Subaru Levorg review
The Subaru Levorg estate is an unusual, practical choice that lacks a little sophistication compared to its rivals
The Subaru Levorg is something genuinely different from the norm, but that has both good and bad implications. On the one hand, it’s refreshingly simple, with one engine, one trim level and little in the way of confusing options. It’s also a solidly built, decently practical car that follows a long line of Subaru estates with similar qualities.
It also has a chassis that shows promise, with tidy handling, reasonable agility and all-wheel drive grip. It’s solidly built and should (in theory) prove more reliable than German counterparts. However, the sole engine choice isn’t very inspiring, fast or economical, the CVT gearbox saps the sense of fun, and there’s little engagement in the driving experience.
The interior design isn’t as modern to look at or as pleasurable to use as the best at this price, either, while a number of mainstream estate rivals are more spacious. At least the impressive standard kit list and solid build helps to offset the Levorg’s flaws.
The Subaru Levorg is a car that may well have escaped your attention up to this point. It arrived on the UK market in 2015 and was actually an indirect replacement for the Subaru Legacy Tourer, which had gone out of production in 2014. The Levorg is only available in estate form as the Levorg name - a bizarre combination of ‘Legacy’, ‘Revolution’ and ‘Touring’ – is meant to suggest.
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Cash £13,000Subaru originally decided to bring the Levorg into the UK to fill the range gap underneath the larger, off-road biased Outback and above the compact Impreza. Today it fills a similar niche and is pitched by Subaru as “the driver’s AWD tourer”. As such, the car competes with everything from the 4x4 versions of the Skoda Octavia Estate to more premium offerings like the BMW 3 Series Touring, Mercedes C-Class Estate and Audi A4 Avant. Subaru would like you to look at it more as a good value competitor to the latter group than an expensive alternative to the former.
In many ways, the Levorg is refreshingly left-field and honest. There’s just one bodystyle and trim level available while all models get all-wheel drive married to the same engine and gearbox combination.
A facelift in the spring of 2019 brought subtly revised styling to the Levorg with updates to the grille, bumper, headlights and bonnet, plus improvements to the interior trim, safety kit list and infotainment system. Crucially, the 168bhp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine was also replaced – a longstanding weak point for the car – with a 147bhp 2.0-litre naturally aspirated unit. As before, the Levorg sends power to Subaru’s Active Torque Split 4x4 system via the Lineartronic CVT gearbox.
The Levorg’s standard GT specification features a strong kit tally with items such as the latest 7” touchscreen sat-nav with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, 8-way electrically adjustable and heated leather seats and LED headlights thrown in. There’s also a host of safety features including Subaru’s ‘Eyesight’ active assist system that includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Sway and Departure Warning and Lead Vehicle Start Alert that prompts the driver when the car ahead in a traffic jam has moved off. Subaru has already shown-off an all-new Levorg at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show that’s due to hit the Japanese market towards the end of 2020 and we expect that model to replace this version on the UK market at some point after that.
Engines, performance and drive
Subaru has built its name on offering all-wheel drive mechanicals mated to turbocharged ‘boxer’ engines. The latest Levorg conforms to this type except that it’s ditched the turbo in the name of improved fuel economy, causing the old model’s bonnet scoop to go the same way.
What you get in the Levorg is a capable chassis with roots that can be traced back to the WRX STI performance hatchback. The Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD) 4x4 system, a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine in the horizontally-opposed ‘boxer’ configuration and the Lineartronic CVT automatic gearbox do the hard work.
The idea behind the car is to deliver a fair bit of rough road capability, good levels of on-road comfort but also with an engaging driving experience that harks back to the brand’s rally heritage. The reality is that the Levorg makes a valiant attempt at this but doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The Levorg doesn’t feel anything like the old WRX or the hot Imprezas of the past when it comes to the driving experience, lacking that level of excitement and driver engagement. It does handle pretty well for a mainstream estate, however, with tidy body control, light but accurate steering and a fair sense of agility on twisty roads. As you’d expect, there’s loads of grip on offer from the four-wheel drive system, which is laid out with its components mounted symmetrically down the car’s centre line to aid balance.
The trade-off for the tidy handling is a ride that can be a little busy on typical British roads. It’s by no means uncomfortable, but a BMW 3 Series or Skoda Superb will better isolate occupants from small lumps and indents in the surface. What the Levorg does do well is bounce over bigger bumps and craters without its suspension crashing, feeling a little like an SUV as a result and adding to the impression of toughness you get from the car.
