Subaru Legacy/ Levorg ownership, what's it like?
Discussion
I've had my Levorg 1.6 for over 3 years now, nothings gone wrong with it, it's my 7th Subaru and I like it very much. For the last 2 years it's had a TDI tuning box fitted, which gives 210 bhp and 300nm and makes a big difference to passing and merging. It's not exactly fast by today's standards, but it's rapid enough, and handles like a Subaru should. Excellent driving position and visibility. Steering is well weighted, precise, but perhaps lacking in that elusive "feel". Gearbox is really good once you get to know it, much better than Legacy 5 speed auto. Overall mpg has been 35mpg over the last 3000 miles. 40mpg is easily attainable on a motorway run. Most Levorg owners seem to love them, there's nothing else quite like it out there.
Sad Weevil said:
I've had my Levorg 1.6 for over 3 years now, nothings gone wrong with it, it's my 7th Subaru and I like it very much. For the last 2 years it's had a TDI tuning box fitted, which gives 210 bhp and 300nm and makes a big difference to passing and merging. It's not exactly fast by today's standards, but it's rapid enough, and handles like a Subaru should. Excellent driving position and visibility. Steering is well weighted, precise, but perhaps lacking in that elusive "feel". Gearbox is really good once you get to know it, much better than Legacy 5 speed auto. Overall mpg has been 35mpg over the last 3000 miles. 40mpg is easily attainable on a motorway run. Most Levorg owners seem to love them, there's nothing else quite like it out there.
Thank you for this! It's very insightful. I'll keep my eye out.Hi not sure if you have made a decision yet.
I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
sledge68 said:
Hi not sure if you have made a decision yet.
I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
Hi this is really useful, especially considering I am in the auto v manual debate for a daily. I haven't made my decision yet as I've still got to find the time to drive all the cars I am considering to see if I like them. I'll keep my eye out. Cheers!I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
I had a Legacy 4Cam Turbo for 15 years, it was the best car I ever had by a country mile and now I wish I had kept it!
+s
Dead reliable, comfortable, fabulous handling, 4wd, roomy boot.
-s
Very expensive parts, impossible to change the spark plugs, inclined to leak oil from the valve covers, 7,500 mile oil changes, driver's seat fabric wore.
Never had any corrosion issues anywhere, exhaust and clutch were the originals when I sold the car at 140k miles.
+s
Dead reliable, comfortable, fabulous handling, 4wd, roomy boot.
-s
Very expensive parts, impossible to change the spark plugs, inclined to leak oil from the valve covers, 7,500 mile oil changes, driver's seat fabric wore.
Never had any corrosion issues anywhere, exhaust and clutch were the originals when I sold the car at 140k miles.
Just to add to this, I’ve had four Liberty/Legacy, plus a Forester, all manual, 3 with the NA 2.5 engine, plus a couple of turbos…
1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
PomBstard said:
Just to add to this, I’ve had four Liberty/Legacy, plus a Forester, all manual, 3 with the NA 2.5 engine, plus a couple of turbos…
1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
I'm with you on that, I really like the current Outback shape too especially in the olive green colour. Apparently it's just a bit too slow for it's size so the WRX STi treatment would be perfect. I'm currently after a Levorg STI, but are they really too small inside? 1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
TO73074E said:
I'm with you on that, I really like the current Outback shape too especially in the olive green colour. Apparently it's just a bit too slow for it's size so the WRX STi treatment would be perfect. I'm currently after a Levorg STI, but are they really too small inside?
I think the size thing depends on your needs. I’ve got three kids, and the Levorg is based on the Impreza chassis so it was never really going to work. Closer in size inside to a Gen4 Liberty.The current Outback really is big inside. I compared the back seat of one to the VF Commodore that has replaced my Gen 5 GT, and there’s not a lot in it. The Holden is bigger, but it’s close - and the only other cars that are close are an E Class, Superb, and Grand Cherokee. If that bodyshell was available as a fast, fun thing, I’d buy it.
Ilovejapcrap said:
Anyone else on this forum Currently running a levorg?
I'm looking at buying one later this year, they seem good value. I believe that these are these are just a WRX/Imprezza wagon - the front looks exactly the same.The 1.6 turbo was switched for a 2.0 nat asp in about 2022 I think, any comments on how the two compare?
If you guys are still on the lookout, I can share some experiences what the Levorg (2.0 N/A) vs Legacy (2.0 N/A) and Outback (3.0 N/A).
