NEW SUBARU WRX SPEC B

Here’s a car that flatters an average driver, consistently rewards a good one, and will put a smile on the face of a rally ace. Few affordable performance cars feel this robust and are as easy to drive in any conditions.

You can immediately get comfortable in the figure-hugging Recaros with 8-way electric adjustment. The driving position is spot-on with well-spaced pedals, controls within easy reach and outstanding all-round visibility. The intake in the bonnet is ever-present while a huge wing neatly frames your rear vision. The wing looks as though it was designed for aero benefits and visual impact, the final shape tweaked so as not to obstruct rearward vision.

WRX 2.4T tS Spec B, to give the car its full name, is a mouthful for what is otherwise a breath of fresh air for road testers now used to a diet of EVs and self-shifting SUVs. The purposeful saloon design arguably looks best in blue, reflecting Subaru’s rally-bred heritage. ‘Spec B’ is a reference to brake system supplier Brembo, which brings one of the key performance-focused additions for this attractively-priced special. A six-speed manual gearbox is another. Both will prove drawcards for driving enthusiasts and the gearbox is a pleasing point of interaction.

Drive Mode Select adds another dimension. It introduces five driving modes and includes electronically adjustable dampers that enable drivers to customise the driving dynamics while, in Subaru tradition, symmetrical all-wheel drive ensures optimal traction and stability. Acceleration is strong, smooth and characterful and with the suspension in its sportiest setting, the Spec B corners nice and flat. The gearshift has a positive mechanical feel and the brake pedal responds brilliantly to all inputs. Steering feel and weighting is slightly disappointing after coming out of a couple of rear-driven cars with greater purity at the helm. And yes, we checked tyre pressures were correctly set.

Inside, a new 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster introduces a fully digital driver display with three selectable display modes – Normal, EyeSight and Navigation – for what Subaru describes as a ‘more immersive and intuitive cockpit experience’. Elsewhere you get a Harman/Kardon sound system and even a CD player tucked into the central storage compartment. Fittingly old-school. The Brembo system features gold-painted 6-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers. Both front and rear discs are ventilated and drilled. Attractive 19-inch alloy wheels have a matte-grey finish with specially selected Bridgestone Potenza S007 tyres.

And Subaru’s admirable commitment to vehicle safety continues with the introduction of Emergency Driving Stop System. An addition to Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist tech, EDSS continuously monitors driver input, delivering escalated alerts, and, if required, safely bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop, activating hazard lights in the process. We got on okay with a couple of alarms seeming more distracting than helpful.

At $70k, the Spec B appears a compelling proposition for keen drivers requiring four doors. Not many cars exceed expectations upon first acquaintance and continue to gain your affections in the course of a week.