Used Subaru Levorg (Mk1, 2015-2020) evaluate

Verdict

There is a elementary downside with shopping for a second-hand Levorg: there aren’t loads of them out there in the marketplace. Whereas the Subaru property has its good factors, they’re balanced out by the weaker ones. The Levorg may need been Japan’s Automotive of the 12 months in 2020, however we’d be inclined to purchase any of the rivals already talked about, not as a result of the Levorg is a nasty automobile as such, however as a result of its rivals are extra rounded. Security and reliability are the Subaru’s strongest fits, however working prices, efficiency, cabin high quality and availability all depend towards the Levorg. If you happen to can afford the working prices you’ll discover possession comparatively painless, however that additionally applies to most of its rivals, which must be cheaper to purchase and run, too.

Subaru has by no means been a giant participant within the UK market, however because it arrived right here within the seventies, it has appealed to a choose band of people that love its spectacular reliability document and standard-fit four-wheel drive.

For some time the Impreza Turbo was a must have efficiency automobile, its repute bolstered by spectacular ends in the World Rally Championship. However these days have been lengthy gone by the point the Levorg arrived, with Subaru very a lot a distinct segment model within the UK.

The agency campaigned the Levorg between 2016 and 2019 within the British Touring Automotive Championship, with some success, however gross sales have been exhausting to come back by. Does the Subaru deserve the next profile as a used purchase?

Mannequin coated

• Subaru Levorg Mk1 (2015-date) – Uncommon compact property is dependable and secure, however working prices, efficiency and cabin high quality depend towards it.

Historical past

We bought our first glimpse of the Levorg when it was unveiled in November 2013 in idea type on the Tokyo Motor Present.

On the Geneva Present in March 2015 the manufacturing Levorg was proven, with the primary buyer vehicles reaching the UK in September 2015, choosing up the place the Subaru Legacy left off. There was only one mannequin out there on this nation: the Levorg GT 1.6 DIT Lineartronic, with a 168bhp turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, a repeatedly variable computerized transmission (CVT) and four-wheel drive as commonplace. There was no manual-gearbox possibility.

A refreshed Levorg went on sale in July 2019, with a 147bhp non-turbo 2.0-litre petrol engine, nonetheless solely supplied with a CVT gearbox and four-wheel drive. The grille and bumper have been redesigned and LED headlights with a cornering perform have been now fitted as commonplace tools.

Which one ought to I purchase?

The one factor that separates Levorgs is the color and whether or not they’re pre or post-facelift. The latter have a non-turbo engine that lacks muscle, which is why we’d go for the sooner turbocharged 1.6-litre engine each time. However these are exhausting to seek out.

Simply six colors have been supplied (white, black, gunmetal, blue, silver and pink), all of them metallic, though the latter two weren’t choices on pre-facelift Levorgs. All variations have leather-based trim, computerized headlights and wipers, 18-inch alloys, heated entrance seats, LED headlights, dual-zone local weather management, privateness glass, navigation, a reversing digicam and adaptive cruise management.

There have been no choices supplied, however there have been just a few equipment out there, similar to a removable tow bar, premium overmats and a moulded tray for the boot.

Alternate options to the Subaru Levorg

Two of the Levorg’s most succesful rivals are the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia estates, which share the identical environment friendly engines and transmissions. They’re good to drive, user-friendly and properly made, and there’s a large mannequin vary for each. The Ford Focus Property performs the value-for-money card closely, and its dynamics are wonderful.

The Kia Ceed Sportswagon seems to be good, is nice worth and you may count on reliability, too, whereas the Renault Mégane Sport Tourer is affordable to run and really comfy.

The BMW 3 Sequence, Mercedes CLA Taking pictures Brake and Audi A4 Avant are hi-tech however dear to purchase. Of those a number of alternate options, keep in mind that even those which can be uncommon are nonetheless extra plentiful on the used-car market than the Levorg.

What to search for

Guarantee

The five-year/ 100,000-mile guarantee coated every part for 3 years/60,000 miles, then simply the powertrain.

Punctures

A tyre restore package was equipped as a substitute of a spare wheel. A full-size spare matches, as does an 18-inch Kia Ceed wheel with a spigot ring.

Steering

Levorgs are dependable, however proprietor boards within the UK report steering racks being changed by Subaru beneath guarantee due to extra play.

Towing

4-wheel drive provides the Levorg good traction for towing, however the lack of muscle is a matter. The towing restrict is 1,500kg for each engines.

Frequent faults

We haven’t heard many complaints from Levorg homeowners and reliability is a robust space for this mannequin, with no remembers having been issued. With this in thoughts, you shouldn’t have to carry out any additional checks when a used Levorg.

Inside

Cabin area is okay for 4 adults, and there’s loads of oddments area, however the design and supplies can’t compete with these of premium rivals. The Levorg’s facia is usually user-friendly, nevertheless it seems to be moderately uninteresting and dated.

The boot is roomy, at 522 litres, and when you drop the again seats, this jumps to a really helpful 1,446 litres. By the way, the 2019 facelift introduced a brand new 40:20:40 folding seat association; earlier than this it was an everyday 60:40 set-up. Later Levorgs have been fitted with a 5.9-inch infotainment show, which was pleasingly easy to make use of, due to a collection of properly laid-out bodily shortcut buttons.

Working prices

All Levorgs must be serviced each 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, no matter whether or not the 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre engine is fitted.

The primary upkeep is in impact an oil and filter change, which is priced at a hefty £350; the second service entails changing the brake fluid, which pushes the full price as much as £410.

New air and gasoline filters are fitted on the third check-up, with an accompanying invoice of £460. Companies 4 and 5 are each priced at £600. On the fourth service all the oils have to get replaced, whereas on the fifth service all the filters must be renewed.

The engine coolant must be changed after 11 years or 137,500 miles; from then on it must be performed each six years or 120,000 miles, at a price of round £100. The becoming of timing chains means there aren’t any cambelts that must be changed.

Remembers

For the reason that Levorg arrived within the UK again within the autumn of 2015, Subaru has issued a complete of 15 remembers throughout its whole mannequin vary. Nevertheless, none of those has affected the Levorg, which is one other plus level for this compact property’s reliability.

Driver Energy proprietor satisfaction

Predictably, the Levorg is simply too area of interest a automobile to have appeared in our Driver Energy surveys. However despite the fact that Subaru doesn’t promote many vehicles within the UK, it has appeared in our Manufacturers ballot. Subaru was third out of 30 producers in our 2020 Manufacturers survey. House owners mentioned their vehicles have been dependable and satisfying to drive. Subaru was voted finest for security options within the ballot, with working prices and efficiency the one downsides.