| First Drive | Stirling, Scotland | Subaru Impreza WRX STI |

The Subaru Impreza is the car that has turbo-fed a thousand dreams of manic performance to an offbeat musical exhaust score and now we have an all-new STI. Subaru strung out the previous generation saloon as far as it would stretch, but the new Impreza's hatchback styling has not won universal praise. No matter, the STI is back as the bad boy of the range and comes straining at the leash.

In the Metal

You will never be in any doubt when you see an STI. The large proboscis air scoop is classic fast Subaru, but you won't mistake the STI for the WRX that also shares the air intake, as the STI has pumped-out arches that give it a much more belligerent look. There's also a deeper, more purposeful front spoiler, side skirts and large rear wing that is thankfully mounted at the top of the rear hatch so it doesn't bisect the driver's rearward vision the way the old STI saloon's did. There are also a few discreet STI badges dotted around the bodywork, but they're the only discreet thing about this car.

Inside, sports seats clasp the driver and front passenger, and all of the seats are covered in leather and Alcantara. The driver's seat has height and tilt adjustment, while the steering wheel has controls on it for the stereo and cruise control.

What you get for your Money

Other than picking the colour and opting for larger 18-inch alloy wheels (instead of the standard 17s), the Impreza STI owner hasn't got a lot to do when ordering this Subaru. Aside from the 296bhp 2.5-litre engine and six-speed manual gearbox that powers all four wheels, Subaru has fitted the STI with SI-Drive, which gives the driver a choice between three separate engine programmes: Sport, Sport Sharp and Intelligent. As you'd expect Sport Sharp quickens up throttle response, while Intelligent is an automatic mode that adapts to the driving conditions and inputs. There's also a new centre differential that the driver can alter, though it's generally best left in its least invasive automatic setting. The driver can also set the ESP traction control to full on, partially engaged or fully disabled, but as it's not an intrusive system it's easiest just to leave it be unless you're on a track day. As well as all of the high tech gadgetry to make the STI go faster, Subaru has also kitted it out with cruise control, climate control, a CD stereo with MP3 player and six airbags.

Driving it

Ask any car fan in the world what a Subaru sounds like and they'll all make the same woppa-woppa noise that tells you a highly tuned flat-four engine is lurking under the bonnet. For the new STI, this light alloy 2.5-litre engine has 296bhp and 300lb.ft of torque, which is quite a punch for a relatively small hatch. There are some hot hatches with power not far off of the Impreza's, but they don't have four-wheel drive, as well as a whole load of rally pedigree to draw on. This shows the instant you take to the road in the STI through the precision of its controls and the firmness of the ride.

You need to be unerringly accurate with every input into the STI as it rewards deft actions with stunningly fast progress, while a lazily thrown gear shift is met with a lurch. This is a car that demands full attention from its driver.

Get it right and the rush of acceleration as the STI reels off 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds is hugely addictive. Given the legal conditions, the 155mph is reached with indecent haste too, but it's in the corners where the STI shows its true talents. On any surface, in any weather, the STI sticks to its line and starts sniffing out the next corner. The steering is light and you need to learn to trust the front end's initial bite into a bend, but once this is mastered, progress is blindingly rapid in the STI.

You will also have to learn to live with the firm ride quality. It may not be as harsh as the previous generation STI's, but it still gives your backside a kick over every lump and ripple in the road's surface.

Worth Noting

Any STI fans worrying that the new car would stray from the original formula can relax. The new STI may have a marginally softer ride than the previous car's, but this is still a hardcore performance machine. However, the STI also still manages to seat five people in comfort, has a decent boot and is easy to slip into normal sized car park spaces. That all of this is possible in a car that can hound most supercars into submission is deeply impressive, especially at the relatively affordable asking price. Okay, so you pay at the fuel pump and the 60-litre petrol tank is quickly drained of pricey super unleaded all too quickly, but look on the STI as a bargain way to hold your own among cars that cost four or five times as much and the Subaru looks like a give-away.

Summary

The STI is not the most practical fast Impreza - that accolade goes to the WRX model - but it is the hard-charging performance machine we were all holding our breath for. It's the DNA link between road and rally cars and it's sensationally fast on the UK's variable roads. It really is good enough to be considered alongside cars that cost substantially more and, crucially, it's cheaper and more powerful than its arch enemy, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.