with newer sports-car designs.
Sporty cars are designed primarily to be fun to drive, with the best providing quick acceleration; agile handling;
responsive, communicative steering; and strong braking. To a large degree, those attributes determine how a car scores in our Ratings. While practicality is of less concern, the six top-rated models also provide some passenger- or cargo-carrying practicality, which makes them appealing to a wider range of drivers.
Of the 14 sporty cars listed here, 7 have all the requisites to be recommended. Among them is the Ford Focus (1), which showed improved reliability in our latest subscriber survey. We don't have sufficient reliability data to recommend the RX-8 (3), Lancer Evolution (6), Chrysler Crossfire (12), or Hyundai Tiburon (13). Below-average reliability prevents us from recommending the Mini Cooper (7) or Volkswagen New Beetle (8). The Mitsubishi Eclipse (14) has had average reliability but falls short in both performance and practicality.
The Ratings (right) rank vehicles based on how they performed in our tests. Recommended models (if) not only performed well in our tests, but also have shown average or better reliability and performed at least adequately if crash-tested. Quick Picks (below) are recommended models that deserve special consideration.
Of the five sports cars we tested for this issue, two—the Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (commonly called the Evo)—are four-door sedans with a reasonable backseat and trunk.
Another four-door model, the Mazda RX-8, is a coupe with two small rear-hinged doors in back to allow easier access to its small but usable rear seat. The other two cars
-the Nissan 350Z and the Chrysler Crossfire—are two-seaters with no room for rear passengers.
All cost about $30,000 and provide excellent acceleration and braking. But handling and driving character vary. As with many sporty cars, the trade-offs for good performance are ride comfort, interior quiet, and fuel economy The STi and Evo are all-wheel drive; the other three cars are rear-wheel drive. All require premium fuel.
The Subaru STi was the highest-scoring car in this group and one of two that we can recommend. (See CR Quick on page 61 for our criteria.) It's a high-performance version of the Impreza sedan and is very similar to Subaru's
professional rally racing cars (see CloseUp, opposite page). The first WRX model, which was introduced in 2001, was also patterned after the rally-car design and has been our top pick in the Fun-to-Drive category since we tested it for our December 2001 report. Available as a sedan or wagon, the $25,000 Subaru WRX is a relatively inexpensive car that successfully blends sporty performance with four-door practicality.
The STi version, available only as a sedan, is closer to the real race car. It delivers quicker acceleration and better handling, but it is stiffer and noisier. It also costs $6,500 more than the WRX.
The Mazda RX-8, new for 2004, is a successor to the
RX-7 two-seat sports car, which was introduced for 1979 and hasn't been imported since 1995. It's essentially a 2+2 coupe (with two front seats and two small rear seats), and it has the added convenience of small rear doors. Like its predecessors, the RX-8 uses a rotary "Wankel" engine, now the only production car to do so. The engine has a pair of three-sided rotors instead of pistons to create compression. It is smaller and lighter than other types of engines and revs exceptionally smoothly. However, it gets lower gas mileage, and its emissions aren't as clean.
Like the STi, the Mitsubishi Evo is a high-performance version of an existing small sedan, the Lancer, and a close replica of the company's rally racing cars. The Evo has been sold in Europe and Japan for several years, but this eighth-generation model is the first to be imported to the U.S.
The Nissan 350Z, introduced for 2003, is fifth in the line ofDatsun/Nissan"Z" cars, which started with the 1970 240Z and was discontinued in 1996. The 350Z Touring model we tested comes with a 287-hp version of the 3.5-liter V6 found in several other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles.
The 2004 Chrysler Crossfire, built in Germany, is being touted as the first car from DaimlerChrysler to be co-developed by the American and German groups. The Crossfire is based on the outgoing Mercedes-Benz SLK, which was introduced in 1997 and is being redesigned for 2005. Although a new model, the Crossfire relies on a seven-year-old design and can't compete with newer sports-car designs.
Sporty cars are designed primarily to be fun to drive, with the best providing quick acceleration; agile handling;
responsive, communicative steering; and strong braking. To a large degree, those attributes determine how a car scores in our Ratings. While practicality is of less concern, the six top-rated models also provide some passenger- or cargo-carrying practicality, which makes them appealing to a wider range of drivers.
Of the 14 sporty cars listed here, 7 have all the requisites to be recommended. Among them is the Ford Focus (1), which showed improved reliability in our latest subscriber survey. We don't have sufficient reliability data to recommend the RX-8 (3), Lancer Evolution (6), Chrysler Crossfire (12), or Hyundai Tiburon (13). Below-average reliability prevents us from recommending the Mini Cooper (7) or Volkswagen New Beetle (8). The Mitsubishi Eclipse (14) has had average reliability but falls short in both performance and practicality.
