Subaru Levorg blends sportiness with practicality

From the premium ambience of the cabin, you look out at the road over a large and aggressive-looking bonnet scoop, which gives the Levorg a dynamic appearance.

The car has a smaller on-road footprint than the fourth-generation Legacy Tourer, yet greater interior space than its predecessor.

Available in a single trim level called GT, it comes with generous levels of standard equipment, including Subaru’s highly-regarded all-wheel drive drivetrain. Subaru says the Levorg has been decked out with the company’s most refined interior - and it was hard to argue with the quality and refinement on offer in the test vehicle.

High-quality materials have been used throughout, while the leather-trimmed sports seats provide an added touch.

Build quality throughout the vehicle is excellent. In fact, Subaru gets all the basics spot on.

I found Subaru’s new touchscreen infotainment, connectivity and navigation system easy to use. In terms of practicality, the vehicle provided fantastic leg and head room, with plenty of seat adjustment for the driver meaning there’s no problem finding a comfortable position.

Meanwhile, its sizeable 522-litre boot – rising to 1,446 litres with the second row of seats folded down – was especially useful as we enjoyed a family camping holiday in Devon.

The Levorg’s striking, sporty looks blended into a practical estate car give it considerable kerb-appeal.

Behind the wheel, the newly-developed 1.6-litre direct injection turbo petrol engine provided swift acceleration.

The Levorg accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 8.9 seconds, proving more than adequate for most situations.

The all-new four-cylinder engine produces 170 PS and 250 Nm torque. Paired with smooth Lineartronic CVT transmission, it all adds up to a very refined powertrain.

The car also features Subaru Intelligent Drive, which allows the driver, via a switch on the steering wheel, to chose between two modes according to their mood or the driving environment - Intelligent mode and Sport mode.

Another benefit is that the engine offers greater efficiency than previous Subaru engines, returning nearly 40mpg on the combined cycle. The handling in tighter corners felt stable and trustworthy, instilling confidence, no doubt helped by the symmetrical all-wheel drive system, which works in every condition without the driver actually realising anything is going on under the skin.

The car also comes with Vehicle Dynamics Control and Active Torque Vectoring. The latter effectively brakes the inside wheels under cornering and apportions greater torque to the outside of the car, reducing understeer and oversteer to allow a more predictable course through corners.

The car also comes with a bunch of safety kit and a strong body shell. The new model boasts a higher proportion of ultra-high tensile steel than other models in the Subaru range, such as the Impreza, with 50 per cent of the body made up of strong, yet light steel alloys for better crash safety performance.

The Levorg is equipped with the new ‘Subaru Rear Vehicle Detection’ system, which alerts drivers to vehicles which are crossing behind and combines three technologies: Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. There’s no shortage of creature comforts, including dual-zone automatic air conditioning, automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers, front and rear power windows, remote control keyless access and a push-button starter.

All in all, a blend of performance and practicality runs through this estate vehicle and makes it an attractive option.

The lowdown

Subaru Levorg GT 1.6i DIT Lineartronic
PRICE: £27,495
ENGINE: 1.6-litre / 170 PS Petrol
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 130mph, 0-to-62mph in 8.9 seconds 
ECONOMY: 39.8 mpg combined, and emissions of 164 g/km 
DRIVETRAIN: 1.6 DIT Lineartronic Symmetrical AWD with active torque split system

Will's Ratings

PERFORMANCE: ****
ECONOMY: ***
RIDE/HANDLING: ****
SPACE: *****
EQUIPMENT: ****
SECURITY: ****
VALUE: ****
OVERALL: ****