I've owned an Outback (2006 with the 245bhp H6 engine) and a Legacy (2005 with a 165 H4 engine). When I was shopping for a 'new' car, I testdrove the Levorg (2020 model with a 150 BHP 2.0 N/A) engine. The reason I didn't buy it, was because of the price and I still think the 4th or 5th Gen Legacy can offer a lot of the value for a lot less money.
On my current Subaru, I have eyesight and it does make driving more relaxing.
But, on to my small comparison.
Here's an update from my side for all those Legacy owners who would consider the Levorg. I went to see a 2.0 N/A car two weeks ago and took for a spin today. It was a 2020 car with 6000 miles on the clock, GT-S trim (so all the fancy bits on it).
About the CVT: in normal traffic and when entering the highway it does what it has to do. If you didn't know it was a CVT, you would really notice. When using the manual mode on the steering wheel, the box responds immediately. There is no delay. If you don't continue using the manual mode, it goes back to 'D' (auto).
Suspension: many reviewers and owners have said the suspension is out of balance. Compared to my Legacy R with Bilstein, it's 'soft and forgiving', compared to my Outback, it's 'firm' (in a good way). The one time I found the front 'crashy' was when going over a speed bump at 20-ish mp/h. Which would not be a problem with the Outback.
Power (so 150bhp and 200Nm): Comparing with the 165bhp engine from the Legacy, it feels like a stronger engine. I much more prefer this one over the EJ20 in the Legacy. For normal traffic and even for a spirited drive on a B-road (which I did not test), it's plenty. For normal overtaking on the highway, once more, it's plenty. But you notice that at around 130km/h (so 85mph) it's no where near the torque coming from an H6. But so is the Legacy R I sometimes take for a spin, so it's no 'downgrade'.
The interior - space: It's better than a Gen 4 Legacy in every single way. The seats have a similar feel, but the lumbar support is adjustable, the rear seats fold down 40/20/40, the rear seat back rest folds down (5 steps - like on the JDM Legacy) and there is room for the rear occupants to put their feet underneath the front seats (if you've never tried this with a Gen 4 Legacy with power seats, please do, there is no room and seating is cramped). The boot is bigger.
The steering wheel is telescopic, something I miss on the preface-lift Legacy and it sure enhances finding a good seating position immensely.
The interior - quality: I can't say for sure it's better. It's on par with the feel you get in a Gen4. Yes, there is some nice 'leather' on the dash and gear selector, but in some areas the plastic feels (and looks) cheaper.
The interior - ergonomics (buttons and switches): it's very intuitive. If you often drive Japanse cars, there is nothing silly about the Levorg (I did not try the satnav). All basic buttons and controls are where you would expect them to be.
Looks (yes, very subjective): I like the Levorg from most angles, but it can be a bit 'bulky' to look at. The Legacy 4 is sleeker and I prefer the elongated shape it has. Interior-wise the Legacy 4 looked amazing (to me), esp. if you consider the car is 21 years old. The Levorg looks good but there is nothing amazing about it. Something to b
h about: I do not like the wheels for one bit. I don't like the stance, I don't like the design.
So, overall the Levorg feels like a good car and is indeed what a successor to the Legacy 4 should drive and feel like. Looks are on par with what Subaru designed in that period (in a good way). But, if I were to live in the UK I would spend my money on a JDM twinscroll or even a fifth gen (BR chassis) GT. I would look for one with the 2.0DIT engine (that's not a diesel, but just a direct injection turbo). Legacies are so cheap (compared to mainland Europe) that it would be hard to justify spending 15000GBP or more on a Levorg. On the other hand, safety has again come a long way and is something we tend to overlook/forget.
And, I do not live in the UK so it seems silly to spend 6000-7000GBP (or much more) on a well sorted, low mileage 2.0R.
Hope this is helpful to someone.
I've owned an Outback (2006 with the 245bhp H6 engine) and a Legacy (2005 with a 165 H4 engine). When I was shopping for a 'new' car, I testdrove the Levorg (2020 model with a 150 BHP 2.0 N/A) engine. The reason I didn't buy it, was because of the price and I still think the 4th or 5th Gen Legacy can offer a lot of the value for a lot less money.
On my current Subaru, I have eyesight and it does make driving more relaxing.
But, on to my small comparison.
Here's an update from my side for all those Legacy owners who would consider the Levorg. I went to see a 2.0 N/A car two weeks ago and took for a spin today. It was a 2020 car with 6000 miles on the clock, GT-S trim (so all the fancy bits on it).