The Ratings (right) rank vehicles based on how they performed in our tests. Recommended models (if) not only performed well in our tests, but also have shown average or better reliability and performed at least adequately if crash-tested. Quick Picks (below) are recommended models that deserve special consideration.
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STi review OCR
The Subaru WRX STi combines race-car-like acceleration and handling with the practicality of a four-door, five-passenger sedan. For about $31,000, the STi is also a performance-car value. Its 300-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder engine accelerates like a high-performance V8, making it almost as quick as a $50,000 Chevrolet Corvette while delivering reasonable fuel economy (20 mpg), albeit on premium fuel. The STi's nimble handling is reminiscent of a $50,000 Porsche Boxster.
The trade-off is a stiff ride that is jittery but tolerable. There is also constant noise from the engine, drivetrain, and, particularly the tires.
For $6,500 less, you can buy the 227-hp Impreza WRX sedan or wagon. It isn't as quick as the STi version, but it's quieter and has a more comfortable ride. Reliability of the WRX has been average.
THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The STi effectively absorbs road impacts and bumps but feels jittery. Highway ride is firm, and the cabin is not well-isolated.
The STi feels at home on twisty roads, cornering with very little body lean. Steering is well-weighted and communicative but not very quick. Emergency handling was predictable and controllable. After some initial understeer, the STi demonstrated excellent balance in corners and in our avoidance maneuver.
The 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, coupled with a six-speed manual transmission, achieved the quickest acceleration of the group. The amount of lock in the all-wheel-drive system's center differential is adjustable, but we found that it didn't make much difference. Braking performance was excellent.
INSIDE THE CABIN
The interior is put together well with quality materials and outfitted with a racing-style Momo steering wheel and sport seats. The driver's view is unobstructed except for a large hood scoop and rear spoiler. Head room and leg room are good.
The comfortable cloth front seats are bolstered to firmly hold drivers in place around tight corners. The rear seats have just enough room for two adults. Access to the front seats is relatively easy, though rear access is more difficult.
Controls are readable and well-placed. The illuminated gauges are clear, but the optional turbo-boost gauge blocks the temperature display Controls let the driver adjust the height of HID headlights.
Cabin storage space is limited. There are two sturdy, narrow cup holders in the center console and a flimsy one in the dash. The rear seat doesn't fold.
The Subaru WRX STi combines race-car-like acceleration and handling with the practicality of a four-door, five-passenger sedan. For about $31,000, the STi is also a performance-car value. Its 300-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder engine accelerates like a high-performance V8, making it almost as quick as a $50,000 Chevrolet Corvette while delivering reasonable fuel economy (20 mpg), albeit on premium fuel. The STi's nimble handling is reminiscent of a $50,000 Porsche Boxster.
The trade-off is a stiff ride that is jittery but tolerable. There is also constant noise from the engine, drivetrain, and, particularly the tires.
For $6,500 less, you can buy the 227-hp Impreza WRX sedan or wagon. It isn't as quick as the STi version, but it's quieter and has a more comfortable ride. Reliability of the WRX has been average.
THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The STi effectively absorbs road impacts and bumps but feels jittery. Highway ride is firm, and the cabin is not well-isolated.
The STi feels at home on twisty roads, cornering with very little body lean. Steering is well-weighted and communicative but not very quick. Emergency handling was predictable and controllable. After some initial understeer, the STi demonstrated excellent balance in corners and in our avoidance maneuver.
The 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, coupled with a six-speed manual transmission, achieved the quickest acceleration of the group. The amount of lock in the all-wheel-drive system's center differential is adjustable, but we found that it didn't make much difference. Braking performance was excellent.
INSIDE THE CABIN
The interior is put together well with quality materials and outfitted with a racing-style Momo steering wheel and sport seats. The driver's view is unobstructed except for a large hood scoop and rear spoiler. Head room and leg room are good.
The comfortable cloth front seats are bolstered to firmly hold drivers in place around tight corners. The rear seats have just enough room for two adults. Access to the front seats is relatively easy, though rear access is more difficult.
Controls are readable and well-placed. The illuminated gauges are clear, but the optional turbo-boost gauge blocks the temperature display Controls let the driver adjust the height of HID headlights.
Cabin storage space is limited. There are two sturdy, narrow cup holders in the center console and a flimsy one in the dash. The rear seat doesn't fold.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 688
From: My Happy Place
How can they rate a Ford fucus (pronounced fa-kus) above the STi? You can't even compare the two. It's like comparing an apple to a Rambutan! Well atleast they liked it and rated it above the EVO and the like.
:banana:
:banana:
Last edited by ScoobySTi07; Nov 12, 2003 at 04:27 PM.
