Impreza – 1992-present

The Impreza eventually took over from the outgoing Leone and period road testers profiled the new all-wheel drive Subaru as a very capable smaller version of the Legacy. Engine options at launch were between a 1597 or 1820cc flat-four and the high-powered, turbocharged rally bred Impreza WRX ( World Rally Cross) version was praised for its high performance, excellent handling and practicality.

Originally introduced in 1992 in Japan, then shortly afterwards in Australia and Britain, the WRX featured a turbocharged flat-four 2.0 litre engine producing 155 kilowatts of power (208hp). Not all versions of the WRX were officially offered in the UK and specifications tended to change annually to allow homogenisation of a variety of engine, transmission and chassis components developed for rallying. The most powerful WRX was the 1997 introduced SI, which by the following year was reputed to be pushing out a mind-bending 280bhp.

Compared to the base Impreza, the WRX had wider lowprofile tyres, larger brakes (further improved in later versions with the addition of four-piston calipers and larger discs) and firmer, higher quality suspension components.

Offering the performance and handling of vehicles of far higher cost, the WRX is probably one of the most successful Subaru’s to have ever arrived on these shores, either officially or as a grey import, and a fifth generation of this blistering quick sports saloon is still in production.