Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza earned a cult following with its legendary performances in the World Rally Championship. The high performance WRX versions are still the most attractive models in the range, but there's more to the Impreza than that nowadays. Few cars in its class are offered with four-wheel drive, but all Imprezas have it as standard, making it popular in rural areas. More sedate 1.5- and 2.0-litre versions are also available and it has a great reliability record.
Advertisement
5 Doors
Price £32,995
Price £32,995
The latest in a long line of rally-bred production road cars the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a performance car icon. Instantly recognisable and with a distinct engine note the WRX STI is a fast four-door hatchback with four-wheel drive and a taste for twisty back roads. Situated at the top of the range the interior is practical and spacious but features cheap plastics which reduces comfort levels for passengers. Due to recent improvements the WRX STI is still a rewarding car to drive, especially in wet or damp conditions, but it's expensive to buy and run, especially when comapred to it's rivals from MINI, Ford and Volkswagen.
- pros:
- The famous Impreza saloon styling
- Strong engine
- Excellent wet weather handling
- cons:
- Tiring to drive on long journeys
- Asking price
- High running costs
There are no prices & specs for this edition
- pros:
- Strong reliability record
- Four-wheel drive makes for plenty of grip
- Good levels of standard equipment
- cons:
- Cheap cabin materials
- WRX models are expensive to run
- Resale values aren't great
Because all Imprezas have four-wheel drive they have plenty of grip and they're very sure-footed in slippery conditions. Entry-level versions are very cheap and there's even a relatively new 2.0-litre diesel version, though it commands a large premium over the 1.5- and 2.0-litre petrol versions. The interior isn't particularly exciting, but it is robust and well put together.
