Subaru WRX v Mitsubishi Ralliart 2009 Comparison

Comparison: Subaru WRX vs Mitsubishi Ralliart

Batman and The Joker... The Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance... Collingwood and Carlton...

Like the above, and like Ford and Holden, Subaru and Mitsubishi are rivals that help to define each other. They have waged war in the showroom and the rally stage for decades with the Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution all-wheel drive, turbocharged pocket rockets.

Now comes the latest chapter in this epic clash with Mitsubishi finally recreating a rival for the basic WRX after a 12-year break. The Lancer Ralliart is the Evolution's little brother and the first sub-$45,000 offering from the brand to tackle the dominance of the WRX for more than a decade. The last time there was a Lancer capable of such a task was the GSR model that was dropped in 1996, just as the WRX began its rise to the top of the heap.

It's worth pointing out here and now that this is not a comparison of the performance merits of these two cars. If you want that our colleagues at Wheels and Motor will give you a result. Instead this is a test of everyday practicality. Which of these two is the most liveable and the one you'd be most content with parked in your driveway, knowing it's something you can drive to work everyday and then cut loose with on the weekends.

We'll start with what is, for us, the Subaru's weak point: styling. It is, of course, subjective but the WRX has a long and well-known history of controversial styling -- from bug-eyes to propeller grilles it has been a bumpy road for the Impreza.

Suffice to say, the new model is a dramatic improvement. But it still falls short of matching the Ralliart. Mitsubishi's basic Lancer is a good-looking car and the addition of an aggressively vented bonnet, front and rear spoilers and bigger wheels only helps it take first points in this fight.

The Subaru strikes back when you turn the key. The turbo 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine pumps out 195kW. By comparison the Ralliart's 2.0-litre straight-four only produces 177kW. Interestingly both produce an identical 343Nm of torque, but by 'seat-of-your-pants' measurements the Mitsubishi lacks the low-down punch of the WRX.

The WRX also wins the soundtrack battle. While the boxer produces an unmistakable growl, the Ralliart soundtrack disappoints. Under hard acceleration it sounds like it's starved for oxygen. It revs hard but it sounds cheap.

Where the Ralliart scores a big blow though is the transmission. Both cars use all-wheel drive but Mitsubishi has employed its big weapons from the Evo -- a double-clutch gearbox and the maker's trademark Active Centre Differential.

As we wrote in the Ralliart road test (more here), the TC-SST is a brilliant piece of kit. It blends the comfort and practicality of an automatic with the freedom and performance of a manual. In contrast, the Subaru's five-speed manual gearbox seems outdated and in desperate need of an extra cog to match the Ralliart.

In terms of ride comfort the two cars are evenly matched. Both are a compromise between performance and comfort, but walk the fine line well. It's one area where the two are too close to call.

The interior appointments of both cars are exposed for what they are at the core -- vehicles based on 'affordable' volume-selling models. Both cars have simple interior treatments that lack the panache of their more expensive siblings. The Subaru we tested was fitted with grey leather interior and it was nicer than the black cloth Mitsubishi offered up. But the layout and switchgear on the Lancer was superior to the Impreza's rather rudimentary fitments.

And so to our 'everyday' verdict.

Both cars have their strengths and weaknesses but they don't cross over. The Subaru engine is better, but the Mitsubishi gearbox is far superior. Both are powerful, responsive and provide great bang for the buck.

In a perfect world you'd be able to buy a composite of the two; a Ralliart powered by the WRX engine. But it isn't a perfect world and that being the case, the Ralliart gets our nod.

It may be harder than the Lancer VRX and softer than the Evolution, but the Ralliart has a real sense of purpose. Unlike the WRX that became a hatchback that went soft and is now trying to rediscover its mojo, the Ralliart is the product of a clear mission statement.

So Mitsubishi wins this battle. But there's nothing more certain that the war isn't over yet...