We say Back by the popular demand, the four-door Impreza hot hatch is rapid, basic and frightening by turn.Performance The four-door saloon comes with the same 2.5-litre Turbo Boxer engine that’s found on the hatchback. It’s worth 295bhp which is enough for it to clear 60mph in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 158mph.Emissions The clue’s in the title for the WRX STI, it’s a performance saloon and one which used to carry the Impreza name. That means emissions and fuel economy are poor on the Japanese model. It’s able to return 26.9mpg and emits 243g/km in CO2 emissions.Driving The WRX STI four-door is much improved in terms of handling and its performance around the corners actually befits its straight line speed and overtaking prowess. Its suspension and chassis has been tweaked which means it’s now much stiffer than ever. That translates into tighter cornering and much less bodyroll around bends. That stiffer setup means it’s also less comfortable – particularly on the UK’s bumpy, pock-marked roads.Feel As mentioned, the interior of the WRX STI is a bit of a letdown with lots of cheap plastics and scratchy surfaces. They also tend to rattle when you get the brilliant Boxer engine going. Fortunately the engine goes a long way in making up for the interior’s deficiencies. It’s smooth and brilliantly noisy.Space The four door saloon, unlike the hatchback, doesn’t have rear seats that can fold down flat. That means boot space is a constant 420-litres. Boot space is also compromised by large wheel arches. The WRX STI saloon is designed for four passengers as opposed to three in the rear. Keep it to four and all occupants will travel comfortably, push it to five and space in the rear is something of a premium, especially for six footers.Equipment The WRX STI comes well equipped with a more extensive range of features and technologies than the previous generation. It sits on 18-inch wheels as standard and there are two Recaro racing seats in the front. In terms of technology and convenience features there’s keyless entry and a push button ignition as well as cruise control and climate control as standard.Price With price of £32,995 the WRX STI four door saloon doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it’s around £5,000 more expensive than the previous generation. Running costs are also likely to be expensive.Quality While the Boxer engine under the bonnet of the WRX STI is brilliant, the interior of the car is a letdown. That’s in terms of the quality of materials, build and layout which all seem outdated compared to some of its competitors – too many cheap plastics.Safety There’s the usual mix of ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist systems as standard on the latest ‘Impreza’ saloon. There are ten airbags and four wheel drive, too.Pros Brilliant straight line speed, much improved handling and one of the best engines on the market in terms of hardcore performance.Cons Unfortunately the WRX STI is more expensive than ever, similarly expensive to run and comes with a drab, cheap looking interior that looks outdated.Alternatives Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, Vauxhall VXR8
