I’ve had a mark 5 Golf Gti and currently run a non turbo 5dr 2.0 impreza. Staggering winter performance with winter tyres on (it will pull small trucks up snow inclines). Not very spacious although the rear seats fold virtually flat, and the worst plastics in the impreza are far better than the worst plastics in the Golf. Less rattle too. The scooby has been reliable, but even on the non-turbo model pads need changing every 20k tops.

If i was buying a turbo i’d go for the standard 5dr (despoilered)but with the PPP. May be wrong but if i recall, same HP as a standard STi, more torque for some reason, and weighs a lot loss.