About the CVT: in normal traffic and when entering the highway it does what it has to do. If you didn't know it was a CVT, you would really notice. When using the manual mode on the steering wheel, the box responds immediately. There is no delay. If you don't continue using the manual mode, it goes back to 'D' (auto).
Suspension: many reviewers and owners have said the suspension is out of balance. Compared to my Legacy R with Bilstein, it's 'soft and forgiving', compared to my Outback, it's 'firm' (in a good way). The one time I found the front 'crashy' was when going over a speed bump at 20-ish mp/h. Which would not be a problem with the Outback.
Power (so 150bhp and 200Nm): Comparing with the 165bhp engine from the Legacy, it feels like a stronger engine. I much more prefer this one over the EJ20 in the Legacy. For normal traffic and even for a spirited drive on a B-road (which I did not test), it's plenty. For normal overtaking on the highway, once more, it's plenty. But you notice that at around 130km/h (so 85mph) it's no where near the torque coming from an H6. But so is the Legacy R I sometimes take for a spin, so it's no 'downgrade'.
The interior - space: It's better than a Gen 4 Legacy in every single way. The seats have a similar feel, but the lumbar support is adjustable, the rear seats fold down 40/20/40, the rear seat back rest folds down (5 steps - like on the JDM Legacy) and there is room for the rear occupants to put their feet underneath the front seats (if you've never tried this with a Gen 4 Legacy with power seats, please do, there is no room and seating is cramped). The boot is bigger.
The steering wheel is telescopic, something I miss on the preface-lift Legacy and it sure enhances finding a good seating position immensely.
The interior - quality: I can't say for sure it's better. It's on par with the feel you get in a Gen4. Yes, there is some nice 'leather' on the dash and gear selector, but in some areas the plastic feels (and looks) cheaper.
The interior - ergonomics (buttons and switches): it's very intuitive. If you often drive Japanse cars, there is nothing silly about the Levorg (I did not try the satnav). All basic buttons and controls are where you would expect them to be.
Looks (yes, very subjective): I like the Levorg from most angles, but it can be a bit 'bulky' to look at. The Legacy 4 is sleeker and I prefer the elongated shape it has. Interior-wise the Legacy 4 looked amazing (to me), esp. if you consider the car is 21 years old. The Levorg looks good but there is nothing amazing about it. Something to b
h about: I do not like the wheels for one bit. I don't like the stance, I don't like the design.So, overall the Levorg feels like a good car and is indeed what a successor to the Legacy 4 should drive and feel like. Looks are on par with what Subaru designed in that period (in a good way). But, if I were to live in the UK I would spend my money on a JDM twinscroll or even a fifth gen (BR chassis) GT. I would look for one with the 2.0DIT engine (that's not a diesel, but just a direct injection turbo). Legacies are so cheap (compared to mainland Europe) that it would be hard to justify spending 15000GBP or more on a Levorg. On the other hand, safety has again come a long way and is something we tend to overlook/forget.
And, I do not live in the UK so it seems silly to spend 6000-7000GBP (or much more) on a well sorted, low mileage 2.0R.
Hope this is helpful to someone.
Edited by thomasrs50 on Tuesday 18th June 08:46
thomasrs50 said:
If you guys are still on the lookout, I can share some experiences what the Levorg (2.0 N/A) vs Legacy (2.0 N/A) and Outback (3.0 N/A).
I've owned an Outback (2006 with the 245bhp H6 engine) and a Legacy (2005 with a 165 H4 engine). When I was shopping for a 'new' car, I testdrove the Levorg (2020 model with a 150 BHP 2.0 N/A) engine. The reason I didn't buy it, was because of the price and I still think the 4th or 5th Gen Legacy can offer a lot of the value for a lot less money.
On my current Subaru, I have eyesight and it does make driving more relaxing.
But, on to my small comparison.
Here's an update from my side for all those Legacy owners who would consider the Levorg. I went to see a 2.0 N/A car two weeks ago and took for a spin today. It was a 2020 car with 6000 miles on the clock, GT-S trim (so all the fancy bits on it).
About the CVT: in normal traffic and when entering the highway it does what it has to do. If you didn't know it was a CVT, you would really notice. When using the manual mode on the steering wheel, the box responds immediately. There is no delay. If you don't continue using the manual mode, it goes back to 'D' (auto).
