To the uninitiated, the two sets of initials ‘WRX’ and ‘STi’ are meaningless, but in the world of high performance motoring they spell Subaru. The Japanese firm’s mainstream small sedan and hatchback is the Impreza. Add WRX for a turbocharged sports version, while STi stands for a dedicated specialist vehicle, about as close to a roadgoing rally car as you can buy.
It is still not widely understood that Subaru did the opposite of most manufacturers in conceiving the original Impreza. The company began with the rally car and worked backwards to the standard vehicle. Indeed, that first Impreza in its WRX STi guise was intended to win the World Rally Championship for Subaru.
The third generation looks very different from its predecessors and rather more mainstream. Its styling is reminiscent of the BMW 1 Series, albeit rather less extroverted. But the package beneath the new wrapping is essentially unchanged. The engine is a 2.5-litre turbocharged, intercooled ‘boxer’ four-cylinder engine. This is the same configuration favoured by Porsche, where the pistons punch out horizontally (hence the term ‘boxer’) from the centre and the engine sits lower in the car. It is also known as a ‘flat’ engine. The gearbox is a six-speed manual and is a joy to use. Drive is to all four wheels and there are three differentials.
Performance is blistering and of a similar level to cars from Holden Special Vehicles. The STi can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Its six ratios are perfectly spaced. You feel it could use an even taller sixth gear but then you remember the object of this car is maximum performance not fuel economy.
These cars have never been about luxury or comfort and even the $60K STi lacks leather upholstery. But you can spend an extra $5K for the STI Spec R and get leather and alcantara, as well as a set of even more stylish 18-inch BBS wheels.
Handling is race car sharp. There is a slight vagueness to the steering not found in the previous generations but this does not detract from the STi’s ability to straighten the road. Ride is predictably hard but not harsh. The brakes are phenomenally effective. Think of the STi as a dramatically cutprice Porsche 911 repackaged as a hatchback and you won’t be far off the mark.
Subaru has gone to more trouble with this latest shape to differentiate the STi from the WRX. It gets unique bulging rear guards, as well as 18-inch wheels. From quite a distance the STi reveals its strong character.
Likes
Those flared rear guards tell the story and look great, go for the Spec R as the best value
Dislikes
Slight steering vagueness out of character, interior not up to price (except Spec R)