Once up to motorway speeds, it’s as smooth as it needs to be and refinement is pretty good, too. Rival models offer better soundproofing against tyre roar in particular but this and wind noise are still kept to acceptable levels.
Despite the all-wheel drive mechanicals, the Levorg’s 135mm ground clearance means it won’t off-road like some of Subaru’s other products. What it will do is give greater security in slippery road conditions and light off-road scenarios such as grass car parks or gravel driveways.
Engines
The Subaru Levorg has never been big on engine options and nothing has changed; there was one before and there’s one now. The difference is that the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol has given way to a 2.0-litre non-turbo unit. As is the Subaru way, this is a four-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, called a ‘boxer’ as a result of the way the two banks of pistons ‘punch’ towards each other. The absence of a turbo on the 2.0-litre unit means that power is down to 147bhp from 168bhp in the old 1.6; torque decreases too, from 250Nm to 198Nm.
The result is a 0-62mph time that is distinctly underwhelming at 11.7s and a top speed of 121mph. It’s not an engine that’s going to thrill anyone with its savage punch, but at least the boxer configuration helps keep the weight low in the car to improve handling.
The 2.0-litre engine is mated exclusively to Subaru’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) automatic, dubbed Lineartronic – and that may well be where many Subaru enthusiasts finally tune out. The lack of a turbo and any manual gearbox option hurts this car’s appeal as a sporty estate. Many will want a faster petrol engine (which they can’t have) or a torquey and frugal diesel (which they also can’t have). It’s this lack of choice that leaves Subaru’s hands tied from the off.
Still, there are some positives to the Levorg’s sole powertrain. It’s very smooth with a steady stream of power that builds as the revs rise. Once some heat has built up, there’s very little noise from the engine bay when cruising and a muted growl that’s joined by a metallic whine at the very top of the rev range. It sounds pretty good and with no perceptible gearchanges thanks to the CVT ‘box, driving the Levorg in a relaxed manner is a pleasant experience most of the time.
What’s been lost with the departure of the old turbo unit is some of the low-end torque that makes town driving and overtaking on the open road easier. You can choose a sportier engine and gearbox map via the Si-Drive function that’s a little more energetic at lower revs but the difference is small. By contrast, the Lineartronic ‘box is perfect in town but, despite being one of the best of the CVT type, it still removes a layer of involvement on the open road. For the most part, the dual-clutch automatics in rivals are preferable.
MPG, CO2 and Running Costs
The Levorg will never be as cheap to run as most rivals because of the lack of a frugal diesel offering and the extra weight of the 4x4 drivetrain. The 2.0-litre petrol engine was introduced partly to improve economy and emissions over the old 1.6 turbo and it did, but only to an unremarkable 32.6mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and 167g/km of CO2 on an NEDC correlated basis.
The CO2 emissions mean that the Levorg falls into the 36% tax bracket under the 2020/21 rules. It’s a little higher than what you’d pay on other petrol estates of this specification and, again, most of them offer you the choice of cheaper-to-tax diesel or hybrid engine variants. At least no Levorg exceeds the £40,000+ tax surcharge for new cars.
Insurance Groups
The Levorg originally sat in insurance group 24, but the adoption of Subaru’s Eyesight safety tech dropped it down to group 20 and the new 2.0-litre engine takes it into group 17. That’s competitive with rivals and gives the Subaru an edge in many cases.
Depreciation
The Levorg’s niche appeal in the UK means residual value forecasts are surprisingly good – it’s expected to retain around 41% of its value after three years. That’s not remarkable, but it is better than a number of mainstream estates.
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Interior, design and technology
Exterior design is subjective, but to our eyes the Levorg’s classic estate-car lines work well. The lack of a bonnet scoop on the latest models enhances the clean looks that set the Subaru apart from the brash SUVs that everyone seems to be driving these days. Today’s cars also have a revised grille and front bumper with updated LED lights front and rear.
Once inside, the driving position is comfortable and there’s plenty of adjustment but the front seats may be a little narrow for some. The dash design is a curious mix of old and new, with the glossy 5.9” central touchscreen sitting at odds with the dated-looking instruments and plethora of buttons. The centre console rocker switches for the heated seats and the low-tech LED warning bulbs of the Eyesight safety system are particular throwbacks. It’s certainly a long way from Audi’s Virtual Cockpit-equipped A4, with the Subaru looking more 2007 than 2017.
