New famiy-sized estate from Subaru is a proper car in every sense of the word

By Gerry Murphy

There are those who are fans of the World Rally Championship (WRC) that still lament the absence of the Subaru brand from the entry lists of counting events. Rallying has moved on, and the brand no longer produces a car that fits the WRC criteria anymore. Of course, here in Ireland we are well-used of seeing the mighty Subaru Impreza WRC on the stages, and that legacy is still evident in all their road cars too.

The Levorg is Subaru’s latest new model. A family-sized estate for which they are renowned comes in only one version and is powered by a newly-developed 1.6-litre DIT (Direct Injection Turbo) Boxer 170bhp petrol engine.

It is a signature format for the Japanese manufacturer and is paired with Subaru’s Lineartronic (CVT) transmission with permanent All-Wheel Drive as standard. As a rule, I have issues with CVT gearboxes. With most of them the gear change is too laboured but, to be fair to Subaru, this is not the worst that I have encountered and the dead spots when changing gears are minimal under normal driving.

You also have the option of using gear paddles on the steering which come as standard on the Levorg. When you get in the grove using the paddles, you have a drivable car that would restore the thrill of driving, if you had ever lost it.

You get Subaru’s famous Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, Vehicle Dynamics Control and torque vectoring that gives unbelievable stability in all conditions. The system is the mechanical highlight and is so subtle that there is never a kick-back when it corrects itself. Even when you hit slippery conditions, it gives the feeling of complete control no matter how enthusiastically you are driving it.

Visually, the car is a long sleek estate that while a little old-fashioned, is rather attractive from most angles. The front is typically Subaru in its presentation. The side view is extended by the long design lines that make it look slim and aerodynamic; while the rear end is well proportioned and one of the better views of the car.

When Subaru launched the Levorg on the market, the brand engineers and designers promised that the car would offer one of the company’s most refined cabins ever, with a greater use of high quality materials. For me, they have passed the test. All the modern gizmos are there and those designers have been able to make it a great working place with all the primary controls at your fingertips.

Leather-trimmed sports seats with attractive blue stitching hold the body in place with comfort and support. Subaru’s new factory-fit 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, connectivity and navigation system is easy to use and beautifully presented. Even more leather trim is used generously throughout the cabin, including the door trims, on the centre console and on top of the multi-function display on the dashboard.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.