11. Mazdaspeed 3
The perfect example of an overpowered, brutal front-wheel-drive car is the legendary Mazdaspeed 3. Mazda based it on the plain old economy Mazda 3. However, the Mazdaspeed 3 was something quite different. Debuting in 2007, this hot hatch got its power from a 2.3-liter four-cylinder. It delivered 263 HP, which was considered a crazy number of horsepower to send to the front wheels.
However, despite the severe torque steer, the Mazdaspeed 3 was a capable, rapid car. Soon, it attracted many customers to the dealerships. That reintroduced Mazda as one of the prime affordable performance brands on the U.S. market, at least in that period.