Subaru Levorg first drive review

Full details: Subaru Levorg range

What is a Subaru Levorg? 

That's a question that kept popping up while driving the Japanese brand's first all-new model since the BRZ coupe arrived three years ago.

Subaru says it is the spiritual successor to the fourth-generation Liberty GT wagon. The spec sheet says it is a replacement for the WRX hatchback with a much bigger boot. And yet the driving experience suggests it is somewhere in between.

Available in Australia exclusively with the same mechanical layout as the pocket rocket sedan, Subaru says the Levorg is designed for active young families that want to consciously avoid an SUV as a regular family runabout, but need the practicality and space of a wagon.

In essence it nails that brief. Riding on a extended version of the WRX, the Levorg adds an oversized boot with a generous 522L of cargo capacity to the mix - the type of car it says has been missing from its lineup for years.

Available in two model grades, with a starting price of $42,990 (plus on-road costs) for the base-level GT and rising to $48,890 for the GT-S, which is offered with an optional Spec B pack for an extra $4000, the Levorg lands into a small niche of performance wagons that includes the Volkswagen Golf R Wagon, Holden Commodore SS Sportwagon and the Renault Megane GT220.

However, it also goes up against a growing league of compact SUVs with similar levels of performance, including Subaru's own Forester tS, Ford's 177kW Kuga and Volkswagen's GTI-powered Tiguan 155TSI as well as larger wagons like the Outback, Volkswagen's Passat and the Skoda Superb.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbo charged four cylinder that produced 197kW at 5600rpm and 350Nm of torque between 2400-5200rpm, the Levorg utilises its all-wheel drive traction to slingshot from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds. That's marginally slower than the WRX sedan, as the additional body work adds around 80kg to its kerb weight. Plus it is only offered with the company's Sport Lineartronic CVT automatic gearbox, which also means its claimed average fuel consumption of 8.7L/100km is off the pace of more modern European rivals.

Enthusiasts may baulk at the notion of a self-shifting rally rocket (even though Subaru claims that more than half of WRXs sold in Australia are fitted with the CVT rather than a manual), but the mechanical package suits the more conservative, practical nature of the Levorg.

Having driven it from Port Macquarie on NSW's mid north coast to Tamworth this week, via the demanding Oxley Highway, it is hard to pinpoint what the Levorg does best, and therefore the reason behind questioning its defining character.

Around town, it is reasonably comfortable and effortless to drive. Left to its own devices, the CVT transmission manages to mask the WRX engine's low-down turbo lag and use its powerband to generate a more linear delivery.

The steering is also well weighted (if on the heavy side of the ledger) and the suspension feels taut without ever being back breaking. It manages to absorb most bumps with a degree of compliance, but the short travel offered by its front struts and rear double wishbones (particularly with a bit more weight over the back) can send the car crashing onto its bump stops on harsh impacts.

Out on the open road the WRX character is more pronounced, particularly when its multi-engine mode function is switched to its sharpest Sport Sharp setting where the torque peak arrives lower and the throttle response is quicker. Switching the CVT to manual mode also introduces eight pre-set ratios (there's six in normal and the regular Sport mode) that are well spaced to tap into the performance from the engine.

It's not quite as engaging to drive through the twisties as the WRX even though Subaru claims it has exactly the same suspension settings. That's partly due to the additional mass and extra overhang in the rear having an effect on its handling while the CVT dulls the immediacy of its thrust between the bends. But it is still as surefooted as the Rex with positive turn-in from the steering and neutral handling thanks to its all-paw traction.

The open space of the boot, however, seemed to amplify the amount of road noise generated from the 18-inch Dunlop tyres while, at the same time, dampening the signature exhaust note from the boxer engine under acceleration.

In reality, the Levorg feels like a fitter, fatter family runabout rather than a pocket rocket with a bigger boot. And that is probably not such a bad thing, considering the more conservative owners it may appeal to.

For those, the rear cargo area is reasonably generous with enough space to handle weekly suburban duties as well as weekend sport activities or family road trip holidays. And back seat passengers are catered for with plenty of headroom but there are bigger wagons on offer for similar money in terms of legroom and small item storage and there's no air con vents either.

From the front seat, it's a fairly similar experience to the latest-generation WRX with plenty of adjustment in the comfortable, well-bolstered seats and the flat-bottomed steering wheel to suit most drivers and there's also good vision through the expansive glasshouse as well as clear and legible gauges in the instrument panel.

The dash layout doesn't win any awards for design flair or quality, but there is a logical layout to its functions, the larger 7.0-inch touchscreen in the GT-S model we drove is intuitive to navigate through its functionality and there's good storage solutions with a large binnacle in the base of the centre console with AUX, USB and 12V power outlets.

As it was at the beginning, it's hard to put the Levorg into context within Subaru's family friendly lineup. It's not quite the WRX wagon it could be, but certainly fills the void left by the Liberty GT as a more modern, more spacious and more dynamic spiritual successor.

If anything, the Levorg has a character all of its own.

Read all the latest Subaru news and reviews here

2016 Subaru Levorg GT-S

On-sale: Now

Price: $48,890 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 197kW at 5600rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 2400-5200rpm

Transmission: CVT automatic, AWD

Fuel Use: 8.7L/100km

• Share via Email
• Post on facebook wall
• Share on Google Plus
• Share on twitter