for 22, dont settle with a wrx/sti, they are decent cars, but really dont drive very well and having worked in a shop that services a lot of these cars, im extremely unimpressed with their reliability and build quality. sure you get to look like ken block and put DC/monster stickers on your window, and brag about your turbo/ "boxer rumble" but they really are extremely average cars.
if you want the turbo awd, "rally" car, go with an evo.
audi's are always a good bet, they have the best AWD system, can be very reliable IF you research and choose the right year/model, if you fuck up and buy the wrong year/model you will quickly regret it. you have plenty of options in size, wagons, sedans etc.. just depends on what you want. personally, even though they cost way less than your 22 grand limit, id get a c4 s6 avant in good condition and low miles, and put the rest of my money into fixing it up to brand new shape and getting a little more speed out of it.
BMW is also a great choice, the 335xi, even 330xi is a great car, compared to a subaru, it drives sooooo much better, handling and feel is definitely a step above a wrx.
its fwd but i love the vw jetta tdi wagons, really fucking cool cars, i dont know how they drive, but just looks and functionality wise, plus being a diesel, for some reason i really really like them.
you could also look at crossovers, the tiguan is pretty cool i guess, personally id check out the mini countryman.
id also look at mazda, they make some extremely legit cars, one of the only companies out there doing things i actually like with their cars, their new skyactive cars are very legit, the new mazda 6 is coming out sometime soon, in their skyactive diesel, not sure if it will be awd or fwd but either way its going to be one of the coolest japanese cars to come out in a long time.
you got a shit ton of options, id be a little more specific.
