The Subaru Impreza has always been uniquely engineered, versatile in its abilities and sweet to drive. The all-wheel-drive Impreza just isn't like other compact sedans. And atop that, the Subaru Impreza is also available in turbocharged, massively entertaining form as the WRX and WRX STI.
The Subaru Impreza first appeared as a 1993 model but carried forward such Subaru traditions as the flat-4 engine, optional all-wheel drive and frameless side windows. The tradition it didn't continue was Subaru's notoriously funky styling. Instead the first Subaru Impreza two-door, four-door and wagon were almost anonymous-looking: the sort of cars that vaguely looked like a lot of other cars.
Unfortunately for us Americans, the Subaru Impreza also wasn't initially available as a WRX. While the first WRX entered production alongside the 1993 Impreza, its availability was restricted to Japan and Europe. And despite the growing legend of its prowess as a rally machine, Subaru saw no reason to send it to North America. We'd have to make do with normally aspirated, but somewhat sporty, versions of the Subaru Impreza like the 1998 2.5RS.
The WRX finally made it to the United States as a version of the new second-generation 2002 Subaru Impreza four-door sedan (the two-door body style was discontinued). The first American-market WRX's turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-4 was rated at 227 horsepower that powered all four wheels through a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. The WRX STi finally made it to America as a 2004 model with a 2.5-liter version of Subaru's turbocharged flat-4 rated at a lusty 300 hp. With the WRX and WRX STi entrenched in America, the Subaru Impreza suddenly had a performance cult all its own.
A third generation of the Subaru Impreza arrived for the 2008 model year with a five-door hatchback joining the four-door sedan body style and frames around the side windows. But that flat-4 engine is still aboard, all-wheel drive is now standard across the range and the basic body shape is still strictly ordinary. After all, when a car is as successful as the Subaru Impreza, there's always the risk of screwing it up.
