Skip advert
Advertisement

Subaru Impreza

Can the range-topping Impreza STI win over performance fans?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Subaru Impreza
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The latest STI shows the all-new Impreza in its best light. Its dramatic styling tweaks transform the standard car’s humdrum design, while the turbocharged engine and four-wheel-drive handling deliver impressive cross-country pace. The flagship is well equipped and, at £24,995, it’s £1,600 less than the car it replaces. But the STI faces stiff competition, while its running costs and look-at-me styling won’t appeal to everyone.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Subaru's Impreza WRX STI is here at last. And the crucial question is: can it succeed where less powerful versions have stumbled?

The flagship model gets off to a strong start because it really looks the part. Where lesser versions of the car appear drab and anonymous, the STI is transformed by wheelarches so flared they give a cartoon-like feel.

These modifications add 55mm to the width of the body, and provide the whole car with an incredibly powerful stance. This is emphasised by details such as the new mesh grille, gaping bonnet scoop and revised front bumper. Meanwhile, from behind, you can identify the range-topper by its over-sized roof spoiler, quad exhaust tailpipes and diffuser-style bumper.

Changes to the cabin are minor in comparison – which is disappointing, as both the design and materials are a letdown. Even the STI’s steering wheel looks cheap. Only the backlit instruments add any drama.

However, Alcantara-trimmed sports seats hold driver and front passenger firmly in position, and the gearlever shows there are six ratios to play with – one more than in the standard WRX variant. Gadgets include controls for the adjustable centre differential, along with Subaru’s SI-Drive system, which provides three throttle settings.

Distinctive

Turn the key, and the turbocharged flat-four engine is rather subdued – which isn’t what we had hoped for. While the 2.5-litre powerplant produces a healthy 296bhp, its distinctive soundtrack is barely audible at idle.

Still, the STI is at its best out on the road; keep the revs high, and it comes alive. Gearshifts have a precise, mech-anical feel, and the Brembo brakes are strong and progressive. They need to be: Subaru claims the newcomer can cover 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds.

Few drivers will be able to match that figure, but the Impreza is certainly swift. Traction is great as well, even
if the steering is still too light and doesn’t inspire confidence any more than it did in the STI’s predecessor.

The handling balance has shifted, and some of the razor-sharp responses have been traded for an improved ride. Few cars with this much performance are as comfortable, yet the STI is still fun to drive – and that alone will be enough to satisfy Subaru fans that it’s been worth the wait.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,568 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025