The interior has a plain look and utilitarian feel, with little of the design flair that you can expect from a Honda Civic or, to a lesser extent, even a Vauxhall Astra or Ford Focus. The quality and design of the dash is better than the previous generation Impreza and it’s evident that Subaru has worked hard to blend shapes and colours, though it still feels at least a generation behind most other family hatches.

The driving position is comfortable with height and reach adjustment. Forward visibility is good with a clear view forward and large wing mirrors. The steering wheel-mounted audio controls are useful, but only available on RX and WRX specification.

This Impreza benefits from being wider than before and as a result, there’s more shoulder room in the back. Legroom’s not bad either and there’s plenty of headroom. There’s enough space in the back for two adults to sit comfortably, while there’s ample space for the front passenger. Although reasonably comfortable, the Impreza is short on the ‘magic moments’ that wow passengers and make life on board more enjoyable – like the Civic’s stylish and incredibly user-friendly interior.

The sports seats fitted to the WRX model aren’t branded like in some high performance hatchbacks. The sound of the engine, although pleasant, can be intrusive at times and at motorway speeds the roar from the tyres is loud.