Sucking diesel at long last
Subaru has a new engine, but the Legacy Sports Tourer is a bit of a work in progress, writes Campbell Spray
The price of €32,795 for Subaru's Legacy Sports Tourer is extremely competitive, but qualms about the gearing place it in the 'not quite there yet' category
AMONG the motoring cognescenti, Subaru has always punched above its weight in talk if not in sales. Whenever two or more are gathered together and the discussion turns to favourite cars, the Subaru Forester always ranks very highly in the approval ratings for being an SUV for people with style and the need for real country-pursuit pulling-power.
Then if the conversation switches to the real hot stuff, hairy stories are exchanged of driving the Subaru Impreza WRX and STi versions. Clean and/or economical motoring hasn't been at the forefront of reasons for buying Subaru -- that is apart from the very small city cars for which the company is known at home in Japan. Subaru makes brilliantly engineered cars that seemed to be sold by word of mouth more than anything else. The fact that the brand didn't possess a diesel engine across its whole range limited its appeal as well as any chance that the new emission-based tax rates coming in across the world would benefit the brand.
But that has suddenly changed. Just as the new rates came into effect at the beginning of this month I got my first taste of Subaru's first diesel engine, which is based on 40 years of the company's famous 'boxer' engine technology.
The diesel has first been put into the Legacy, Legacy Sports Tourer and Outback vehicles, but will soon appear in the Forester -- where it will be particularly welcome -- and Impreza models.
Apart from any other considerations, the 2.0 litre diesel will give the Subaru range a massive fillip in turns of prices. Already the cars are excellently equipped, but the new engine with C02g/km figures of between 148/153 compared top 202/205 for the petrol equivalent, means that they come into the B classification for VRT and motor tax and can claim to be the most-environmentally friendly vehicles in the AWD passenger car class.
The price of €32,795 for the Legacy Sports Tourer is extremely competitive, especially as its driving abilities, stability and versatility are absolutely first class. It is an estate with looks and attitude and is resoundingly safe.
Yet all is not totally excellent in the land of the Subaru diesel. The gearing still seems to be at the development stage, with the engine not having the range across the lower gears that you expect of a modern diesel.
A lot of gear changes are necessary if you are not to risk stalling at worst and a lot of juddering at best. Starting from cold, the engine takes a while to get into its stride and you can be a couple of miles down the road before it is delivering its power in a refined and organised manner. But when it does -- and you haven't got any of those slow corners to negotiate -- the power is excellent.
Subarus are not renowned for the brilliance of their fascias, and the new Sports Tourer is no exception. Well-equipped, yes, but functional looking. While there are plenty of electronic adjustments possible for the driver's seat, the front passenger seat is very flat to the point of being uncomfortable.
The Legacy Sports Tourer has the makings of a really good buy and is very different from the run-of-the-mill offerings out there. Unfortunately, my experience of the diesel engine makes it a work in progress at the moment. I expect more when the engine makes it into the Forester.
- Campbell Spray
