Cliff notes, as always.
Honda Civic Si
Love the seats, hate the dashboard, love the engine, but only after 4,000 rpm. The shifter is trick, the clutch pedal a good balance between firm and communicative. It handles better than I thought it was, but the styling still makes me yawn with boredom. Surprisingly, quite good for child-seat installation, the door opening is nice and wide. Better can than I expected, still not a favourite.
Mini Cooper S
Now that we’ve put it up against some of the others, I realize this has been dulled down more than I first thought. It’s fun, and has quick turn in for a car of its size – but it’s now “a car of its size”. It’s still playful as a puppy and the engine was a solid little unit in this company. I love the Mini Cooper S, but not sure if it stacks up here. Also, I’m livid that the fantastic styling has been ruined by that sick-baby yellow they painted it in. Gross. Child seat installation is frustrating due to the short door and lack of seat-movement in the front.
FR-S
Hot damn this thing is fun to drive! It’s so flickable, so quick-to-turn, so much fun. The engine needs more grunt, I’ll say that til the day I die, and tires make me sad in my soul – more tire, more power, more please. The seating position is comfortable and supportive, and there is excellent seat-of-the-pants feel on account of the tail and ground both being so close to – well, the seat of your pants. Wonderful car to drive, horrible tinny interior. The gap in the dashboard reminds me of my first tooth fairy visit.
Re child seats: Who the hell though it was okay to leave out a retainer of some sort on the passenger seat? Slide it forward, and it slides back. Forget that, and it slides back and chops out your achillles tendon while you wrestle the child seat in. At least the LATCH anchors are easily accessible.
GTI
Everyone likes this thing so much and for good reason. The interior is simple, elegant and user-friendly, but there is still some nifty “cool factor” to be had. The seats are made of tartan and win. The shift lever rocks. Installing child seats is a breeze - thank you four doors, and flat seats!
Juke Nismo
Best seats of the entire test. I love these seats. I think in years to come people will buy Juke NISMO RSs from wreckers just for the seats. The steering wheel is the same, it’s the best, raciest, sexiest and most comfortable in the whole group. Those seats, and that wheel offer up so much promise.
Pity none of that promise is realized.
Despite four doors, child seat installation sucks, because the back doors are about 3 inches wide. .
MX-5
You know how Porsche gets away with having absolutely zero features and still costing a lot because they’re such wonderful cars? Mazda wants to do the same thing – and kind of achieves it. But with so much competition it won’t get away with this woefully under-equipped interior much longer. Of course, those are the thoughts you have in the parking lot. Once you’re on the road the only thoughts you have are, “OMG I love this car this car is so good OMG what a fun car OMG off ramp!”
Child seats? LOL.
WRX
This engine gives me happy feelings in my ear holes. Vroom! Whoosh! Vroom! Roar! Yay! Handles like a dream too.
Probably the most practical of all of them but for the Golf’s hatch back.
I’m writing this up, so no need for more notes.
