Subaru Levorg Review

Introduction

The new Subaru Levorg Sports Tourer went on sale on in the UK during September 2015, priced from £27,495.

It is billed as the replacement for the Subaru Legacy Tourer which ran from 2003-2008, albeit having a smaller footprint yet more interior space. The Levorg is aimed at the more sporting orientated driver and rides lower to improve handling, sharing a lot in common with Subaru’s WRX model. Although if you prefer Subaru still produces the Outback and Forester models which may appeal to the more country orientated owner.

There is only one model/one trim in the Levorg line-up, the ‘GT’ - powered by an all-new petrol 1.6-litre DIT Boxer engine paired with Lineartronic CVT coupled to AWD.

What we tested

We tested the Subaru Levorg 1.6 GT with Lineartronic transmission finished in Steel Blue metallic paint finish, which at the time of testing cost £27,495.

What is it Like to Drive

The Subaru Levorg is powered by a 1.6-litre DIT (Direct Injection Turbo) Boxer petrol engine mated to a Lineartronic (CVT) transmission.� There are not any other options and Subaru claims the 1.6-litre unit offers similar performance to their 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.

The 1,600cc horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder engine produces 170PS @ 4,800 RPM / 250Nm from 1,800 RPM, which will take it from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds and then on to a top speed of 130 mph.

Which by today's standards isn't particularly quick - but it is refined and offers smooth power delivery across the power range, but it can sometimes feel like it is strained under heavy acceleration. Via the CVT box you can select pseudo gears but it is not that great. The transmission has two drive modes, under the guide of SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) which allows the driver, via a switch on the steering wheel to choose between two modes according to their mood or the driving environment - Intelligent mode and Sport mode which holds on to the gear ratio a little longer.

If you drive with less heavy right foot then it is a perfectly pleasant system, although there is a lot of road noise.

Subaru quote that it is capable of 33.2 mpg urban, 44.8 mpg extra urban and a combined figure of 39.8 mpg (NEDC figures) - we were achieving around 27.3 mpg overall over a 350-mile mixed test programme, which is not so great. CO2 emissions are recorded at 164 g/km and it is Euro 6 compliant and has thoughtful stop/start technology.

The Levorg features Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with Vehicle Dynamics Control and Torque Vectoring as standard. It has a lot in common with the suspension set-up of the WRX STI which is not a bad thing, if only it had the power to match. The ride quality is good until it hits poor road surfaces, then you are going to feel everything but there is plenty of grip. We found a very muddy Devon lane to test the all-wheel traction and it coped very well. But don't expect any useful ground clearance it does not have any.

It does make light work of country roads, where it comes into its element, but it is just not quick enough to be fun, the electric-assisted power steering offers reasonable feedback and is well weighted.

In summary, it is thirsty, not that quick but handles well and if you are not too demanding it is nice to drive.