Subaru Levorg 2015 Review

Subaru Levorg

Quick Spin,
Izu, Japan

Although entirely based on WRX, Levorg seeks to differentiate itself and reprise the success and popularity of the fourth-generation Liberty. Decent looks, solid turbocharged four-cylinder boxer petrol performance and appropriate packaging are a good recipe for success but pricing and standard equipment offering will be critical – and won’t be firmed up until closer to on-sale. With initial Australian allocation just 150 per month, however, a waiting list is almost a given.

The name says it all: Liberty EVolution tOuRinG… No, not Grovel backwards. Glad we got that out of the way.

As the name suggests, although based on the WRX and identical from the B-pillar forward, the new Levorg is seeking to rekindle Australia’s love affair with the wagon – specifically, the fourth generation Subaru Liberty GT wagon.

The only ‘Liberty’ wagon available in 2015 is the Outback. It’s bigger. Some say too much bigger, which has seen Subaru fans who are looking for a compact sporty wagon drift to other products – many of them European. The fourth-gen Liberty wagon was the best selling ever, according to Subaru Australia, and built the company a large following during its early Noughties on-sale years. And now it would like them back.

The strategy to ‘right size’ Subaru’s sporty wagon offering already appears to have worked in Japan where Levorg has been on sale since mid-2014. In huge demand, it will take until the middle of next year until Subaru Australia can get enough allocation to launch it Down Under. Even then it will be limited to just 150 units per month.

Subaru Australia says it will offer two specifications but is being very coy on the details. In Japan, Levorg is offered in GT and GT-S models. These are nameplates Subaru Australia is likely to adopt – especially given the company’s wish to separate the wagon from its WRX donor sedan.

To this end, and to help position Levorg closer to where the ‘old’ Liberty GT sat in the marketplace, expect Subaru Australia to boost the spec of the local variants. Eyesight, Subaru’s autonomous braking and associated safety systems will be offered (they’re not in WRX) and Levorg will actually debut a new feature for the system – Eyesight Assist Monitor, a head-up display that gives additional potential collision warnings.

Top-spec Levorgs will likely also include leather, alcantara and perhaps even Recaro seats and a “Bilstein-style suspension” upgrade as part of the standard equipment list. This too is in keeping with the Liberty GT theme – such offerings were part of the appeal of the midsizer in its heyday.

We drove both GT and GT S Japanese Domestic Model (JDM) Levorgs this week for just a few laps of the tight, twisting and undulating 5km Izu Cycle Sports Centre circuit. The track, which was purpose-built for bicycle racing in the 1980s and is earmarked for use during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is a remarkable find and would be a serious challenge in something fast.

Although it gave far from a full impression of the vehicles, it’s enough for a taste test.

In any event, Subaru intends to wait until much closer to the Levorg’s local debut before spilling all the beans. If you want to start saving, we reckon pricing will start around $45,000 for the ‘GT’. The Levorg ‘GT-S’ will be priced at over $50K.

Aussie Levorgs will feature the same 197kW/350Nm 2.0-litre direct-injected turbocharged petrol boxer four as local WRX models. No manual will be offered – instead, Subaru will use its Lineartronic CVT auto. Given the sporty nature of the Levorg’s pitch, this is disappointing.

As you’d expect, therefore, Levorg drives very much like an auto WRX – as far as our quick spin allowed us to ascertian. Noise levels are consistent with the sedan and there’s very little of the extra ‘drum’ or resonance some wagon-style vehicles can exhibit.

So too the driver’s in-cabin experience is essentially WRX, although there are some differences. Levorg introduces a new HVAC centre-stack setup for the model (we’d expect to see this transfer to WRX at facelift time) and there’s an electric park brake rather than the traditional item.

The Levorg will likely also feature a new sat-nav and infotainment system by the time it arrives here.

Of course the key difference is packaging. Riding on the same wheelbase and based on the WRX, the vehicle is a conventional two-row wagon with 60:40 rear split-fold seats which can be tumbled via luggage compartment switches.

Luggage capacity is quoted as 486 litres with the second row in place. This is 50 litres more than the fourth-gen Liberty wagon and indeed almost matches the much larger fifth-generation Liberty.

With Levorg being a substantial 95mm longer overall than the WRX sedan, the luggage space is long and wide but relatively shallow. In the JDM examples we drove, two underfloor storage areas augmented capacity. In Aussie models, a spare tyre will eat into this additional space.

Vision is part of the Levorg’s USP, says Subaru. The C and D-pillars are both areas where sight lines are improved over previous generations of five-doors, says the car-maker. This also helps to create the impression of a bright, open cabin. It’s a good place to be.

Subaru is also touting the increased legroom in this car – even compared to the Liberty it seeks to reprise. There’s 25mm more kneeroom than the fourth-gen car but 30mm less than the big-un. Of more concern for yours truly was the angle of the rear seat squab. This seemed to be laid back more than I’d normally be comfortable with. And unlike some cars (even Subaru’s own Forester) the angle is not adjustable.

This will be something to check when we get to drive local-spec Levorgs.

There’s little doubt in my mind that the Levorg will find a ready market in Australia. If the rumours of an STI or tS version are true, and volume is freed up, it could even be a bona-fide hit for the brand.

The sheetmetal shared with the WRX doesn’t stop the car from creating its own persona – and that’s a good thing. And an STI-kitted car Subaru brought to the drive looked very convincing. I can readily see tricked up Levorgs joining the likes of Skoda’s RS wagon as a favourite of the cycling set.

No wonder Subaru Australia boss Nick Senior says the new sports-touring wagon is one of the best “clinicked” cars the brand has sought to introduce Down Under.