Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 135

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ubaru is pitching Levorg at
“SUV Rejectors”. Although
they’re a pretty rare breed
these days, if any sedan-based
family freighter is going to
tempt a few buyers away from
mid-size SUVs, it’s this one.
What we have here is basically
a WRX from the rear axle
forward, with a wagon-style boot.
The 125kW 1.6-litre turbo-
powered base model GT, which
we’re testing, is priced at $36,440.
That’s about $7000 cheaper
than the previous starting price
for Levorg, which launched in
2016 with just one all-wheel
drivetrain – a 197kW 2.0-litre
turbopetrol/continuously
variable automatic (CVT), as
used the the WRX.
This continues in two Levorg
variants: the 2.0 GT-S, at $49,590,
and a new range-topper 2.0 STi
Sport, at $52,440.
Both are pukka performance
wagons, with Bilstein suspension

• revised to improve body
  control and ride comfort on our

bumpy roads – and other sporty

accoutrements that could almost

justify a WRX badge on the

tailgate.

A 1.6-litre GT Premium

variant is $43,340.

The WRX engine is exceptionally

smooth and it delivers effortless

shove when you ask.

Subaru claims 0–100km/h

in 6.6 seconds, which is pretty

right. Most SUVs won’t see

which way you went.

The 1.6-litre GT is a different

drive altogether. It produces a

lot less power and is tuned for

everyday fl exibility, economy,

refi nement and comfort. Zero to

100km/h takes 8.9 seconds.

It shines in everyday driving

and long distance work, with

strong, tractable performance

across most of the rev range,

exceptional refi nement and

reasonable fuel economy:

10-11L/100km in town and

6-7L/100km on the highway.

Intelligent mode maximises

fuel effi ciency at the expense of

responsiveness. The 1.6 feels more

energetic in Sport mode and the

CVT kicks into action much more

quickly, though compared with a

conventional automatic there is

still a delay, especially when you

plant the accelerator. It responds

much better to a gentle squeeze.

GT’s smaller wheels, taller

tyres and softer suspension than

other variants contribute to a

comfortable, quiet ride, but the

suspension is underdamped, so

body control isn’t as disciplined

as it should be. The brakes will

also fade under hard use.

As long as you don’t try to drive

it like a WRX, though, the GT sits

securely on the road and fl ows

nicely through corners, with a

low centre of gravity, accurate,

intuitive steering and loads of

grip, thanks to quality rubber and

all-wheel drive.

I’ll spare you my usual

detailed rant about Subaru’s

confusing, uncoordinated dash

and control layout. The small

touchscreen is distracting and

dangerous to use while driving

and voice control has very limited

comprehension of English.

A low rear bench is

underpadded. Legroom is

adequate and a 40/20/40 split

fold backrest is useful, but

no vents are provided and the

centre sash belt spools out of

the roof, so it’s fi ddly to use.

Levorg’s boot offers 67 litres

greater volume than the Forester

(in fi ve seater mode) and the low,

wide easy to load fl oor can be

extended at the fl ick of a switch

(on either side of the boot opening)

to give you a fl at, 1.8 metres.

Although the Levorg is one of

the sportiest wagons around, it’s

also a very liveable daily driver.

That said, like all Subarus it

requires expensive and frequent

servicing, while reliability can

also be an issue with the brand.

SUBARU LEVORG FROM $36,440

THINGS WE LIKE

Good value

Smooth tractable turbo engines

really work with the CVT

Easy to drive, fun and forgiving

All-wheel-drive grip

Loaded with safety features

Spacious and versatile

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Front end can get fl ustered on

rough roads

GT is also underbraked

Oversensitive lane-departure and

collision warnings

Too many display screens

Expensive and frequent servicing

SPEX (GT)

Made in Japan

1.6-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

CVT/all-wheel drive

125kW of power at

4800-5600rpm/250Nm of torque

from 1800–4800rpm

0–100km/h in 8.9 seconds (claimed)

6.5L/100km highway; 8.8L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 169g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Seven airbags, stability

control, radar cruise, automatic

emergency braking, lane keeping,

Bluetooth, voice control, dual zone

air, 16-inch alloy wheels, swivelling

LED headlights, cloth upholstery,

Data Dot identifi cation, space-

saver spare

Redbook future values: 3yr: 46%;

5yr: 31%

Safety

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall



STARS

compare with ...

BMW X1, Mercedes GLA, Skoda

Octavia, VW Golf Alltrack

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