Subaru Impreza WRX-S

Expert Rating:

Introduction

Not so long ago, budget performance was pretty much defined by two cars: the Subaru Impreza and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. That's an overly simplistic statement - of course, decent performance could be bought much cheaper - but it was the level of performance, and the brutal manner in which they delivered it, that set the Japanese pair apart. For about the price of an averagely powered junior executive saloon, you could buy something that would give a greyhound a run for its money on a twisty track.

But times are changing. European makers - whose products always had the upper hand for quality, refinement and practicality - are now churning out cars that are faster and handle better than ever, eating into the Jap hyper saloons' USPs. Subaru's answer was to turn the Impreza into a hatchback for this generation, controversially, and to up the quality while dampening the general air of mentalism. Sadly, the WRX version is now just too soft, and the bells-and-whistles (literally in the latter case) STI is pricier than the average hot hatch, at over £25k. So, this WRX-S is supposed to plug the gap between the two, offering blistering performance and more aggressive looks, while keeping the asking price and running costs in check.

What are its rivals?

Well, on price alone - it costs £22k - the WRX-S sits in the middle of hot hatch territory, so those looking to buy one are probably also considering the Golf GTI, Civic Type R and, possibly, Focus ST. However, two cars make a far more appropriate case as true rivals: the new Focus RS and the Renault Mégane R26-R. That's because the Impreza is notably quicker than the first batch of rivals, and more deliberately built as a performance car first, family hatch second, while the Golf et al are arguably the other way around.

Of course, the Focus RS is newer and £3k more expensive, and Renault no longer makes the R26-R, but both are the kind of raw edged, driver-focused machines that the Impreza purports to be. As it happens, the running costs of the Subaru probably entirely negate the Ford's sticker price disadvantage, but we'll get to that later. And sadly for Subaru, we'd take either the Ford or the Renault every day of the week, and three times on Sunday.

How does it drive?

It drives like it's been built for people with significantly more skill than the average driver. The key to the Impreza's talents lie in taking corners much faster than you feel you should be able to, and just trusting that the clever four-wheel drive system will prevent a mishap involving landing upside down in a hedge. The level of outright grip it has is quite amazing, but it's still quite easy to have either the front or the back end sliding around at quite low speeds if you're into that sort of thing.

The problem is that it suffers from more body roll that it should because it's quite softly sprung. No doubt Subaru will tell you this helps it tackle corners even quicker, but actually it just contributes to the vague steering feel, as well as exacerbating its biggest problem - motorway manners. A combination of the woolly suspension and a five-speed gearbox means the WRX-S is a whiney, bouncy thing that becomes plain annoying after a while at 70mph. Plus, the driver's seat is set too high and the steering wheel too low, so you don't feel as connected as you should.

But it's very quick. Pin the accelerator in any gear and a noise that starts as a muted bellow becomes an intense whine as you're pinned to the chair. However, it always feels controlled and progressive (unlike the slightly edgy, scrabbled delivery of some less powerful front-wheel drive hatchbacks), which takes away some of the drama, but it still feels about as frisky as a 5.9-second 0-62mph run suggests it should.

What's impressive?

Its idiosyncrasy will appeal to some, because despite Subaru's attempts to commercialise the Impreza - so to speak - by making it a conventional hatch, it's still unlike anything else thanks to its four-wheel drive setup and whiff of 'rally car for the road'. It also has a mechanical solidity and rawness that few hatchbacks - if any - can match, and that's difficult not to fall in love with when you're rocketing from point-to-point on a suitably empty, suitably twisty stretch of tarmac. And, for us, the WRX-S livery sweetens the deal no end, with its STI spoiler, front splitter, wide-bore Prodrive tailpipe and big black alloys; it might look a bit anodyne next to its forebears, but it's still far from anonymous.

What's not?

Everything else, basically. Not to put too fine a point on it, but this is one of the worst interiors you'll ever see, let alone in a car costing well north of £20k. The design is insipid, the plastic quality about the same as that found in a bowl of fake fruit and the tinny stereo looks like a Malaysian black market copy of a £20 aftermarket head unit. The driving position, as we've said, is fundamentally flawed, and the seats don't have any thigh support.

But the worst thing about the Impreza is inexcusable running costs. It's supposed to return 24.6mpg, but according to a readout on the dash, we never made it into the twenties - and you try driving reservedly in one of these: we dare you. It's also in insurance group 18 and VED band G - good for a £455 per year tax bill - and then you'll have the whole depreciation issue to deal with, as your new Scooby's value drops faster than the grains in an hourglass. If it was slightly faster and/or a lot more practical and/or didn't feel like it was fashioned from old coke cans and wheelie bins, the costs might be easier to swallow. As it is, however...

Should I buy one?

The WRX-S is a cracking car to drive (in the right environment) and it's definitely closer to the car the standard WRX always should have been, but as an overall buying prospect there's just too much going against it to consider spending the dosh. Well, we say spending, we mean 'haemorrhaging'. Buying a WRX-S will subject your wallet to heavy hit after heavy hit after heavy hit, as Tim Westwood would say. Sadly, it's just not worth it. Quick and fun, yes, but just not special enough. Where's the magic gone?

Mark Nichol