Suspension: many reviewers and owners have said the suspension is out of balance. Compared to my Legacy R with Bilstein, it's 'soft and forgiving', compared to my Outback, it's 'firm' (in a good way). The one time I found the front 'crashy' was when going over a speed bump at 20-ish mp/h. Which would not be a problem with the Outback.
Power (so 150bhp and 200Nm): Comparing with the 165bhp engine from the Legacy, it feels like a stronger engine. I much more prefer this one over the EJ20 in the Legacy. For normal traffic and even for a spirited drive on a B-road (which I did not test), it's plenty. For normal overtaking on the highway, once more, it's plenty. But you notice that at around 130km/h (so 85mph) it's no where near the torque coming from an H6. But so is the Legacy R I sometimes take for a spin, so it's no 'downgrade'.
The interior - space: It's better than a Gen 4 Legacy in every single way. The seats have a similar feel, but the lumbar support is adjustable, the rear seats fold down 40/20/40, the rear seat back rest folds down (5 steps - like on the JDM Legacy) and there is room for the rear occupants to put their feet underneath the front seats (if you've never tried this with a Gen 4 Legacy with power seats, please do, there is no room and seating is cramped). The boot is bigger.
The steering wheel is telescopic, something I miss on the preface-lift Legacy and it sure enhances finding a good seating position immensely.
The interior - quality: I can't say for sure it's better. It's on par with the feel you get in a Gen4. Yes, there is some nice 'leather' on the dash and gear selector, but in some areas the plastic feels (and looks) cheaper.
The interior - ergonomics (buttons and switches): it's very intuitive. If you often drive Japanse cars, there is nothing silly about the Levorg (I did not try the satnav). All basic buttons and controls are where you would expect them to be.
Looks (yes, very subjective): I like the Levorg from most angles, but it can be a bit 'bulky' to look at. The Legacy 4 is sleeker and I prefer the elongated shape it has. Interior-wise the Legacy 4 looked amazing (to me), esp. if you consider the car is 21 years old. The Levorg looks good but there is nothing amazing about it. Something to bh about: I do not like the wheels for one bit. I don't like the stance, I don't like the design.
So, overall the Levorg feels like a good car and is indeed what a successor to the Legacy 4 should drive and feel like. Looks are on par with what Subaru designed in that period (in a good way). But, if I were to live in the UK I would spend my money on a JDM twinscroll or even a fifth gen (BR chassis) GT. I would look for one with the 2.0DIT engine (that's not a diesel, but just a direct injection turbo). Legacies are so cheap (compared to mainland Europe) that it would be hard to justify spending 15000GBP or more on a Levorg. On the other hand, safety has again come a long way and is something we tend to overlook/forget.
And, I do not live in the UK so it seems silly to spend 6000-7000GBP (or much more) on a well sorted, low mileage 2.0R.
Hope this is helpful to someone.
Useful, thanks. There's a 21 Levorg at my (not too local) Subaru dealers they have had for about a year. The price gradually reducing as it depreciates. I keep meaning to go and test drive it but baulk at spending £18k. I've owned an Outback (2006 with the 245bhp H6 engine) and a Legacy (2005 with a 165 H4 engine). When I was shopping for a 'new' car, I testdrove the Levorg (2020 model with a 150 BHP 2.0 N/A) engine. The reason I didn't buy it, was because of the price and I still think the 4th or 5th Gen Legacy can offer a lot of the value for a lot less money.
On my current Subaru, I have eyesight and it does make driving more relaxing.
But, on to my small comparison.
Here's an update from my side for all those Legacy owners who would consider the Levorg. I went to see a 2.0 N/A car two weeks ago and took for a spin today. It was a 2020 car with 6000 miles on the clock, GT-S trim (so all the fancy bits on it).
About the CVT: in normal traffic and when entering the highway it does what it has to do. If you didn't know it was a CVT, you would really notice. When using the manual mode on the steering wheel, the box responds immediately. There is no delay. If you don't continue using the manual mode, it goes back to 'D' (auto).
Suspension: many reviewers and owners have said the suspension is out of balance. Compared to my Legacy R with Bilstein, it's 'soft and forgiving', compared to my Outback, it's 'firm' (in a good way). The one time I found the front 'crashy' was when going over a speed bump at 20-ish mp/h. Which would not be a problem with the Outback.
Power (so 150bhp and 200Nm): Comparing with the 165bhp engine from the Legacy, it feels like a stronger engine. I much more prefer this one over the EJ20 in the Legacy. For normal traffic and even for a spirited drive on a B-road (which I did not test), it's plenty. For normal overtaking on the highway, once more, it's plenty. But you notice that at around 130km/h (so 85mph) it's no where near the torque coming from an H6. But so is the Legacy R I sometimes take for a spin, so it's no 'downgrade'.
