BY now you're probably heartily sick of the snow.

There seems to be no end of the white stuff falling from the skies at the moment and, more likely than not, your car has spent more time on your driveway than on the road.

Me? I'm loving the stuff. Why? Well, it's all because Scoobies doobie do.

They may have dropped the Impreza name - somewhat unceremoniously it must be said - but Subaru has retained everything that was good about the fabled super saloon with this 2011 model.

The relaunched hatchback took a great deal of time to grow on me, this bootied version, introduced, the company says due to significant market demand, took about ten minutes and a drive down a snow-laden road.

Normally, driving a car like this is all about power and performance - this past week it's been all about safety and security.

There may have been 300bhp under my right foot and 300lb/ft of torque to play with, but I never got close to hitting 0-60mph in a little over five seconds and as for troubling its top speed or trying the three variations of engine mode not a chance.

What I did put to the test, however, was its imperious all-wheel drive system, superb balance and terrific handling.

Whereas my neighbours were either relegated to Shanks' pony or watching daytime TV with their noses pressed up against their living room windows, I was like Scott of the Antarctic, if Scott had had Recaro seats and an ipod jack on his sled.

Off the drive and onto the road, the big fat tyres gripped the road harder than a fat man's hands on a naan bread. Power feeding to all four corners of the car, progression was as smooth as could be expected on surfaces more usually associated with the Winter Olympics.

When conditions deteriorated to hazardous levels, lights flashed on the dash and sirens sounded, but the Scooby held firm. While other cars resembled the rank outsider in the Grand National, clattering through hedges, going right when they meant to go left, the STI took a millisecond to find traction, corrected itself and then continued on unabashed.

Subaru has strengthened the bodyshell and reworked the cars suspension. The ride height has been lowered still further and its shod with wider tyres, increasing its visual appeal and providing for more accurate and direct car control.

Our test car came with the optional rear wing, but, funds allowing and this is a car that costs more than 30,000 remember, I imagine most people will want one adorning their backsides.

Despite its power, the 2.5 litre engine is fully Euro 5 emissions compliant, though whether its more fuel efficient is hard to tell as the gauge fluctuated wildly between low teens and mid-30s during the adverse conditions.

In another plus, the gearbox also appears to have been properly sorted. Normally, they are vague affairs, with the stick wobbling through the gate and never seeming to be happy in whichever location it is left in. However, the STIs six-speed box is far more assured and has a reassuringly chunky feel to it.

Admittedly, for a comprehensive appraisal this car needs to be tested in normal conditions, but as things are now and with Britain having ground to a halt under blanket of snow I cant think of anything that comes close - it's just a shame everyone doesn't have one.