SUMMING THINGS UP...
Impreza: Feels like a traditional Subaru, even if it doesn't look like one. Substantial, nicely assembled interior. Notchy, satisfying shifter-not as quirky as those found in previous Imprezas, but still decent. Understeery in the dry and wet, nicely tail-happy and self-sorting in the dirt; cursed with numb, kickback-prone steering. A better all-around car than the Lancer, and more satisfying to drive quickly. Reminds you of a charming old girlfriend who just recently had some ill-advised plastic surgery. Or one too many bottles of Nyquil.
Lancer: Feels and looks like the Evo's twin, but doesn't drive like it. Slightly tinny interior. Lackluster CVT. Nimble chassis, but nowhere near the long-travel back-road hammerer that the Impreza is. More understeer than the Subaru; ride quality is good at low speeds, but falls apart the faster you go; steering just as kickback-prone as the setup in the Impreza. Feature-loaded for the price. A dang decent car if you've never driven anything else. Desperately in need of more of the Evo's magic, but a good choice if you want to be different. Reminds you of that ex-chess-team chick you met at the club who just recently got a face tattoo. ...next page >>