2017 Subaru Levorg to cost less than $60K

Subaru has confirmed that its oddly-named kiddie-hauler is set to do battle with the VW Golf R Wagon, as the sub-$60K sports wagons promise plenty of fun for the school run.

THE Subaru Levorg has been confirmed for Australian showrooms for 2016 setting up a battle of the hot wagons by joining the VW Golf R Wagon Down Under. As predicted back in the March 2015 issue of Wheels, both will cost less than $60,000 and offer scintillating performance to go with the extra luggage space.

Despite the odd name, which Subaru Oz has confirmed to Wheels will remain for the Aussie market, the Levorg ain’t a Star Trek villain. It's effectively a Subaru WRX-powered successor to the Liberty GT wagon, though the front and rear-end styling has been amped to separate it from the current mum-and-dad Liberty sedan, even if it misses out on the WRX's wheelarch blisters.

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While local spec is yet to be confirmed, this grunty wagon, which sits on the same platform as the Impreza and Liberty duo, runs a 211kW/400Nm version of the WRX’s 2.0-litre four in its most potent Japanese-market guise, making it good for a mid-five-second 0-100km/h sprint. Yet the Levorg is expected to be updated between now and the time it arrives in Australian showrooms in early 2017, which may include refreshed engines as well cosmetic tweaks.

Snapping at its heels will be the VW Golf R Wagon, which is due here in October with a $58K estimated price and a 0-100km/h claim of 5.1sec. The hot Golf wagon is powered by the EA888 206kW/380Nm 1984cc turbocharged four-cylinder with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and a Haldex all-wheel drive. VW Oz has ruled out a manual version, while the Levorg will take a leaf out of the WRX’s book at be offered exclusively with a CVT.

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The lack of a Subaru Liberty wagon has the local arm of Subaru expecting the Levorg to entice showroom shoppers who want something more dynamic than the Subaru Outback wagon. So far in 2015, the wagon has outsold the sedan by a factor of three-to-one.

The two heavy-hitting kiddie haulers won’t have the wild wagon market to themselves. They’ll be up against the cheaper, almost as fast and roomier $55K Holden Commodore SS V Sportwagon, which has the muscle to cover 0-100km/h – complete with baby seat – in a Wheels-tested 5.7sec. On top of this, expect the current VF range is expected to be given a serious update before the close of 2015, so the Holden wagon could be even faster that that once the VW and Subaru arrive in showrooms.

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