With four doors and a 1.3-liter rotary engine, the Mazda RX-8 is hardly your typical sports car. It looks different, sounds different and most certainly drives different than any sports car of the last decade.

In some instances, such a level of uniqueness might relegate a vehicle to the "quirky" category and nothing more. In this case, however, the Mazda's distinctive character and impressive performance earned it the nod over a Z car that had it all but beat on paper.

So how did the jack-of-all-trades RX-8 manage to pull out a win over the all-powerful 350Z? Consider it a collaborative effort between its remarkable suspension, innovative engine and comfortable cabin. Hardly an unusual collection of traits, but the way in which they come together in the Mazda gives it a feel that the Nissan simply can't touch.

Introduced earlier this year, the RX-8 is a spiritual successor to the long line of RX-7s that preceded it. Unlike those classic coupes, however, the RX-8 adds a new twist in the form of reverse-opening rear doors that afford access to a pair of sizable rear seats. Their clever concealment allows the car to retain its coupelike profile while at the same time offering four-passenger capability.

It's a unique and practical arrangement, but we found it of dubious value. Sure, it makes getting into the rear seats considerably easier than in most coupes, and once you're in the seats, they're reasonably comfortable. But in the end, they're not comfortable enough for anybody to really want to sit back there for any length of time, so the car's ability to mimic a sedan is a stretch at best.

But put aside the idea that the RX-8 is anything but a pure sports car, and the results will rarely disappoint you. From the moment you slide into the driver seat, it's apparent that this car was made for driving. The seating position feels natural from the start and the shifter is right where you want it. Forward visibility is excellent and even the view out the back isn't all that bad. Like the Z, the RX-8 features a tachometer front and center with auxiliary gauges on each side. It's a simple, easy-to-read setup that's more upscale than you would expect for a car in this price range.

Getting it fired takes a few more spins of the starter than most cars, but once it's humming the diminutive rotary engine settles down to a barely audible idle. Stab the throttle and you're greeted by a high-pitched whine that instantly clues you in that there's something different about the lump under this car's hood. To some the RX's exhaust note sounds disappointingly feeble next to the roar of the Z's V6, but we grew to love the Mazda's distinct sound.

Generating 238 horsepower from a measly 1.3 liters, the RX-8's rotary engine is a marvel of efficiency and smoothness. Its small size and minimal weight allow a more advantageous placement within the car, giving it an almost midengined feel. Its power peaks at a lofty 8,500 rpm (redline is 9,000), but the real surge begins around five grand so you're not completely left out in the cold at midrange speeds. As you might expect, low-end power is notably absent, a trait that's magnified after a drive in the torque-rich 350Z that never exhibits a weak spot.

Track testing yielded a best 0-to-60-mph time of 6.6 seconds and a quarter-mile run of 15.1 seconds. Without much off-the-line torque, the RX isn't much of a stoplight king, but once underway it makes up ground quickly. Its quarter-mile speed of just over 92 mph puts the Mazda about five miles per hour behind the Nissan. The numbers don't lie, if you're looking to dust off local high schoolers, the RX-8 isn't the car to do it with.

But what it lacks in straight-line performance, it more than makes up for in the turns as the RX-8 is a supreme back-road corner carver. Quick steering, strong brakes and a predictable suspension have a way of making modestly talented drivers feel confident and the RX-8 delivers all three.

Unlike the Z that hammers its way through bends, the RX-8 glides through them in a manner that's far less intimidating. Its moderate body roll gives you a better sense of how hard the car is working compared to the ultrastiff 350Z, and when the grip does finally run out, it does so in a more progressive and controllable fashion. Midcorner bumps are soaked up without a hitch, and even the stability control system stays out of the way until absolutely necessary. And all this despite the fact that it has none of the teeth-rattling tendencies of the Nissan.

Aiding in the Mazda's tossability is its short-throw shifter that snicks from gear to gear with little effort and precise movements. Although the wide power band makes constant shifting unnecessary, the ability to call up a new ratio with the snap of a wrist is always a welcome feature. The ultrasmooth power delivery of the rotary engine is another bonus, as it's able to spin contentedly at well over 7,000 rpm without even the slightest hint of strain. There's an audible warning as you near the redline and we heard it more than a few times.

As adept as the RX-8 is at flinging its way through mountain switchbacks, it's equally capable of managing the everyday commute. The same suspension that sticks to every undulation in the pavement also manages to deliver a compliant ride that's more sedan than sports car. With the Z, you're constantly reminded of its performance potential by its buckboard ride, while the RX masks its abilities until you feel like exploiting them. It's a personality that's easy to live with as opposed to one that you learn to accept.

Mazda likes to say that the RX-8 has a dual personality because of its backseat and extra pair of doors, but we found its ability to pose as both track star and commuter car the Mazda's most appealing combination. Compromise is rarely the best recipe for true performance cars, but in the Mazda's case, it offers just enough of everything to make it hard not to like. Then consider its stylish and comfortable interior, usable rear seats and very reasonable price, and it's easy to see why it makes the 350Z look crude in comparison. The Z may be faster, but the RX-8 is the better sports car.