It’s the car that reinvented Subaru. Helped by its rally exploits, the Impreza transformed the firm from a farmyard 4x4 manufacturer to a brand with an incredibly loyal following among performance car fans.
Employing Subaru’s trademark boxer engine and all-wheel drive, the WRX first appeared in 1992, and through its various incarnations has been available as a coupé, saloon and estate. However, the latest version is a real departure. Bosses are keen to see the standard Impreza rival mainstream models such as the Ford Focus and Honda Civic – so that means the new WRX is now a hatchback for the first time.
As a result, buyers need to get used to the idea of the Impreza being labelled a hot hatch. OK, so its four-wheel-drive system isn’t standard fare in the class, but with 227bhp it’s level pegging with most opponents.
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