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Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.

The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Levorg is a more conventional estate.

At other extremes, there’s also the BRZ, an entertaining coupé that is let down by its price and resale values, and of course the Impreza, which comes in a variety of forms, including a hot model.

SUBARU

IMPREZA

The range-topper steals the limelight, but rest are grippy, fun and practical

Used Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon 1993 - 2003

Insurance starts at group 10 for the basic non-turbocharged 1.6-litre car, but buy almost any of the others, and you'll be looking at pricy premiums. Imprezas are rated right up to group 20, depending on which model you're considering.

In common with most other performance machines, the Impreza needs plenty of TLC, and this isn't cheap. Make sure the servicing schedule has been followed. There are plenty of enthusiast groups on the internet that offer a mine of great tips and information.

Fuel bills will be high, with fuel consumption figures usually somewhere in the 20-30mpg bracket, depending on which car you get. More mainstream models are less expensive, but with no diesel engines, you're never going to get more than 32mpg from any car.

One final hint - try not to crash. The repair bills for hot Imprezas are notoriously huge.

The range-topper steals the limelight, but rest are grippy, fun and practical

In 1998, the Impreza went through its biggest metamorphosis since its arrival on these shores five years earlier. The changes included a completely revised interior with a standard passenger airbag, new seats and a Momo steering wheel. However, the power still came from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

There were more tweaks introduced each year as Subaru evolved the car in response to its growing cult status, and a host of special-edition cars were also launched. In late 2000, a front-end makeover resulted in the infamous Ôbug-eyed' model, which drew much criticism for the company. At the same time, the Turbo name was dumped in favour of WRX.

A redesign 12 months later created another new nose, and more annual revisions have followed. If you're not interested in performance, the 2.0-litre R is the base model, but will still hit 60mph in 8.5 seconds.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

Imprezas are very popular with trackday enthusiasts, although that's less true with the estate than it is with the saloon. However, it's still prudent to ask the seller whether the car has seen many race circuits in its time. Our advice is to find out the fact before you buy.

Ask about any damage or repairs. Take a good look at the service history, too - has any routine maintenance been missed or done late as cash-strapped owners try to cut corners. How has the car you're considering been used? Hard-driven examples need frequent changes of brake and suspension parts.

A recall launched by Subaru UK in late 2004 affected about 1500 cars, and was over concerns that a control valve cover might come loose, causing oil to leak, which could lead to the risk of fire. Check to see if your car was affected, and if any necessary work has been done.

Because the Impreza estate - or Wagon as it's better known - lacks the saloon bodyshell of the rally cars, it's viewed by many as the poor relation. However, if you want practicality with your incredible handling and eye-watering acceleration, it's the pick of the pair. The range-topping Turbo/WRX models (badging depends on what age of car you buy) are sensational, but the rest are all quick, fun to drive and stick to the Tarmac like glue.

Clearly all the development budget went to the engineers because the interior is very poor. There are acres of unappealing plastic, and switchgear from another era. If you can ignore that, though, the build quality is good, the layout logical and the driving position comfortable.

The hatchback-style rear door has a wide opening with plenty of space for pets or luggage. The downside is that room in the rear seats isn't great, and your head, shoulders and knees will feel cramped.

Used Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon 1993 - 2003 reliability

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Used Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon 1993 - 2003 review

Imprezas are very popular with trackday enthusiasts, although that's less true with the estate than it is with the saloon. However, it's still prudent to ask the seller whether the car has seen many race circuits in its time. Our advice is to find out the fact before you buy.,Ask about any damage or repairs. Take a good look at the service history, too - has any routine maintenance been missed or done late as cash-strapped owners try to cut corners. How has the car you're considering been used? Hard-driven examples need frequent changes of brake and suspension parts.,A recall launched by Subaru UK in late 2004 affected about 1500 cars, and was over concerns that a control valve cover might come loose, causing oil to leak, which could lead to the risk of fire. Check to see if your car was affected, and if any necessary work has been done.

What to look for when buying a Subaru Impreza 1993 - 2003, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Subaru Impreza Sports Wagon 1993 - 2003 reliability

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