The old-school controls might have their advantages in the eyes of some, however. The layout is actually quite intuitive to operate with no menus to navigate in order to access the key functions. That does mean the steering wheel is covered in switches and a little cluttered, but once you’ve grasped the location of the controls you use regularly, it couldn’t be simpler.
The fit and finish of the cabin is good overall but the materials let the side down a little. There’s a lot more soft-touch plastic in rival cars at this price point and some of the switchgear in the Levorg feels cheap, but the car still gives off an air of robustness.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
The latest Levorg gets a touchscreen infotainment system built-in to the centre of the dash with a clear 5.9-inch display. There are shortcut buttons down each side of the screen and generally the interface is impressively simple to use with only occasional lag while requests are processed.
There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto fitted as standard; the system was quick to recognise an Android phone on our test. There are also voice recognition controls for the key functions and the reversing camera displays on the screen when you’re maneuvering. It’s not the slickest or more feature-packed system on the market but it does the job in that typical Subaru way.
Practicality, comfort and boot space
While Subaru will argue it’s the Forester and Outback that are meant to be the most practical choices in its range, that might not cut much ice with prospective Levorg buyers. In isolation it’s pretty good, but there are a number of more versatile and roomy estate car competitors.
The high driving position might not be ideal for some, but it does at least offer a very good view of the road ahead. In fact, there’s plenty of glass so visibility is respectable all-round, making the Levorg easier to park than larger mainstream estates. Storage inside the cabin is acceptable, with a couple of central cupholders, an armrest with cubbyhole and a decent glovebox, although the door bins aren’t huge.
Dimensions and size
The Levorg is 4.69m long, 1.78m wide and 1.49m tall. That makes it slightly longer and narrower than a BMW 3 Series Touring, and nearly 20cm shorter than a Ford Mondeo Estate. As such, it sits in-between the two in terms of practicality.
Legroom, headroom and passenger space
It’s no Skoda Superb in this area, but the Levorg is reasonably accommodating for a family of four. Neither head or legroom in the rear are remarkable, but six-footers will be fine for short journeys – although the middle seat is really only for children. There are no space issues in the front, and even large adults will find plenty of room and seat adjustment.
Boot space
With the seats up there’s 522 litres of space in the back of a Levorg. That, again, sits the Subaru between the family estate and compact executive segments – it’s slightly larger than an Audi A4 Avant, but less accommodating than a Ford Mondeo or VW Passat. The 60/40-split rear seats are easy to fold flat, revealing an uninterrupted 1,446 litres of total load space, while there’s also underfloor storage.
Towing
The Levorg can tow a 1,500kg braked trailer and Subaru’s popularity with buyers who need their vehicles to work hard should mean that lots of Levorgs end up fitted with a tow bar.
Reliability and Safety
All Levorgs come fitted with Subaru’s ‘Eyesight’ technology, a suite of active safety aids that act as a second pair of eyes to help keep the car out of trouble. The dual-camera system continually scans the road ahead for pedestrians and vehicles, and Subaru says it can completely avoid front-end collisions below 30mph. When you’re waiting in traffic, the system prompts you if the car in front has moved off.
It’ll brake itself at higher speeds, too, while lane departure warning, pre-collision steering assist and adaptive cruise control also feature with adaptive headlights and High Beam Assist. It’s tech like this that helped the Levorg achieve a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Of course, it comes with six airbags, and ISOFIX mounting for child seats. Subaru’s excellence in this field saw it crowned best for safety features in our 2019 Driver Power survey, beating 29 other manufacturers.
The Levorg hasn’t sold well enough to be included in any Driver Power survey so far. However, Subaru is a regular at the top of our manufacturer rankings, finishing 6th in 2019, and its dealers were ranked 3 best in the same survey. Most of the Levorg’s parts are shared with other models in the range, so it should prove dependable. The Japanese firm’s reliability record is very strong overall.
Warranty
Like all Subarus, the Levorg comes with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard. That’s better coverage than most German rivals, and many mainstream estates. There’s also 12 years protection against corrosion, which will interest owners looking to hold onto their cars.
Servicing
Despite being good, Subaru’s dealer network isn’t the largest in the UK, so those looking to maintain their main dealer history might have to travel further than they expect. There’s no fixed-price servicing either, so bills could vary according to which dealer you visit.
