The driver’s seat is firm without being harsh and positioned perfectly to allow maximum visibility for the pilot, with a thick, meaty steering wheel to hold onto. The WRX earns high points for ergonomics.

But it’s the on-road performance that’s most endearing. The WRX accelerates from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds and handles like it is on rails. Given its prodigious performance capabilities, it’s no surprise that the WRX is also somewhat coarse when it comes to noise and ride.

The special-edition interior has contrasting orange highlights. (Photo: Subaru)

You hear and feel a lot of the road with the WRX, which is great when you’re hauling asphalt on a back road somewhere, but a little less so when you’re bumping and grinding in suburban rush-hour traffic.

And for around $30k, you don’t get heated leather seats, a nav system or a high-quality audio system.

Then again, the WRX is refreshingly honest about what it is: A fantastic choice for someone’s first new high-performance car, one that can be enjoyed without worry and afforded without going broke.

Is the fast-and-furious paint scheme too much? Not in my book. And for $500, the orange package is a tremendous bargain to a car that already scored high marks in value and performance.

So the Orange Crush delivers in a big way in the fun department.

Details

Vehicle type: Four passenger, four-door sedan, all-wheel drive.
Engine: 2.5-liter flat four, 265 horsepower, 244 pound-feet of torque.
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Wheelbase: 103.3 inches.
Overall length: 180.3 inches.
Curb Weight: 3,195 pounds.
EPA Mileage Rating: 19 city, 25 highway.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.