One is all-wheel drive. One has a few more horsepower. One is turbocharged and the other is naturally aspirated. Both are a beautiful hue of red but only one can be the winner in this comprehensive contest that includes a drag race, some practical driving, and even some pretty tight turns.

The STI is of course, a sedan, It uses a smaller (2.5-liter I4) engine and a turbocharger to make its 305hp. It is both intercooled and port fuel injected. The Subaru is the all-wheel drive vehicle and it features a variety of drive modes with three on-board differentials. It uses a 6-speed manual transmission.

The Nissan 370Z Nismo opts to go with a larger engine (3.5-liter V6) to produce 350hp. It is a rear-wheel drive coupe with no back seats and a 7-speed automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual is also available).

The Subaru wins in a drag race by only a narrow margin, despite the more powerful car being the Nissan. For comfort and practicality, the Subaru wins again with four doors and a trunk.

Where the Z car takes the advantage is in cornering. The rear-wheel drive configuration allows the Z, with its lower center of gravity, to roll through the curves with ease.

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