Turbocharged Subaru Imprezas are the stuff of motoring legend. They've proved themselves in countless rallies, track days and street drags and it's been whispered that in a mountain pass a well-driven WRX or STi can stay with many an exotic wearing a horse or a bull on its nose.
Their calling card has always been (relatively) affordable high performance and, although the uninitiated often don't "get" Subarus, the catchphrase "drive one and you'll understand" has seldom been more apt. There's a special feeling about hustling a force-fed Impreza along a twisty road while in its oh-so-sweet powerband.
It's the lusty acceleration accompanied by a hissing turbo and all-wheel drive handling that hugs curves like a swimsuit hugs Gisele Bundchen ( Google her and you'll understand).
The recently-launched Impreza 2.0 RS is Subaru's way of trying to entice new recruits into the "drive one and you'll understand" fold, a feat that the dreadfully-underpowered (and now thankfully discontinued) Impreza 1.5 failed to achieve.
The R269 000 price tag is the enticing part as it's much cheaper than the 2.5 turbo WRX at R359 000 or the range-topping STI, which goes for R474 000.
The marketing spin is that the RS is the WRX's baby brother. "It's the ideal stepping stone for those who aspire to the turbo model and want a car which emulates it in look and feel, if not outright performance"," croons Subaru's media release.
The RS badge indeed holds some sporty promise but in reality this is just a dressed-up version of the previous Impreza baseline, the 2.0R, courtesy of wider tyres (205/50's), and a sports body kit that's as loud as a vuvuzela: sills, boot wing, front bumper with a more pronounced spoiler and fog lights and a deeper rear bumper.
The engine's the same normally aspirated two-litre boxer wielding outputs of 110kW and 196Nm, however, which is significantly shy of the WRX's 195kW and the STi's spiced-up 221kW. And unfortunately I can't say that the output figures deceive to flatter.
The Impreza 2.0 RS feels neutered without a turbo, delivering meek commuting pace that, while not being aggravatingly slow or sluggish, resolutely fails to excite.
UNHURRIED PERFORMANCE
That would be OK if the body wasn't bedecked in race-me-if-you-dare spoilers which has every hot-hatch driver in town wanting to do just that. I generally tried to look the other way and ignore these challenges to the Impreza's manhood (and by extension mine) because I knew the battle wasn't mine for the winning.
This level of engine power calls for styling anonymity; sheep shouldn't be dressed as wolves lest they encounter a real wolf.
Mid-range torque is not the engine's strong point and it begs to be revved but, once up to speed, the car cruises easily enough. Industrious punishing of the accelerator pedal will get the car from rest to 100km/h in 11.5sec and through the quarter-mile in an uninspiring 18.
Pity about the unhurried performance as the chassis really does hit the sweet spot, feeling as taut and sharp as a WRX, and the steering's beautifully weighted. It's a car that connects with a driver in a way that a Corolla or Elantra just doesn't.
UNFULFILLED PROMISE
It's not just the feeling of being hugged by the WRX-style high-back bucket seat - although that helps - but there's a tangible feeling of being plugged-in and being part of the car rather than just operating the controls.
It's in the stubble-slicing feel of that steering, the bite of the clutch and the slightly notchy gearshift. Not to mention the charismatically gravelly sound of that boxer engine.
The car even starts up in a special way, with the speedo and rev-counter needles making a quick scouting mission across their dials (a la WRX) as you twist the ignition, while the engine rumbles awake with a whirr that holds (sadly unfulfilled) sporty promise.
The Impreza RS comes with three-year or 100 000km warranty and a three-year or 63 000km maintenance plan with roadside assist.
VERDICT
It hangs at half mast in terms of performance and could really do with another 20kW (or a move to the coast) but the Impreza RS at least manages to fly the Subaru flag high in terms of road-holding, driver appeal and general charisma.
Think of it as an Impreza Lite. - INL Motoring