I suppose I'm getting to know the back roads that surround Mont-Tremblant quite well, and have tested out a variety of cars on the same stretch of undulating, curving tarmac as to get a reasonable idea of which models handle the situation better than others. Suffice it to say that the Impreza impresses. Its rock solid stance and agile suspension makes the most of the drivetrain's power, never leaving me dissatisfied even when pushing it harder than I probably should have. This is a highly

I should also mention that the four-door is quite roomy front and rear. (Photo: Subaru Canada)

rewarding car to drive. It doesn't provoke the silly grin plastered across the face that it's more powerful WRX STI model does, of course, but for enjoyable everyday driving the Impreza has few compact peers.

I should also mention that the four-door is quite roomy front and rear, with an accommodating trunk, while the wagon offers the same driving experience with arguably higher points for five-door styling, and 790 litres (27.9 cubic feet) available for the dog - 1,744 litres (61.6 cubic feet) if the second row seatbacks are folded flat.

In the end, there's a lot more to the new Impreza that will require your personal investigation at a local Subaru dealership, as there just isn't room in this column to go into all the details. Just take my word for it: this alternative Japanese brand has done a great deal more to this car than immediately meets the eye. It's a superb entry, especially at $23,495. And that price point, while hardly the least expensive model in the compact class will be easily accessible to most Canadians. And as mentioned previously, its long list of standard features makes the Impreza a good comparative buy.