My Search:

Before I get to the actual review, I just want to give some context as to what kind of car I am looking for in terms of needs and preferences. This was you'll have a better basis for how my opinion may or may not fit with your own.

With my lease on my Saab 9-3 up in a few months, I am finally getting out to test drive the myriad of cars that are on my list as possible replacements. The car I purchase (or lease) will be my primary means of getting back and forth to work in L.A. traffic. I don't need to carry many other people in the car, so I just need it to be comfortable up front and enough space in back to hold one (or both) of my kid's car seats in a pinch. This will not be our main family car - that's what we bought our Honda Odyssey for, after all.

I'd like a car with decent performance; although I won't be racing it anytime soon and I do live in southern CA, so fuel economy is somewhat important. As far as handling goes, I'm not the kind of driver who is looking for a car that feels "toss-able" or allows me to induce oversteer. I think the best word to describe the handling characteristics I'm looking for would be "confidence". I want a car that feels like it can handle anything I can throw at it and still stay below its limits. And I'm getting old enough that I'm also willing to give up some handling capability for a little smoother ride.

As far as interior goes, I'd like an upscale interior with comfortable seats with good support. I'd also like some advanced technology available such as Bluetooth and MP3/iPod integration. A navigation system is not necessary, nor is a super upscale 15 speaker sound package. And, as I said before, I don't need a large amount or rear seat space or a voluminous trunk.

The cars that I've selected to test drive for my search can be divided into three groupings:
Compact sport sedans including the Acura TL, Audi A4 3.2, BMW 330i, Infiniti G35, Lexus IS350, Mercedes C350, and the Volvo S60 R. Mid-sized sport sedans such as the Audi A6 3.2, Infiniti M35, and Lexus GS300. And a few other odds and ends such as the Mazda RX-8 and the Subaru Legacy GT (both mostly due to stellar reviews on this site) as well as the Infiniti FX35 (which I think is one of the best looking vehicles on the road). As you can see, I plan on enjoying this go-round of car shopping.

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Trim Levels:

The RX-8 is Mazda's latest application of a rotary engine-based sports car. The base trim levels are pretty basic - you can either get an automatic transmission or a manual. There is also a "Shinka" edition for each, but as far as I can tell that only adds cosmetic changes to the car. The car I drove was a six-speed manual with the Grand Touring Package which includes leather seats, upgraded Bose stereo, moonroof, and a host of other options.

Exterior:

If there's one adjective that describes the exterior styling of the RX-8 to me it's 'distinctive'. Although some of the design elements have been replicated across several other Mazda models, the RX-8 has always looked like no other car on the road to me. I think the front of the car works well - I like the grill design and the way the front fenders flare up from the hood. But the rear styling doesn't work as well for me. I think that the design trade-offs necessary to have a usable back seat is partly responsible. I think the car would work better, looks-wise, with a longer, less 'bubble'-like shape to the rear window. All-in-all, I don't dislike the RX-8's styling, it's just never inspired much lust to own one.

Interior:

The RX-8 that I tested had the Grand Touring Package outfitted in a black and red leather interior. The aesthetic result is very 'sporty', but not necessarily one that I would choose. The seats are well bolstered, which is good considering the RX-8's handling capabilities. I found the seats comfortable enough, although I'd prefer a little more head room. Like most cars these days, the RX-8 packaging includes a moonroof. Personally, I'd sacrifice having a moonroof for another half inch or so of headroom, but that's not an option. The steering wheel is covered in the same black and red leather as the seats and has mounted controls for the stereo and cruise control.

The main instrument cluster is laid out in a unique fashion that works well with the RX-8's looks. There are three sections in the instrument cluster, the main part being a large tachometer in the center which wraps around a digital speedometer. Although I'd prefer an analog gauge for the speedometer, I think that, overall, the aesthetics work here. The same holds true of the radio and climate controls integrated in the center console which, despite their unique look, are easy and intuitive to use. I only wish the stereo had an auxiliary input for an MP3 player.

Opening the rear 'suicide' doors allows easy access to the rear seats, which are surprisingly roomy for a car of this size. However, they are two bucket seats in the back divided by a center storage console that runs between them. So, although they do well carrying average sized people, the rear seats are not necessarily well laid out for carrying luggage and other stuff. Add to that a small 8 cubic feet of trunk space and this is not a car for hauling such cargo.

Performance/Handling:

The RX-8's rotary engine is a 1.3 liters and generates 238 horsepower at 8500 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 5500 rpm - at least with the manual. (With the automatic transmission the horsepower decreases significantly.) As you can see, this is an engine that is meant to rev. I must admit to being a little wary of such a high-revving engine and, before driving the RX-8, didn't think I'd get anywhere near its peak power band. With most cars, a normal feeling cruise range is around 2000-3000 rpm with peak power around 4000-5000 rpm. So the peaks being at 5500 and 8500 for torque and horsepower, respectively, seemed awfully high to me. But when driving the RX-8 the engine feels different. At a comfortable feeling pace, I was surprised to see the tach reading more than 4000 rpm. In most engines that many rpm would have the car feeling like it was time to shift. But the RX-8 rides quite smoothly in that range, making the peak power much more accessible. So, although the initial off the line acceleration at low rpm is lacking, once you're moving the RX-8 has plenty of available power for moving the car along.

And, oh, how it moves. Frankly, I think the RX-8 is easily the best handling car I've ever driven. The steering is quick yet moderately weighted with just the right amount of feedback. The adjective that leaps to mind is "precise". Lean is very minimal yet the car's ride isn't harsh. The shifter and clutch make moving the RX-8 through its gears a joy as you wind the car down whatever road you're on. Add to that some excellent braking and you've got a great sports car package. I only wish that my daily commute offered roads that would allow the use of such a great handling car.

Fuel Economy:

Fuel economy has always been one of the Rotary engine's shortcomings, and, in building the new version in the RX-8, Mazda was not able to correct this. As a result, the RX-8 is rated at 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Not that great considering the RX-8 weighs just a tad over 3000 lbs.

The RX-8 also has another liquid that it consumes during normal driving as well - oil. Rotary engine's by design burn small amounts of oil during normal operation. Therefore, Mazda recommends checking and (if needed) topping off the oil with every other gas fill-up.

Reliability:

Although the RX-8 had problems with initial reliability, those issues were addressed in subsequent model years and the RX-8 has been rated about average.

Safety:

The RX-8 received four-star ratings in both front and side impacts test from the NHTSA. No results are available from the IIHS.

Summary:

Overall, the RX-8 lived up to everything I had heard about it. I only wish I drove on the kind of roads that would make such a great sports car worthwhile.