The interior - space: It's better than a Gen 4 Legacy in every single way. The seats have a similar feel, but the lumbar support is adjustable, the rear seats fold down 40/20/40, the rear seat back rest folds down (5 steps - like on the JDM Legacy) and there is room for the rear occupants to put their feet underneath the front seats (if you've never tried this with a Gen 4 Legacy with power seats, please do, there is no room and seating is cramped). The boot is bigger.
The steering wheel is telescopic, something I miss on the preface-lift Legacy and it sure enhances finding a good seating position immensely.
The interior - quality: I can't say for sure it's better. It's on par with the feel you get in a Gen4. Yes, there is some nice 'leather' on the dash and gear selector, but in some areas the plastic feels (and looks) cheaper.
The interior - ergonomics (buttons and switches): it's very intuitive. If you often drive Japanse cars, there is nothing silly about the Levorg (I did not try the satnav). All basic buttons and controls are where you would expect them to be.
Looks (yes, very subjective): I like the Levorg from most angles, but it can be a bit 'bulky' to look at. The Legacy 4 is sleeker and I prefer the elongated shape it has. Interior-wise the Legacy 4 looked amazing (to me), esp. if you consider the car is 21 years old. The Levorg looks good but there is nothing amazing about it. Something to b
h about: I do not like the wheels for one bit. I don't like the stance, I don't like the design.So, overall the Levorg feels like a good car and is indeed what a successor to the Legacy 4 should drive and feel like. Looks are on par with what Subaru designed in that period (in a good way). But, if I were to live in the UK I would spend my money on a JDM twinscroll or even a fifth gen (BR chassis) GT. I would look for one with the 2.0DIT engine (that's not a diesel, but just a direct injection turbo). Legacies are so cheap (compared to mainland Europe) that it would be hard to justify spending 15000GBP or more on a Levorg. On the other hand, safety has again come a long way and is something we tend to overlook/forget.
And, I do not live in the UK so it seems silly to spend 6000-7000GBP (or much more) on a well sorted, low mileage 2.0R.
Hope this is helpful to someone.
Edited by thomasrs50 on Tuesday 18th June 08:46
I've been looking for an estate for ages but keep stopping from buying one as it's a want more than a need (90 percent of the time my suzuki swift is fine).
I do like the look of the levorg and the fact it's not common but the MPG looks appalling for the performance
Could this be why they don't seem to sell easy ?
I do like the look of the levorg and the fact it's not common but the MPG looks appalling for the performance
Could this be why they don't seem to sell easy ?
Ilovejapcrap said:
MPG looks appalling for the performance
This has often been my thoughts on normally aspirated Subarus. Might as well get the turbo version! Although it's still not great, I have found you can actually achieve their book figures. With a lot of manufactures it's a distant dream!
They mostly didn't sell because Subaru doesn't care about it's sales in Europe. When you take into consideration they sell over 500 000 cars in the US alone, it makes little sens for them to promote the brand over here.
Other than that, the Levorg put people off due to it's CVT and lack of engine options. The CVT is a good box if you use the car what it was designed for: daily driving or even some spirited B-road runs. An other problem is that the 4th generation of Legacy has a bit of a cult following and with good reason. Those owners couldn't justify spending that kind of cash on a new Levorg if this meant going from a sleek, timeless design with a powerfull turbo'ed engine or strong H6, mated to a 6-speed manual to a small, unknown turbo engine and a stupid auto box.
But, the last few years, some owners from the Legacy Owners group have trated the Legacy for the Levorg and all are pleased with that decision.
Edit: my own subie thread on here => https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Other than that, the Levorg put people off due to it's CVT and lack of engine options. The CVT is a good box if you use the car what it was designed for: daily driving or even some spirited B-road runs. An other problem is that the 4th generation of Legacy has a bit of a cult following and with good reason. Those owners couldn't justify spending that kind of cash on a new Levorg if this meant going from a sleek, timeless design with a powerfull turbo'ed engine or strong H6, mated to a 6-speed manual to a small, unknown turbo engine and a stupid auto box.
But, the last few years, some owners from the Legacy Owners group have trated the Legacy for the Levorg and all are pleased with that decision.
Edit: my own subie thread on here => https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by thomasrs50 on Thursday 20th June 07:49
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