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It's a breathtaking performance machine, but at £26,995 it's outclassed by the better-value WRX. I can't see why anyone would want to pay an extra £5095 for the STI when the standard WRX saloon at £20,900 is every bit as capable and just as much fun. If you need to spend more money, upgrade the WRX to a five-door estate model at £21,400 or add specification and go for SL trim versions of the 227bhp model for an extra £1000.

The WRX is so good it makes the STI impotent. Acceleration to 60mph on the lower-powered Impreza is only 0.2 seconds slower on the four-door and at 143mph the top speed differential is purely academic. The only reason to opt for the STI with its "breakfast table" boot spoiler is if you have money to burn and want to come as close as you can to a genuine Impreza World Rally Car.

The WRX shines as the Impreza of the moment. It's so close to the flagship it makes total performance sense - and there's the option of a useful five-door for those "family" moments when you have to trade driver enjoyment to take a load of garden trimmings to the local dump.

But there's another Impreza worth considering. It's not as sexy or inspired as the WRX bruisers, but the cooking 2.0R Sport is great value and turns in an impressive performance. Power is upped by a massive 35bhp to 158bhp which slashes the 0-60mph time to 8.5 seconds, raises the top speed by 11mph to 130mph and gives this £16,200 car incredible agility. It's a fun car in every way, light to drive, grippy and quick. It may not have the appeal of the WRX badge but it's no slouch and the 2006 updates make the saloon and five-door a family choice with real sporting appeal.

Impreza will continue to sell to devotees of the iconic rally-bred 4x4, but buyers are hungry for new shapes, new toys and features. The 2006 cars go on sale in the middle of October with good standard specifications, improved looks, legendary driver appeal and more power. And before long Subaru promises a "more civilised" version of the STI, badged as the Spec.D and with sober trim, a modest boot spoiler, luxuries like standard sat-nav and a less aggressive road presence.

Sadly, I don't think it's enough. What Impreza really needs is a total redesign for the second half of the decade.

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