Subaru Levorg confirmed for Australia

It may sound like a cyborg, but there is no need to be afraid of the Subaru Levorg that is officially heading Down Under by the middle of next year.

The Levorg is essentially a new-generation WRX wagon complete with a 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, although an automatic CVT with paddles is the only choice.

Another drivetrain choice for the Japanese domestic market is a 125kW/250Nm 1.6-litre turbo that we haven’t yet seen in a local Subie. However according to Subaru Australia corporate affairs manager David Rowley, “It’s something in our own research that hasn’t had a lot of appeal among our customer base in Australia.”

The local arm – which recorded third-highest sales worldwide in June, only behind Japan and the US – is actually pitching the Levorg as a “spiritual successor” to the previous-generation Liberty GT turbo that failed to make an appearance with the new model.

2

“It will appeal to those fourth generation Liberty GT buyers who have been starved of a logical successor,” commented Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior. “But we believe it will also attract a much wider audience because of its performance, its versatility, its refinement and its high level of standard equipment.”

“The factory has been extremely supportive in helping us to secure the Levorg for the Australian market,” he added.

Highlighting its in-betweener positioning, the Levorg measures 4690mm long, stretching 276mm further than an Impreza hatch but stopping 85mm short of a new Liberty wagon. It’s also 40mm wider than the smaller of those two Subaru models and 41mm narrower than the larger load-lugger.

Subaru Australia says it has its own internal competitor set, which we imagine includes the 4685mm-long, 350Nm Skoda Octavia RS wagon that retails for $40K – and that’s exactly where we expect the Levorg to sit come the middle of 2016.

Reckon the new Levorg is a bit tame for your tastes? Check out our 10 Wildest Wagons.