A true wolf in sheep's clothing, the Subaru Impreza hides a lot of power and pickup underneath its compact sedans and wagons. Yes, wagons. Probably no other family wagon has as much pickup and high performance as those offered in the 2003 Subaru Impreza lineup. There are two sedans (RS and WRX) and three wagons (WRX, TS, Outback) to choose from. All have full-time AWD, ABS brakes, dual front airbags, power features, and CD player. The WRX sedan and wagon, introduced last year, feature 4-wheel disc brakes, a sport suspension, bigger brakes, limited slip differential, hood scoop, rear spoiler, sport seats, Momo leather wheel and shifter, and the turbocharged 2.0-liter, 227-hp boxer H4 engine. The RS sedan and wagons come with the 2.5-liter, 165-hp H4. A 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic are the transmission choices.

New this year, the WRX sedan gets the standard rear spoiler already offered on the wagon. All wagons, except the WRX, now have keyless entry. Wagons are the most versatile, with split-folding rear seats and a folding front passenger seat. The WRX wagon lets you masquerade as a responsible family guy, but then shock other sports cars as you zip past them on the highway. The Outback Sport is more rugged, with splash guards, foglights, a stiffer suspension, and available tie-downs in the cargo area. Not to be outdone, the RS sedan is a speedster in its own right since the lack of a turbo engine reduces overall body weight. It's also a lot cheaper than the WRX, with many of the same sporting features.

Like no other compact in its class, due to the turbo performance and the full-time AWD, the 2003 Impreza is a big hit with those looking for a little fun in their commuter car. The AWD grip is flawless and the turbo power and pickup impressive, say drivers. Handling is tight. The wagons have plenty of storage room and lots of standard features for an affordable price. The sports suspension can feel rough on city roads, and rear legroom is cramped. Other complaints point out peeling paint, turbo lag, inadequate tire grip, and problems with a shaky clutch. Some WRX owners feel the styling inside and out is too boring for the nature of the car, and they would like a 6-speed manual transmission.