Price: £27,495
Top speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 8.9 seconds
MPG: 39.8
Imagine two drivers standing proudly beside their new cars. One is next to a Mercedes, the other a Subaru. Now picture the same scene a few years down the road. Both have replaced their cars, but which of the two has bought the same brand again? The Benz, surely! In fact it’s the Subaru that will be putting in another shift. The marque has phenomenal brand loyalty, higher than Mercedes, BMW and even Porsche. But why such fidelity? Subarus are certainly good cars, but they are not great cars.
One answer is that Subaru promotes its range as family oriented, safety minded, outdoorsy, sporty and, above all, dog friendly. (They even joke the 4x4s are “all-paw drive”.) A few years ago it ran a whole series of ads featuring a motley crew of dogs using a Subaru to go camping, skiing or for a day at the beach. A drooling collie always drove while his furry mates piled into the back. The ads were funny and featured the tagline: “Dog Tested, Dog Approved”. It seems we humans really do buy our cars because dogs rate them. Is that stupid or cute?
Subaru likes to do things its own way. The cars feature patented “boxer” engines, while everyone else favours the more traditional V-Type or inline engines. The unusual set-up creates a wonderfully balanced car for improved handling. It also means the car boasts “symmetrical” four-wheel drive, which few others can.
This model is a Levorg, which sounds like a French cyborg. The name, in fact, is a blend of the words “Legacy”, “Revolution” and “Touring”. The “Legacy” prefix refers to Subaru’s retired but much missed performance estate. It was an anonymous-looking beast that wiped the smiles off the lairy faces of hot-hatch owners by blasting them off the road. This new Levorg takes up the mantle and is well up for that sort of fun. Fast, furious, and mundane, the only clue to its amazing thrust is the large air scoop on the bonnet. To drive, it’s precise and snappy. Its combination of symmetrical 4x4 and individual suspension means it swallows corners, ruts and the toughest trails with zen-like unflappability.
Refreshingly, Subaru doesn’t do options. The Levorg comes with just one engine choice (a 1.6-litre turbo), one trim level and one gearbox – an automatic. You can choose the colour: white, grey or blue. It’s a godsend for the chronically indecisive.
It’s also a car that grows on you. Each day I found something new to enjoy, from the onboard tech to the comfortable seats. Maybe in another few weeks I’d be hooked – for life.
Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166
