Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2008 review: snapshot

The debate about whether performance cars should be allowed on our roads has been keenly argued for years. Those who consider excessively powerful muscle cars a danger to many, are quickly educated by performance enthusiasts who retort that those same cars are completely safe unless placed in the wrong hands.

There is no doubt that the third generation Subaru WRX STi slots into the performance car category easily, but does it stand up to the rigours of every day driving? And is it safe enough for the every day driver with all that added grunt? Let’s have a closer look and find out.

Exterior

Explore the 2008 Subaru Impreza range

• Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2008 review: snapshot
• Subaru Impreza WRX STI R 2008 review
• Subaru Impreza 2008 review
• Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2008 review: first drive

The STi has slipped into the new Impreza shell beautifully - and then flexed. The result is an aggressive, bulging ball of muscle with flared guards and wheel arches, but with underlying style and elegance. Apparently, the only bits kept from the Impreza are the bonnet, the front doors and the roof. Add to those, big 18 inch alloy wheels, a rear roof spoiler, quad exhausts and a big bonnet scoop, and you have a hot looking brawny monster, ready for action.

Interior

Subaru have kept it pretty simple on the inside, but they’ve retained the new Impreza’s swirly sweeping lines across the dash, which is unfortunate because it really didn't look good in the first place. Three big dials are the only real features apart from the big-screen interface above them. The screen displays the GPS and allows you to peruse various performance statistics and radio stations. It is a little fiddly and forces you to take your eyes off the road for too long - a bit dangerous in a car like this.

Compared with the entry level Impreza, the finish in the STi is of higher quality and seems less plastic. The Recaro seats on this spec R model are extremely comfortable and supportive. They sit low and give you that proper race feel.

Safety

Safety as always is top priority for Subaru and once again with the WRX STi they have snagged the top five star ANCAP crashworthiness rating and the equally impressive four star pedestrian safety rating.

Engine and Transmission

Power and torque are up by 7.3 percent and 3.8 percent respectively, compared with the last STi. The 2.5 litre, four cylinder turbo engine gives you 221 kW at 6000 rpm and 407 Nm at 4000 revs.

With a top speed of 250 km and a mind blowing 5.2 seconds for the hundred, it really does push you back in the seat and doesn’t feel like it’s going to pull up….ever. The six speed manual transmission has been refined and feels tighter, allowing for smoother changes. At high revs, the turbo sound like a jet plane firing off an aircraft carrier.

On the road

The STi mark III introduces Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) which lets you choose between three settings depending on the performance you are looking for.

‘Intelligent’ provides a comfortable smooth ride, with slow power output.

‘Sport’ is the default mode and optimises performance according to your driving conditions.

You get a firm ride regardless of which of the above two modes you choose but you get used to it quickly, and it certainly won’t dislodge your fillings. The improved wishbone rear suspension lends weight to that statement.

Handling is superb given the shorter, wider stance. True, responsive steering and the new multi-mode Vehicle Dynamics Control with three automatic Limited Slip Differential (LSD) settings make driving the STi a very enjoyable and comfortable experience.

But it’s the ‘Sport #’ mode, the third of SI-Drive settings, that sets this car apart from the rest of the Impreza range. The press kit claims that it “boosts engine revolutions for sharp, sporty driving. Provides dynamic performance for true driving enthusiasts through highly responsive engine and throttle control”. A rather polite way of saying that it totally kicks a**e. ‘Sport #’ truly is an incredible hike in performance that quite literally rams your insides up into your throat and flashes everything outside - and your life – before your eyes.

And it’s this last piece of information that makes me uneasy about this car as an every day drive. I like Subarus. I like the engine, I like the reliability and generally I like the look of their cars. And I do like this new STi – a lot. But I don’t like that in the wrong hands, it is potentially a very dangerous bit of kit on our roads.

All in all though, an impressive benchmark has been set. Let’s see how the Mitsubishi Evo X measures up when it’s released in May.

Prices for the Subaru Impreza WRX STi start at $59,990.