Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type UK

How fickle are we the followers of automotive fashion; how shallow and wan?

It wasn’t that long ago that we revelled in the splendour of a rally-bred saloon adapted loosely and down-tuned only a little for the road.

When it was first launched the Subaru Impreza turbo staggered the driving world with its unassuming looks but Porsche-eating performance.

I remember through rose-tinted spectacles ruining the day of a 911 driver by out-dragging him away from a roundabout.

Rally success then saw the Impreza gain cult status at the hands of World Championship winning drivers.

Road going versions inherited the paintjob, the spotlights, the gold wheels and the car became the favoured tool of the boy racer. It was a winning formula and the only debate was whether the Impreza was quicker and better handling than the equally cultish Evo.

Then things went awry. The replacement was launched with modest horsepower and strange hatchback looks and doubt began to spread over even the even the most loyal of disciples.

But if this was a playground I’d be starting a fight right now in defence of a much-maligned friend.

There has been far too much name calling and bullying around the launch of the new Impreza and it stops right here.

Let's get a grip, let's have a sense of proportion, let’s not be picky. I don't really care whether the Impreza is a hatchback or a saloon. I'm not bothered about its quirky nose or its parts-bin rear lights and I couldn’t give a fig about its ungainly proportions.

You want to know why? Underneath that awkward exterior remains a value for money supercar that is still great to drive.

The normal WRX was attacked for turning out ‘just’ 240PS. Now there’s a full fat version - the 300PS STI, which, as the decal suggests, goes like the clappers.

This gets slightly sportier looks courtesy of spoilers and airdams, big wheels and massive tailpipes.

More importantly the 2.5 litre boxer engine is tinkered with and breathed upon releasing another 60PS of power and a gobful of extra torque.

It also gets something called S Drive which, if you set it to ‘I’, allows you to pootle around town with great civility.

Fancy upping the stakes then flick the alloy knob to S and the push in the back is marked. Go whole hog and turn the dial to S# and the power boost is neck-snapping.

The revs fly to the rev limiter so quickly that it can catch you out as human responses fail to keep up with upward shifts of the six speed gearbox. This is warp factor at its best and it will rival many a supercar sub-five second sprint time but at a third of the cost. Still interested in how it looks? Me neither.

Phenomenal performance is matched by staggering handling and the all thinking, all dancing all wheel drive is as good as ever - in fact it's better.

Ride is now more forgiving than the outgoing model and is a lot softer and comfortable. But it is still controlled and reassuringly taut, while grip remains excellent as the 4WD system switches the power around to the wheel with the most grip.

If you want to play with the front and rear end bias - like racing drivers do in Formula One - then you can manually change the differential with another switch on the transmission tunnel. Now that is cool.

Inside the Impreza is a lot better than the old model too with hints of the stylish Tribeca and the fact it is a hatchback does make it more practical and appealing to the ladies.

So stop your twining, cease hurling the abuse, end your fickle ways; Impreza is as good as it ever was and the STI is a whole lot better.

Car Facts

Model: Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Engine: 2.5 litre, turbo-charged four cylinder boxer petrol

Drivetrain: Six speed manual

Power: 296.4bhp

Top speed: 155.3

0-60mph: 4.8 secs

Insurance group: 19A or 40A

Miles per gallon (combined): 27.4

CO2 (g/km): 243

Price: from £25,695.00