Evo vs STI in new power struggle

Why the comparison?

If you need to ask then it's likely you've stumbled upon this article by accident. Mitsubishi and Subaru have been at loggerheads for supremacy in the bonkers four-wheel drive rally-derived performance car market for as long as most of us can remember. The Mitsubishi's Evolution X (that's Evo ten for those not up to speed on their roman numerals) underlines just how long Mitsubishi has been refining the concept. And Subaru has always had a competitor to rival it. Both cars have their roots firmly in rallying. Neither firm can currently claim to be setting the rally stages alight like when Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen wowed rallying enthusiasts in the late '90s, but the Evo and STI will always be inextricably linked to blasting through forests, deserts and snow-covered Finnish roads at insane speeds, regardless. The road cars have long benefited from all their respective company's efforts in rallying. The result being that the Evo and Impreza are regarded as some of the quickest point-to-point cars you can buy, with performance, grip and poise to humble even the most expensive supercars.

How are they similar?

Both share a lineage of ancestry that have won international rallies and countless championships, which is why they've long been so similar in purpose. Opt for either and you'll get four-wheel drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Those engines are almost identical in their power outputs, the Evo's in-line 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder unit offering 291bhp and the Subaru's 2.5-litre flat-four boxer turbo unit dishing out 296bhp. From rest, 62mph arrives about five seconds, the Evo managing the benchmark sprint in 4.7 secs and the STi 5.1 secs. Electronics play a big part in the driving experience of both cars, the numerous differentials and driver aids being adjustable to suit the demands of the driver and the conditions of the road.

That means with each you've got a list of acronyms that only the most committed enthusiast will bother to learn; all you need to know is that they're there to ensure that each car uses its performance arsenal as effectively as possible - almost regardless of the road and the weather conditions. Both offer their performance in surprisingly practical packages, the Evo being a four-door saloon, the Impreza a five-door hatchback. That means you've got a performance car that really can be used on a daily basis, even if in each you pay for their mighty ability with pretty punishing combined fuel consumption figures. They each return a quoted 27.4mpg on the official combined cycle. However, it's unlikely you'll ever see close to that in either, unless you take them on a particularly long motorway run - and avoid the temptation of giving the turbo a work out.

How do they differ?

Despite all their obvious similarities, the differences between Evo and STI have grown wider with the introduction of these two new cars. Subaru has been quite open in aiming its Impreza range at a different market, pushing its new hatchback up against mainstream rivals. Mitsubishi too offers 'lesser' versions of the Lancer, but unlike the Subaru, the Evo feels like a distinct model in its own right - despite the obvious visual similarities with the smaller engined versions. The Subaru in comparison feels like a cheap car that's been given a go-faster make-over. The materials inside, although a step forward over its predecessor, are still well below par. Even budget brands do better interiors these days. Mitsubishi used to be guilty of similarly woeful cabins, but the Evo X is a huge step forward. It's still not going to have VW or Audi worried, but it's a vast improvement regardless.

Styling and quality aside, where the duo really differs is on the road. It's remarkable that two cars sharing such seemingly similar goals are so different. Both offer wicked pace, the Subaru initially feeling the more muscular in the engine department. But any advantage the Impreza feels like it might have in terms of outright speed, the Evo utterly eclipses in ability. Both offer various settings to personalise the way their four-wheel drive systems react, and the Mitsubishi's feels the far more sophisticated of the pair. The Mitsubishi gives its driver so much more. There's feel though the Evo's wheel, turning it resulting in instant, apex-hunting precision, the Subaru's lifeless helm leaving you guessing at where turning it will take you. Where the Evo is firm and controlled the Subaru feels floaty and messy; the Evo giving you huge confidence on the entry to, through and exiting the corner. The Subaru cannot compete; you're never sure how it's going to react, and adjusting the numerous settings on the 'SI' Drive seems to make little difference to the predictability of its responses. The brakes are strong on each, and though the Evo we tested came with a SST paddle-shift transmission, previous experience of the standard five-speed manual FQ300 suggests a quicker, more accurate shift quality than the six-speeder in the Subaru.

So which one would we have?

We were surprised at just how wide the chasm between these two cars has become with the new models. While they both share near identical goals in providing enormous, surefooted performance in a relatively inexpensive and practical package, they're no longer difficult to separate on the road. The Evo is the far more accomplished and enjoyable driver's car delivering real feel and precision that the STI simply cannot match. Add the Evo's far more appealing interior and sharp exterior looks and it's the obvious winner. One thing the Subaru has got going in its favour here is its price, the Impreza WRX STi coming in at £24,995, the cheapest Evo X FQ300 being the GS at £27,499. Even so, the Evo feels worth every extra penny, and more. A convincing victory for Mitsubishi here, whatever way you look at it.

Kyle Fortune