Around 300 turbocharged ponies. Four doors. All-wheel drive. A legacy of rally racing that can only be described as legendary. The and are, at heart, remarkably similar cars.

But they go about their missions very differently. There’s a night and day difference in character between the two. The WRX STI is an old-school menace, a street-legal rally car with a big wing and hydraulic steering and a so-so interior that only the hardcore need apply for.

On the other hand the S3 is a high-tech luxury sedan, vastly more comfortable and livable but also more expensive. It’s also got a much more prestigious badge, if you care about that sort of thing.

So which one is better? This comparison battle aims to tell you which car you should spend your cash on. I suspect at least some people will cross shop these two cars, even if only in their imaginations.

Which would you go with?