For Edmunds' Inside Line article:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=121942

Sport compacts have it hard. Cars like the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX and the 2007 Mazdaspeed 3 - along with competitors like the Honda Civic Si, Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen GTI - are expected to do mutually contradictory things with something approaching perfection. They're supposed to be quick but economical; athletic but comfortable; sporty but practical. Oh yeah, and they can't cost a lot.

Go ahead and dream the impossible dream.