Aggressive, powerful, Japanese, with great grip in the corners.

This may sound like a pre-bout introduction to a sumo wrestler, but it’s actually a description of Subaru’s flagship sports saloon.

And there’s no doubt that the WRX STI took a firm hold on my imagination the moment I put my foot on the accelerator, with its 2.5-litre turbocharged Boxer engine generating an evocative ‘burble’ exhaust note. In terms of its performance, this four-door saloon has the ability to step into the ring with any of its class rivals, going from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds and on to a potential top speed of 159mph.

When developing the WRX STI, bosses at Subaru threw down a challenge to the company’s engineers and asked them to produce a car that provided absolute power and driver control. After a week of being up close and personal with the car, I would say they certainly stepped up to the mark.

A symmetrical all-wheel drive system gives tremendous traction, while the car’s agility is enhanced by its low centre of gravity. The STI, which I can reassure you stands for Subaru Tecnica International, has little by way of concessions to road-going comfort.

A hard sports-style suspension means you feel every imperfection in the road. That somewhat harsh ride quality isn’t to everyone’s taste. Indeed, my partner made reference to a feeling of ‘sea sickness’ after an hour in the passenger seat, while my four-year-old son commented on the ‘bouncy’ ride. However, for those who know what these cars are all about, that raw feeling of being fully in touch with the road surface is a plus point, not a minus.

The car’s new hydraulic power steering provides excellent driver ‘feel’ as well as even quicker turn-in, said to be around 15 per cent quicker ratios than its predecessor.

At the heart of this stylish saloon’s appeal is its superb engine, which is an evolution of the previous 2.5-litre horizontally opposed layout which achieves a more immediate acceleration response. And the figures stack up pretty well, with the engine generating 300ps at 6,000rpm and 407Nm torque at 4,000rpm. On the down side, I became very familiar with the local petrol station during my stint with the WRX as I struggled to get close to the official combined fuel economy figures of 27.2mpg. Quite frankly though, you don’t buy a piece of metal like this if you get twitchy every time the fuel gauge takes a plunge.

The WRX STI benefits from a multiple driving mode system, which allows you to choose between three options to adjust engine and throttle response.

Intelligent mode monitors driving conditions to give you the best possible fuel efficiency and smoother power. Sport mode is the most versatile for all conditions while Sport Sharp gives the driver maximum response from the engine.

A real high-point of the driving experience is the revised, short-throw six-speed gearbox, which is slick to say the least.

In terms of looks, the WRX STI is as eye-catching as anything out there on the roads today. It may have a new exterior design and reworked chassis, but the design themes found on previous models - notably the bonnet scoop and the huge rear spoiler - are still part and parcel of the car’s image. At the rear, the prominent bumper hosts the four exhaust pipes. The 18-inch alloys add the finishing touch to the overall muscular proportions of the vehicle. Happily, the car’s current appearance has enough in common with its predecessors to evoke memories of the late, great and legendary rally driver Colin McRae bursting along forest special stages in the late 1990s.

Inside the cabin, the sporty theme continues, with a small-diameter D-shaped steering wheel, a dual dial instrument binnacle, and comfortable sports front seats.

In conclusion, this is one of the most satisfying performance cars on the road.

The Lowdown
Price: £28,995
Transmission: Manual, fourwheel drive
Engine: 2.5-litre / 300 ps petrol
Top speed: 159 mph
0-to-62 mph: 5.2 seconds
Fuel economy: 27.2 mpg combined
CO2 emissions: 242 g/km

Will's Ratings

PERFORMANCE: *****
ECONOMY: **
RIDE/HANDLING: ****
SPACE: ****
EQUIPMENT: ****
SECURITY: ****
VALUE: ****
OVERALL: *****