2008 WRX vs. Mazda MPS3
August 15, 2007 by George Skentzos
It’s the match up we have all been waiting for, Subaru’s controversial new WRX hatch (S-GT in Japan) up against Mazda’s fiery MPS3.
Feel free to translate if you know what the presenter is saying, otherwise what is blatantly obvious is how far less composed the all-paw S-GT is through the course compared to the front wheel driven MPS.
A big shock for AWD fans. To be fair, we should point out the WRX coming to Australia is not exactly the same as the S-GT sold in Japan.
Print it: 
Shocking… i wonder if changing the springs would help. Too much body roll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6PGMi89qRo
another compare vid.
Wow what a disappointment for all WRX fans… The MPS is quite a car though as it’s proving in many tests.
LOL, Subi copy that the mazda 3’s styling and yet the car in itself cannot even match it. This shows just how dated the chassis is IMO. Well, they followed Mitsu Evo in the first place and that could never handle as well so it really isn’t as surprising. At least when Mitsubishi borrow a technology they better it ie. yaw control to super active yaw control SAWC3 ect. or the DSG to twin clutch SST and so on.
Subaru: 0
Mazda: 1
Steve
Its an embarrassment for Subaru, here is a front-wheel drive pig of a car (I hate the MPS 3) against an AWD rally king… and the results? Humiliation for Subaru.
That is just poor… The WRX is supposed to be a great car, that is just rubbish! Oh I know, maybe it’s rigged???
… one could only hope
Hey alborz, the 3 didn’t look like a pig in that video… any sharper and it would’ve cut the road open.
Maybe as someone suggested earlier, you just haven’t found the nack with the 3 yet coz it’s so different to your AWD.
Back on topic, this video is reminiscent of the infamous Moose Test for the Mercedes A class.
Thats possible foggy
I will endeavour to take the MPS 3 for another drive soon.
Foggy, you mean the infamous “rigged by a magazine with different sized rims and underinflated tyres so it rolls over in front of a video camera” Test on the A Class.
You can roll any car under those circumstances. But it was entertaining viewing at least.
This just reinforces what 3MPS owners and admirers already know. For people who continually bag it, i think it is a case of tall poppy syndrome; and understandably so. The WRX has been at the top of the mantle, as far as affordable bang goes, since the mid 90’s but all good things come to an end. This does not make the Rex a bad car, but just demonstates how good the Mazda is. I think Mazda ought to be commended for having the balls to stuff a red hot 190KW, 380NM Direct injection Engine into a hatch, with brakes, suspension, comfort, and safety features to suit, all for a punter friendly 40K!!!
p.s. For all you AWD loving people out there, if AWD does not result in higher Lateral G’s, cornering speeds, and stability though the slalom, it is nothing but extra ballast. And to think that AWD is the reason that Alborz rates the WRX over any FWD, surely puts paid to his argument. (tongue in cheek)
Nick, having driven the MPS3 I can tell you that Torque Steer under hard first gear acceleration, is severe! The VRX is not that bad under the same conditions with only 13kW less than the Mazda.
I agree though, the MPS3 does look sharp in that slalom vid.
Looks like the Toyota influence is creeping in at Subaru.
The thing handles like a Toyota.
The thing looks ugly.
The interior is bland.
I’ve had a soft spot for Mazda for many years – my mother still drives her 1985 626 Super Deluxe and it’s still a very good car to drive.
My daughter has a Bubble – the thing is built like the proverbial brick outhouse, tie rod ends are as thick as your middle finger.
It’s great to see the Ford influence is not being bestowed into the Mazda lineup, and that’s why the Mazdas just keep getting better.
However, having (rightfully) bagged the Subi’s handling, the story might be vastly different if the comparos were repeated on a surface other than high grip dry bitumen.
Well atleast the EVO X has nothing to worry about with the new wrx.
“Nick, having driven the MPS3 I can tell you that Torque Steer under hard first gear acceleration, is severe! The VRX is not that bad under the same conditions with only 13kW less than the Mazda.”
It called torque steer, not power steer.
Having had a two door sti and now driving a mps3 i can say there is little between torque from the two from 2nd to 5th gear
Look at the tacho and you’ll see the video is a rigged load of garbage. I would consider buying either of those cars but not based on that video.
I think something is suspect.
Eitherway I recently viewed a comprehensive review on youtube by a reputable organisation (forgot the name, will link in a later post to the video)… and under their testing the ONLY area the new WRX was worse then the old WRX in was the quarter mile. Acceleration was the same, g’s pulled around a loop was the same, slalem course speed actually increased and braking was better then the old rex. All this yet the car is now more user friendly with a far better ride, more interior room (they increased the wheel base) and a better interior. The ONLY issue here is the look of the vehicle, as its performs just as well even with its increased body roll. And I think as a review here stated and many others, it looks better in the metal. One feature I do like are the rear lights when lit, its a different kind of red colour, dare I say I think its ‘cool’. Also one of my mine criticisms is the front grill on the other imprezas and in the yank version they get the same grill, LUCKILY our grill looks alot better and it makes a huge difference, for the better.
One thing that everyone seemingly is not talking about is the fact that Subaru is not using the same suspension parts that they did on previous models. They are using weaker sway bars which is leading to more body roll. This can be fixed, plus if the Subaru had an equal amount of power as the MS3 it would destroy it, oh yeah, they have the STi which has more comparable power.
Having driven the new Subaru, I will say that I really like it. I had an 04 WRX, which I still think is the best looking one. The new one has more available torque early which really translates to the ground.
