FOR too long now driving a car has been deemed to be the lazy alternative. The Impreza perhaps provides the perfect riposte. Prepare for a workout that’s both physical and mental.

York Press:

On the road: THE Impreza WRX STI certainly has road presence, bags more than its hatchback sibling. Just look at that huge rear wing for starters. Rather than launch it into the air though, its job is to keep it grounded. Added to that substantial piece of bodywork is an equally impressive bonnet scoop that is a definite threat to low-flying birds. Under the hood is its signature 2.5 litre turbo-powered boxer engine, which emits a trademark thrum, recognisable to anyone with even the slightest amount of motoring knowledge.

Putting out close to 300bhp, good for 62mph to come up in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 159mph - it is not just a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Those guys who go out every day dressed like wannabe World Rally Champions will love that, however, anyone hoping that it might also be a car you can rein in for the daily commute should think on. My head was all over the place after the first two or three trips - making sure I wasn’t speeding, watching the fuel gauge drain like sand out of an hourglass, trying to fathom just what the heck the digital boost gauge was telling me. And all the time, unless the road is as smooth as the proverbial baby’s backside, being bounced around the cabin. Don’t get me wrong, if that’s what you want, and at times I certainly did, then there aren’t many cars that provide this many thrills.

On the inside: NO-ONE buys this car for its interior aesthetics and it’s a good job, for while it’s a long way short of being low rent, it’s clear that the majority of work has been spent on the things that make it move. There’s a lot of black plastic, albeit broken up by silver trim and red piping.

Being a driver’s car the main controls come easily to hand, but some others such as the switches for the digital remained inconspicuous to me for a couple of days.

What do you get: THERE’S only one level of trim available in the UK, but the list of standard equipment is pretty fulsome. Among other items, you get 18ins alloys, 17ins Brembo brakes. fog lamps, LED headlamps and taillights, rear privacy glass, leather and Alcantara sports seats, keyless entry and push button start, dual zone climate control, LCD driver display, aluminium pedals, cruise control and a wealth of safety features. There’s also a Thatcham alarm, six-speaker audio system and Bluetooth. Satellite navigation is an extra.

How practical is it: I’M going to include the gear change and seating in this section for once. On the track with sweeping bends and long straights, I am sure the six-speed shifter makes you feel like you’re Jason Plato, however, on urban roads where every five minutes you encounter another set of lights, it’s a pain in the rear. The long and short of it is it feels stiffer than an Oxford entry exam. Maybe it’s just that the 25 years sat behind a desk have softened me up, but you need a decent degree of wrist strength to work the stick around the gate and your left calf is likely to become larger than your right over time. The seating ,well that’s just the nature of the beast, but your backside isn’t going to thank you if you’ve got a long journey ahead of you. On the space front, you there’s room aplenty for those in the front and carrying passengers isn’t an issue. The boot is also a good size and well-shaped, offering 460 litres of load capacity, up 40 litres.

Running costs: THIS is a thirsty car and you’d be naïve to think otherwise. Subaru reckon you should get 27.2mpg. Our test wasn’t far off, returning 26mpg. Impreza owners will probably never enquire as to what the CO2 emissions are, but if you do want to know they come in at 242g/km which isn’t going to win it any admirers within the Green Party.

Verdict: A THRILL ride that remains a little rough around the edges.

Alternatives: Is there one?