If the contest is for sport compact cars... it should be Mazda3 2 liter, the Civic 2.0, the Lynx RS, The Hyundai Coupe, and maybe the Chevy Optra 1.8 (it has better body control than the Sentra) and the Corolla 1.8 (which may surprise you... particularly good control and pace for its specs)... also toss in the Peugot 206.

The Lancer, Sentra, and Matrix just aren't sporty enough for me... but the Matrix, just maybe...