Another thing that really bothers me about all these comparisons is that they really don’t take into account the uses of the cars. The Subaru is a rally ready car, that is why the suspension is softer, it absorbs harsher terrain and the transmission is geared differently to this fact as well.
Now, the MS3 does handle better, it does get the WRX in 1/4 mile, but, you can’t drive is well on snow and ice. The WRX is a lot more fun there.
I think that they really did need to refine the WRX, so I can continue to buy them as I age and need less aggressive styling but blistering performance.
Yeah well Ive been doing my research on this and this comparo is misleading from the point of view that the new WRX lost to he MPS3… then the older one would have to! From what Ive read the new WRX is 0.1sec faster to 100, goes through the slalom course faster and pulls more g’s around a loop then the old one… all with a much more comfortable ride (Id say these stats are obtained due to new rear suspension). So no real shock to AWD fans. And the last comment saying to be fair it was the jap model, the jap model as far as I know has 20kw more then ours from a 2L engine with a twin scroll turbo… so the Aussie WRX would be beaten by more. However put it in perspective, recent tests by yank organisations (U.S has same WRX as us) showed the WRX was only 1second slower around a track than the MPS3… 2kmh slower through slalom etc. The differences really are neglible on the street when you consider for example that 2kmh difference through slalom is at nearly 100mph… your never going to test that!
I’m a ex my03 wrx myself and now drive a mps 3.
Look guys, I was wrx 4 life but honest to god the mps 3 is such a better car in every way. From performence to build, sure the wrx has awd, but we all no the 2.5L aussie spec wrx engine dies in the ass over 100km. Where the mps 3 just keeps going.
All this talk about torque steer is just crap. Sure it will if you rev it’s guts out then lift ur clutch up. But I dont think u’ll be dumping the clutch at 5500rpm at every set of lights.
The fact of the matter is, there are alot of jelous *hot hatch* owners out there that can’t handle the mps 3 is faster. So they pick shit out of it. * points finger at gti golf drivers*
Just take one for a test drive, When the pedal drops the bull shit stops……..
I drive a 2007 2litre impreza R (non turbo) and yesterday went shopping for a new car since the impreza R is dissapointing to be honest. I’ve test driven a 2005 STI, 08 WRX, Golf GTI and a Mazda 3 MPS (all in parramatta). Honestly? I loved the STI it certainly did feel like it had the edge over the rest but then again it had clocked 70,000km… So I was left with the GTI, WRX and MPS and in all fairness they are all great cars, similar performace and price but I chose the WRX. Regardless if how the new rexie looks, it’s still a rexie and that is why I chose it. No 4 cylinder produces a better engine noise than subies iconic flat 4 (music to my ears). I’ll loose 1 second on a 1/4mile or 0-100 anyday to listen to free music while I drive. Can’t wait till I pickup the car next week! :)
Guys,
I am a Subaru owner and I was a Mazda owner. Doesn’t matter MS3 is faster in the video. Subaru reliability is incomparable with the Mazda’s. While in 40000 km Subi requested gas and oil change Mazda was a pain all the time starting from 3000km. And how will you compare the two on other than dry pavement? I remember when the first WRX came years ago… Everyone had a bad comment for its design. Now everyone loves that model.
Hey Guys,
I’m loving both these cars, both have great performance. On the tarmac the mazda wins over the wrx, but the reason I ended up choosing the WRX over the MPS is because once you start to modify and unleash the true potential of these cars, the WRX I believe will dominate. The suspension and handling of the WRX aren’t what most people expected from the car, but throw in some stiffer suspension, some bush kits and upgrade the sway bars and gone is the body roll, gone is the soft rear end and onto some performance. Mazda did a great job, but setup the WRX with some handling mods and we’ll soon see who the king of the slalom is, 4WD vs FWD…seriously!
What happens when you decide to throw some more power into the equation as well? How are you going to get it to the ground? What about the WRX’s 2.5L engine capacity? Few mods to get the engine breathing better and the WRX I believe will eat the MPS for lunch.
So in conclusion, sure the MPS wins, but as for all round hot hatch potential, I went with the WRX.
Cheers
wrx’s glory days are overr
I test drove all the comparables to the 08 WRX because I have read all the reviews like this one that said the new WRX is soft. At the end of the day for everyday driving and the occasional spirited drive the WRX came out on top so that is what I now have in the garage.
I also believe that the WRX will come up trumps with a few relatively minor supsension tweaks.
As far as the looks are concerned they have grown on me, and I know a lot of people that hated the new look now after getting used to the shape think they look mean.
This road test proves ONE thing very clearly. In this situation, the Manual MPS3 out performs the AUTO WRX.I wonder how the results would change if the WRX had a manual transmission. I have heard/read the AUTO gearbox in Impreza’s are quite ordinary. Anyone car to comment to that?
Seriously guys you have to take the cars for what they are, straight out of the showroom with similar prices. I cahnged from Suby to MPS3 (because I can’t afford aa Audi RS$)& haven’t looked backSure if you change the WRX’s suspension & upgrade this & that it will beat the shit out of most cars but why not just buy an STI or EVO.
The MPS3 is restricted off the start but once wound up will eat up almost anything on the open road…bring on a rear wheel drive version.
I definitely will always stick with Subaru. I had an MY08, just put some 18×8 with 225’s on it and lowered it just 1.5inch all round. Handles great and has a “chuckability” to it, but now sits flat enough to smoke any MPS.. as for racing.. the MPS is a battler with FWD.. sort of like a camry but better?
RWD or AWD = only way I roll.
The new Subi body shape is the best looking car they’ve made since the original WRX. Finally a good looking WRX again. Shame Mazda beat them to it by a few years. I have the mazda, but next car will be a tougher decision.