Sport Compact Car Comparison

While it's still pretty frigid out there, it won't be long before those deliciously curvy mountain roads, after a winter of dormancy, will be aching once again for a hot set of squealing tires. So, what are you waiting for? Can't you hear the switchbacks calling? Stop dillydallying -- shift gears and go.

But wait... we're talking chicken before egg, here. First, we need some wheels, a car that gets the heart pounding and the adrenaline flowing, yet is frugal and practical to keep the stress down. Let's set the parameters: Given that the economy is in the dumps, this car must possess a pricetag that doesn't depress the recessionary bank account, let's say a base sticker of around $25,000, give or take a couple grand. Further, despite the fact that fuel prices are under $2 per gallon, it can't guzzle gas like a Hummer towing a Prius over the Rockies. Every penny saved at the pump makes a difference, and let's not forget about the green factor, too. Second, such discretionary or impractical vehicles as 2+2 coupes and roadsters are out. This rig has to fulfill the multiple duties of family car, plaything, and daily driver; thus, more than two doors and room for at least four are essential. Finally, this jack-of-all-trades pocket-rocket ought to be fun to drive, whether in a straight line, through curves, around town, or all the way to Grandma's house Life's too short, right?

Luckily, many of today's automakers are offering cars that meet the criteria, enabling us to put together a diverse arrangement of hatchbacks and sedans grown around the globe, including from England, Germany, Japan, and the USA. For this test, we gathered eight 2009 models: Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Dodge Caliber SRT4, Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3, Mini Clubman S, Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, Subaru Impreza WRX, Volkswagen GTI -- seven of which feature turbocharged four-bangers and two of which sport dual- clutch automatics or all-wheel drive.

A game of high-low reveals the spreads for base price ($22,675-$27,185), power (172-285 hp), and combined fuel economy (20-29 mpg) are wide. Yet, competition within this eight-car grouping proved as tight as shrink-wrap. In fact, several editors, some of whom have been comparing cars for decades, felt this was one of the tightest fields... ever.

Which is why we subjected each vehicle to our full array of instrumented testing, a comprehensive 25-mile road loop near Malibu, and a full day of hot-laps at the Streets of Willow racetrack.

Ready to go? Let's spring to action.