It's not going to be easy battle for the A4.  The new BMW 3-series has recovered some of its sportiness and appeal, while the 2001 C-class oozes just that: class.  Meanwhile, there's the hot new compact Lexus IS200. (See Global Domination, March-April 2000).  In the styling wars, there's the to-lust-after Alfa Romeo 156 and soon-to-be-released compact Jaguar X-type.  Audi should stay on its toes, but we think the A4 has all the makings of another winner. 

Compared to the easy-on-the-eyes A4, the new Impreza is a love it or loathe it proposition.  One thing's for sure: it's not invisible anymore.  Those large fishy headlamps will stare at you from a mile away.  Side bulges like those on the Skyline GTR emphasize the car’s muscular potential.  The rear features large trapezoidal lamps and a more discreet spoiler. 

Not all Imprezas are supercar-caliber though; the base model is a 1.6 with a mere 94 bhp.  Next up is a 2.0 with 124 bhp: good for sub-10-second 0-100 km/h.  

The best Impreza is of course the Turbo, which can give a Porsche 911 a run for its money.  The 2.0 Turbo now pumps out 215 bhp, for a 0-100 km/h run of less than 6 seconds.  The engine has been retuned to provide better response down low, with a “softer” boost to the turbo.   This means that the rush is still there, but it’s not a Saturn V rocket anymore when it lights up; maybe more like a Titan IV.

The wagon is an integral part of the Impreza lineup, but as before, it doesn’t look as attractive as the sedan.  The large load space will be welcome, although in truth this wagon doesn’t look as usefully long as conventional wagons Astra and Corolla.

Unlike the old A4, the old Impreza badly needed improvements in its cabin quality.  The Impreza features better plastics now, with a cleaner layout and some silver trim to liven things up.  It’s still a catch-up situation when compared to the Focus and new Civic cabins, but the gap is considerably narrower.