Picking the Mazda 3 Sport over the Fiesta ST?
The MazdaSpeed 3 right
So, here is what I think happened in that category...
Price is taken into consideration when the accounting is done. It instantly gives less expensive options in a particular class a bit of an edge. And, if I remember correctly, the Fiesta ST was the most expensive in that category.
Also, with respect to scoring, there was a huge conversation a few of us had regarding why the Jaguar F-Type didn't make it to the final three in its class. A few other oddities were discussed as well.
Basically, it comes down to this, and I hope Justin Pritchard can weigh in here at some point: a rough ride is a rough ride, cabin noise is cabin noise, etc. no matter what car you're scoring.
So, for example, the Fiesta ST has a sport suspension, making for a rougher ride. Also, value for money may not be there as much as the Mazda3 Sport. In my opinion, the interior in the Mazda3 Sport is better than the Fiesta ST as well. The Fiesta ST should have been in a sports class but it had no competitors and Ford decided they still wanted to enter it.
Another example, the F-Type, is a convertible and kind of loud inside the car, even with the top up and the exhaust note squelched a bit. It has some interior bits that rattle and other perceived quality issues (which are different than real quality issues, I think we can all agree). On the other side, the Corvette is much, much less expensive than the F-Type and is incredibly value for money in the class, which is why it's at the top.