A step up from the base model, The 270 gets more power, bigger brakes, an alarm, 19-inch alloys with Michelin tyres and sports bucket seats. Goodies include electric parking brake, keyless entry and push-button start, front and rear sensors, reverse camera, satnav and dual-zone climate control. But our “ultimate red” paint was $1700, the 3-year/100,000km warranty is only average and capped servicing is dear at $2270 for three years, $3965 for five.

Slightly cheaper but gets smaller 18-inch wheels, smaller centre screen but no parking sensors. Other than that, it matches the Peugeot with Alcantara bucket seats with leather accents, dual-zone climate control and satnav, adding premium Harman Kardon audio. Warranty is average at 3 years/unlimited km. Subaru doesn't charge extra for paint. Three years capped servicing costs slightly less at $2222 and includes six services to the Peugeot's three.

The GTi is more subtly styled than the Subaru. Only bigger wheels and brakes and dual exhausts hint at its sporty intent. The cabin styling is more overt, with a flat bottomed, small diameter leather trimmed wheel and heavily bolstered seats with embossed logos and red stitching. A sport button sharpens the throttle response, amps up the exhaust sound and displays digital readouts on performance parameters. Tacho needle goes the wrong way.

If the Peugeot is understated the Rex is in your face, with bonnet scoop, big rear wing and pumped out wheelarches. Strip away the bling and the intrinsic design isn't as sleek and stylish as the Peugeot. Inside it's the same story: boy racer versus Euro chic. The centre screen looks a little aftermarket compared with the 308.

The 308 is outgunned on paper, 200kW/330Nm against 221kW/407Nm, but at roughly 320kg less it has a better power-to-weight ratio. Throttle response isn't instant but in-gear acceleration is impressive. The exhaust note is a bit muted for a hot hatch. It claims 8.2L/100km and Subaru 10.4L — real word use bears out the difference.

Even with the extra weight, there's no substitute for cubic capacity, power and torque. The 2.5-litre outmuscles the Peugeot's 1.6-litre with 10 per cent more power and almost 25 per cent more torque. Add all-wheel traction off the mark and you can believe the claim that the Subaru is more than a second quicker in the 0-100km/h sprint (4.9sec to 6.0sec). It sounds meaner but lacks the "p-tish" sound the 308 makes on gear changes.

There are six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and automatic activation of hazard lights under emergency braking. It has massive front brakes, but lacks blind spot monitoring and automated emergency braking. The 308 diesel scored five stars and 35.82/37 in crash testing.

The WRX gets seven airbags (driver's knee bag) and a five-star crash rating, scoring 35.85/37 in ANCAP testing. It has tyre pressure monitoring and auto hazard lights but only the more expensive Premium is fitted with blind spot monitor, lane change assist and rear cross traffic alert.

A hoot, with sharp steering and plenty of grip from the Michelins, aided by electronics that shift the drive between wheels to improve grip. Be gentle with the throttle exiting corners or the wheel will tug in your hands, but it feels composed and capable through corners. The clutch feels light but the shift action is mushy and long-throw. The ride is firm but more comfortable than the Subaru.

You feel the extra mass through the corners but the tenacious all-wheel grip and torque vectoring make it feel more composed, if not as nimble, as the GTi through the corners. Handling bias can be adjusted on the run. The ride can be uncomfortably firm at low speeds, though. Feels as if the performance threshold is higher than the 308 and it delivers more thrills.