Subaru WRX STi review

What’s perhaps most surprising is that Subaru seems to have been operating in its own little isolation tank and doesn’t appear to have taken into account what the rest of the automotive industry is up to. What we have here is pretty much the same as what we used to have. It doesn’t even have any more power. 

What has improved markedly is the stiffness of the chassis and body. As a result it reacts almost instantly to whatever you ask it to do (except accelerate – there’s still far more turbo lag here than you’d find in a BMW M135i or VW Golf R). It feels more alert when you change direction and it’s better balanced and less nose-heavy, too. But Subaru hasn’t made any allowances for our soft-buttocked sensibilities. The ride is hard and we can’t think of many saloons that are more tiring or rowdier to drive. This is still a car that offers few compromises.