Playing catch-up, Subaru finally has a diesel in its line-up, but Alisdair Suttieasks was it really worth the wait for the Japanese brand
SUBARU HAS a knack of building cars that develop cult status. Look at the rally-bred Impreza and Forester SUV, both of which have found loyal followings. It's the same story with the Legacy and its jacked-up Outback relative, which have been selling steadily to those in the know for several years in their current formats.
However, Subaru is now in danger of leaving behind its cult kingmaker status in favour of mainstream success with the arrival of its all-new Boxer Diesel engine. This is the world's only passenger car turbodiesel engine to have horizontally opposed cylinders, which is where the boxer name comes from, as the pistons lie flat in pairs that punch away from each other.
This is what gives Subarus their distinctive off-beat exhaust note, but for the diesel motor Subaru's engineers only had ears for petrol engines. They were determined their new turbodiesel should be as hushed as possible and set themselves tough benchmarks. The result is impressive refinement at all speeds and a first-time effort that goes straight to the top of its class for peace and quiet.
Thanks to its Boxer design, the 2.0-litre turbodiesel is also happier to rev than most of the Subaru's rival diesels. It helps the Legacy pick up speed easily and deceptively as there is very little rush as the turbo comes into play at 1,800rpm, where peak torque is delivered.
The Legacy may not be quite as swift as some competitors, but it more than compensates with its relaxed feel. Subaru has stuck with a five-speed manual gearbox instead of opting for the six-speeders most rivals use for a few less gear shifts. Even when using the Legacy's 350Nm of punch and standard four-wheel drive to good effect on back roads, it's easy to leave it in third or fourth rather than swapping around to keep the engine in the right spread of power. The only downside is that the Legacy can sometimes feel a little short of breath on the motorway, when a quick visit to fourth gear can be necessary for deft overtaking.
Despite the Legacy Boxer Diesel coming as standard with four-wheel drive, the diesel-powered Legacy's economy and emissions are right up with the best in class. Economy of 5.7l/100km in the Sports Tourer estate - which makes up the bulk of Legacy sales - is marginally better than comparable diesel estate versions of the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat for example.
The Legacy Boxer Diesel also has a slight advantage on these rivals for carbon dioxide emissions, producing 151g/km to undercut the competition by 5g/km and keep this Legacy in Band C for road tax. This may not seem like much but is an important edge with changes to the taxation rules now in place. Even the Outback model outdoes these key rivals despite its raised suspension and beefed-up bodywork.
The Outback may have the appearance of an off-roader, but like the rest of the Legacy range, its four-wheel drive is aimed more at on-road grip than off-road traction. While all of the diesel-powered Legacy range has steering that is a touch too light and over-assisted to be truly informative, the amount of front end bite into corners is impressive. Push too hard and the standard ESP gently guides the Legacy back to the intended path, though it doesn't intervene too early so as to spoil the fun.
As with the petrol-engined models, the diesel Legacy does a fine job of levelling out even the most rut-addled road to give a composed, comfortable ride. Along with the excellent refinement, the Legacy Boxer Diesel is a great place from which to watch the miles roll by.
That said, the Legacy's cabin is now beginning to show its age. It's all very well made and put together, but the Legacy's interior misses the panache of newer rivals, even if its not short on standard equipment. All diesel Legacys come with six airbags, six-disc CD autochanger, cruise control, heated front seats with electric adjustment, and air conditioning. The Outback also gains leather upholstery as standard.
Up front, the driving position is good and all-round vision is excellent, especially in the glasshouse of the estate models. Move into the rear seats and it's fine for two adults, but the third gets a raw deal with head room. Behind this is a generous boot and easy to fold seats that make full use of the Legacys practical streak.
Keen pricing will help the Legacy, as the saloon comes in at the same price as its petrol counterpart, while the Sports Tourer estate is €200 cheaper than the petrol model at €32,795. There's an even bigger saving with the Outback Boxer Diesel, which comes in at €38,495, to be €6,500 cheaper than the petrol model. With these prices and the attractive economy and emissions of the new turbodiesel engine, Subaru deserves to step up from cult car maker to mainstream player.
FACTFILE: Subaru Legacy
Subaru Legacy 2.0 TD Saloon:
16-valve, four-cylinder turbodiesel; 148bhp @ 3,600rpm; 350Nm @ 1,800rpm; five-speed manual; four-wheel drive; performance 0-100km/h 8.7 secs; top speed 208km/h; 148g/km CO2; combined cycle fuel economy: 5.6l/100km
Prices: €29,995
Subaru Legacy 2.0 TD Sports Tourer:
16-valve, four-cylinder turbodiesel; 148bhp @ 3,600rpm; 350Nm @ 1,800rpm; five-speed manual; four-wheel drive; performance 0-100km/h 8.9 secs; top speed 203km/h; 151g/km CO2; combined cycle fuel economy: 5.7l/100km
Prices: €32,795
Subaru Legacy Outback 2.0 TD:
16-valve, four-cylinder turbodiesel; 148bhp @ 3,600rpm; 350Nm @ 1,800rpm; five-speed manual; four-wheel drive; performance 0-100km/h 9.2 secs; top speed 200km/h; 153g/km CO2; combined cycle fuel economy: 5.8l/100km
Prices: €38,495