Turn off the watchful stability control and long, easily balanced and graceful powerslides are yours to discover. It's a car that can turn nasty road conditions into a wintertime playground for owners.
Until the novelty of the turbo engine wears off, mileage can exceed 12 L / 100km of premium. On my watch, the overall test average was around 10.7 L / 100km.
A respectable interior, but where are the arm-rests?
Throw a ski-rack onto the roof, and you could transport a four-person party to the ski-hill in reasonable comfort. Taller drivers may feel crowded by the ceiling, and I found myself wishing the steering wheel would lift a touch higher. Even at the top of its travel, it can block some of the instruments unless drivers lean their seat back.
Controls are simple to find and operate, and the five-speed shifter works with a fairly light and easy action from the lever and clutch. A six-CD changer and integrated satellite radio keep plenty of driving tunes on standby.
The interior is mainly comfortable and adequately roomy, with respectable at-hand storage and rally-styled, heated sports seats that are great looking and comfortable. Biggest let-down inside? Subaru hasn't provided arm-rests for front seat passengers. If you've got a restless right elbow, you'll definitely wish for one.
No issues to note with visibility, and headlights are powerful and saturating.
The snowy highway
Severe winter weather during the test week prohibited full exploration of lateral handling limits, but it suffices to say that grip is abundant if not even track-happy. The ride keeps noise levels to a dull roar, and the suspension enables sporty, smooth sailing over most surfaces without the jarring, bouncy springiness the STI can exhibit. Brakes bite down hard too.
In all, it appears that the WRX 265's dynamic facilities are adequately set up for what's under the hood.
The elemental Japanese traction hero
With heated wipers and seats alongside a short wait for usable heat from the climate control on cold mornings, comfort in any weather proves a priority. The WRX 265 amounts to an even more potent version of one of the safest and most entertaining forms of winter conveyance on four wheels.
By participating in a bit of a horsepower battle with the competition, it's ultimately the shopper after a four-season pocket rocket that benefits. Who said peer pressure was a bad thing?
photo:Justin Pritchard
Until the novelty of the turbo engine wears off, mileage can exceed 12 L / 100km of premium. On my watch, the overall test average was around 10.7 L / 100km.
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| The interior is mainly comfortable and adequately roomy, with respectable at-hand storage. |
A respectable interior, but where are the arm-rests?
Throw a ski-rack onto the roof, and you could transport a four-person party to the ski-hill in reasonable comfort. Taller drivers may feel crowded by the ceiling, and I found myself wishing the steering wheel would lift a touch higher. Even at the top of its travel, it can block some of the instruments unless drivers lean their seat back.
Controls are simple to find and operate, and the five-speed shifter works with a fairly light and easy action from the lever and clutch. A six-CD changer and integrated satellite radio keep plenty of driving tunes on standby.
The interior is mainly comfortable and adequately roomy, with respectable at-hand storage and rally-styled, heated sports seats that are great looking and comfortable. Biggest let-down inside? Subaru hasn't provided arm-rests for front seat passengers. If you've got a restless right elbow, you'll definitely wish for one.
No issues to note with visibility, and headlights are powerful and saturating.
The snowy highway
Severe winter weather during the test week prohibited full exploration of lateral handling limits, but it suffices to say that grip is abundant if not even track-happy. The ride keeps noise levels to a dull roar, and the suspension enables sporty, smooth sailing over most surfaces without the jarring, bouncy springiness the STI can exhibit. Brakes bite down hard too.
In all, it appears that the WRX 265's dynamic facilities are adequately set up for what's under the hood.
The elemental Japanese traction hero
With heated wipers and seats alongside a short wait for usable heat from the climate control on cold mornings, comfort in any weather proves a priority. The WRX 265 amounts to an even more potent version of one of the safest and most entertaining forms of winter conveyance on four wheels.
By participating in a bit of a horsepower battle with the competition, it's ultimately the shopper after a four-season pocket rocket that benefits. Who said peer pressure was a bad thing?
photo:Justin Pritchard
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