New beginnings

Subaru created a Legacy and Paul Acres finds out if the Levorg can fulfil it

The Levorg is, according to Subaru, the spiritual successor to the fourth generation Legacy Tourer (2003 – 2008). Its name is derived from a combination of Legacy, Revolution and Touring

From the B pillars forwards, it shares its underpinnings with the WRX hot hatchback. Behind that it’s all new.

Beneath the oversized bonnet scoop is an all-new 1.6-litre flat four turbocharged petrol engine that produces a rather uninspiring, by Subaru’s standards at least. 170bhp. That’s enough to propel it to 62mph in a surprisingly spritely 8.9 seconds.

It’s couple to a continuously variable transmission that, if you’re ambling around town, is as smooth as a freshly waxed peach but there are also six preset ratios that do a respectable job of mimicking a conventional automatic and provide a more natural sensation under acceleration.

Refinement is good, but the aural delight that is the Boxer engine is, sadly, barely audible in the cabin even under heavy acceleration.

The ride can feel just on the wrong side of firm at times, particularly when you encounter larger undulations and the suspension jams the car back into your backside as it settles back on its springs. There’s a lack of finesse that can spoil what is otherwise a very pleasant, unobtrusive experience.

That stiff set-up, if you’re the sort of driver who likes to exploit it, does give the Levorg a sporting gait that belies its remit as a load-lugger. It’s agile, direct and, with drive being sent to all four wheels, provides plenty of traction.

It’s a shame, then, that the steering doesn’t offer the kind of feedback that the Levorg’s sporting ambition so badly needs.

There’s a marked improvement in quality that might, at first glance, go unnoticed, so familiar is the scene before you. A quick prod around, however, reveals a very welcome step up in the grade of materials used with a greater proportion of soft-touch textiles in evidence.

Piano black finish on the fascia, and in particular the blue stitching on the newlook flat-bottomed steering wheel, do help add a little spice to what is otherwise a thoughtfully laid out, but ultimately uninspiring, passenger space.

The heads and legs of passengers both front and rear are surprisingly well catered for given the Levorg’s dimensions.

The boot provides 522 litres of space, rising to 1446 litres wit the seats stowed.

The infotainment system has been subjected to a similar, and just as welcome, upgrade as the rest of the interior.

A seven-inch touchscreen, lifted from the current Outback, now resides in the