Category: Affordable Sports 
Price Range: No data available
Imposing wide-hipped looks, decent ride, searing on-boost pace.
Uninspiring engine, poor steering, cheap-feeling interior.
The STi flags behind better, more entertaining rivals.
The final-generation Impreza saloon went out with a bang with some special high-powered editions. This new hatchback doesn't offer quite that much power, but 296bhp is not to be sniffed at - and neither is the generous 300lb-ft torque peak.
Its acceleration is nothing short of blistering. The STi scorches to 62mph in just 5.2 seconds while topping out at 155mph. So far, so good.
Then why does it all that performance feel so flat on the road?
The chief reason is the 'boxer' four-cylinder is no-longer the character it once was - it hasn't been, in fact, since the new range of engines arrived back in 2006. Instead of a deep and rich burbling soundtrack you're subjected to a rough sounding din.
Our disappointment continues with the engine's lethargic nature. The car feels slow until the turbo awakes at 3,500rpm. From then on, all hell breaks loose and you begin to believe the STi is a really quick car. It feels like one of the old turbocharged all-or-nothing cars of the eighties. Where's the progress?
Grip levels are high, but the hardcore will be disappointed by the STi's willingness to understeer. Our car also suffered from poor off-centre steering feel that unnerved us at speed.
It does ride better than you would expect, but this means the agile feeling of the old car has been replaced by something that feels a little too grown up for its own good.
