Why the new Subaru Levorg has changed more than it seems at first glance

Subaru approached the creation of the second-generation Levorg without the usual conservatism and almost completely rewrote the design. Despite the recognizable silhouette, the car feels much more mature and technologically advanced. It is based on the SGP platform — in Japan, its significance was compared to the appearance of the first Legacy. Body rigidity has increased due to adhesive joints and high-strength steels, and the center of gravity has become lower. The dimensions have grown — the wheelbase has increased by 20 mm, the length by 65 mm — but the suspension scheme has remained familiar. At the rear is the same "multi-link", and at the front, forged aluminum wishbones appeared for the first time for the Levorg, previously available only for the WRX.

The main revolution is hidden under the hood. The engine range has been completely revised. The younger FB16F was retired, and a new CB18 engine appeared instead. This is a compact "boxer" of the Concentration/Compact Boxer series — the engineers reduced the distance between the cylinder centers and shortened the crankshaft. Due to the shifted rear installation, it was possible to better integrate it into the front of the chassis, improving weight distribution. The engine develops 177 horsepower and 300 Nm, which looks modern for 1.8 liters. More important is the character: traction is available almost from idle, the turbine comes to life at 1500 rpm, and the pickup feels clear and confident. At the same time, the engine does not overheat — the oil temperature does not rise above 105 °C even in mountain mode.

The previous Lineatronic variator has been so heavily modified that they abandoned the name, giving the unit a new name — Subaru Performance Transmission. Now the response has become faster, and in manual mode you can keep the engine at peak revs for a long time. In normal driving, the CVT tries to work smoothly, but when pressed to the floor, it confidently spins the engine, creating a feeling of light sports надрыва — without the unpleasant "whine" that is familiar to owners of small cars.

In terms of all-wheel drive, the Levorg has remained true to itself. Here is the same scheme without an interaxle differential, distributing torque in a 45:55 ratio and blocking the flow with an electronically controlled clutch. The difference between generations is minimal, which is logical: in some countries, the Levorg is sold as a WRX Wagon, so unification is maximum. Even basic versions with CB18 can be obtained in the STI Sport configuration — these are adaptive shock absorbers, five driving modes and a richer interior trim. Recaro buckets are available for the STI R-Black Limited.

The interior of the new Levorg is closer to the Outback and Legacy. The materials have noticeably improved: soft panels, leather-like inserts, neat blue stitching. The central console is occupied by a large vertical display of 11.6 inches. It replaces the usual climate control buttons and seat heating — everything is displayed on the screen. The multimedia has finally become convenient: it plays Russian tracks, quickly connects smartphones, and calmly displays maps directly on the dashboard. The instrument panel is drawn, but stylized as classic round scales, and the instruments themselves are hidden under a visor — traditionally Subaru.

From the point of view of ergonomics, it is easy to get used to the car. The seats are comfortable, with dense support, the textiles in inexpensive versions remain pleasant and tenacious. There is slightly more space in the second row than in the previous generation. There are USB ports, heated seats and a minimal set of amenities, which in this class is usually considered a bonus, not a mandatory option.

The trunk has also grown, albeit not significantly. Part of the volume is hidden under the false floor, but there is no spare wheel in the maximum versions — only a repair kit. Folding the backrests of the sofa is still remote, hooks, loops and small amenities are preserved. Another novelty is the opening of the fifth door: it is enough to bring your hand or elbow to the area behind the emblem without pressing physical keys.

In terms of driving sensations, the difference between generations is huge. The first Levorg was sharp, nervous, sometimes even angry on bumps. He jumped on the waves, reacted sharply to the joints and demanded attentiveness from the driver. The new station wagon has become much calmer. It passes patches softer, does not hit the suspension on "speed bumps", absorbs small bumps. At the same time, the handling has retained its accuracy: the car willingly goes into a turn, almost does not roll and gives clear feedback.

Sound insulation has also been improved. There are fewer booming low vibrations in the cabin, it has become quieter on the highway, and the engine is audible only during active acceleration. The brakes remained informative, with a short and confident stroke. It began to feel that the overall concept of the car has approached the "grand tourer", and not the sports "station wagon for every day".

There are significantly more electronic systems. EyeSight of the new generation is already in the base, and EyeSight X is in the top version. This system can analyze the terrain, calculate the speed in adaptive cruise, taking into account the steepness of the turns, allows you to let go of the steering wheel for a short time, monitors the driver's gaze and, if there is a threat of falling asleep, turns on the emergency alarm and puts the car on the side of the road itself. The owner notes that the new EyeSight sees the markings better and gets less lost on erased lines.

Levorg is no longer officially available on the Russian market. But there are offers among the cars imported earlier: the price tag starts at about two million rubles and rises to three for rich versions. The average price is about 2.2–2.3 million rubles. This is a car with charisma, a comfortable interior, an interesting engine and balanced behavior. In fact, it is the successor to the Legacy in a modern interpretation — and one of the last station wagons of the old school that can still be purchased.

Read more materials:

• AvtoVAZ officially explained what gasoline should be poured into Lada
• "Moskvich" announced prices for the Moskvich 6 sedan of the 2026 model year
• Tank raised prices for the entire model range in Russia: Tank 500, 700 and 400 have risen in price