1 Aug 2017
Subaru introduced an entry-level version of its Levorg wagon, bringing down the price of entry in a bid to build the appeal of the slow-selling load lugger Down Under.
To facilitate this, Subaru brought in a new powertrain for the base offerings, which had never been made available in Australia before.
It was a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that delivered 125kW from 4800-5600rpm and 250Nm at 1800-4800rpm, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
The new 1.6-litre unit consumed 7.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle while emitting 169g/km of CO2 and was available in GT and GT Premium variants.
The Japanese car-maker addressed some criticism of the Levorg’s ride with the model year 2018 update, by tweaking the Bilstein front and rear suspension in the 1.6 GT Premium, 2.0 GT-S and 2.0 STI Sport to ensure a smoother ride.
Changes to the set-up included damping force, rebound length, front arm rubber bush plates and the diameter of the rear stabilisers, making for a flatter ride with minimal pitching and better absorption of bumps.
The brakes were also altered, with 2.0 variants benefiting from brake pads that were made with a high friction coefficient material.
New LED headlights and higher-quality LED foglights were the extent of the exterior tweaks over the outgoing model.
