The CX-5 might be Mazda’s best-seller, but the new Mazda3 is still a big deal, and for a good reason — despite a few foibles, it punches well above its weight with a classy interior, much improved driving manners, and perhaps above all, optional all-wheel drive. That’s a pretty big ace up its sleeve; the mere thought of four-wheel traction offered on something that isn’t a Subaru, should be enough to put Subaru on notice. See, for the longest time, Subaru has relied on AWD as a key — and, in some cases, its only advantage — over its competitors.

But these days, the competition is wising up; midsize sedans such as the all-wheel-drive Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima are giving the Legacy a run for its money. It makes sense that we’re seeing this in the segment below, albeit on a smaller scale. Currently, the Mazda3 is the only other compact offering AWD, but I suspect that might change as automakers — at least, the ones that still believe in “regular” cars — continue to entice buyers back into not-CUVs. Still, the question remains: Is the Subaru Impreza still relevant when the Mazda3, at least on the surface, is a far more compelling alternative?

#mazda3 #subaruimpreza #comparison

Read our full comparison right here: https://wp.me/p3LQCT-1Etu

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