Super Subaru Legacy Diesel First Road-Test
It's what would be called sheer bloody-mindedness if it happened in Britain. Subaru only sells 600,000 cars a year; half in Japan, most of the rest in countries where you'd barely measure the interest in a small diesel engine with a micrometer.
Yet Subaru has just developed, on its own and purely because its European retailers asked it to, the first boxer diesel ever fitted to a car. Subaru might only end up making 30,000 units a year, in most countries the engine won't be sold at all and its design is so restrictive that no other manufacturer will buy it.
Obstinacy? Not a bit of it, says Subaru, whose argument is this: our petrol engines are boxers because they're light, compact, smooth and mate easily to a 4WD transmission if aligned just-so. So our diesels must be the same. Consider it, then, dedication to engineering rightness.
`It's Here', is Subaru's strapline. 'Who cares?' will be the answer across 85 per cent of the planet. But here it is: the new Legacy 2.0 diesel and Dave Brennan of Holdcroft Subaru is delighted...'People have being asking me for years when Subaru would make a diesel and now it's here - fantastic!'
So what is it like?
Worth every yen of the development money. Every bit as compact as Subaru's petrol units, the new engine's a horizontally opposed 2.0-litre, with equal bore and stroke and a very short crankshaft to limit vibration and noise.
The engine has alloy block and heads with the turbo tucked neatly near the exhaust valves. It looks - is - small; shorter even than the 2.0-litre petrol, with which it shares the same service intervals and, amazingly, weight.
So how does it perform?
It's no less impressive when energised. This must be the quietest four-cylinder diesel family car around. Unlike most four-cylinder engines it doesn't have balance shafts, so has less inertia and a better throttle response too. Around town you're merely aware you're in a diesel; never surprised by the noise, nor by a reluctance to rev.
At higher speeds it's better still. At 148bhp the Legacy diesel is among the faster cars in this class and the power band is good. It could use, but doesn't desperately need, the six-ratio gearbox the Forester and Impreza will have when they get this engine.
There's respectable pull from a touch below 2000rpm (peak torque's at 1800) and it revs freely, not noisily past peak power at 3600 before crying off at 4500. Those figures are relatively low because it has been tuned for class leading targets of economy and emissions, not just power. The wick could be turned up easily and, later, no doubt it will be.
What about the rest of the car?
The rest of the Legacy wagon's package is as-you-were. Averagely spacious, withan above-average-feeling interior. Dynamically, the only change is the fitment of electric, rather than hydraulic power steering, in truth there isn't much difference in feel and it's still a very decent car to drive.
All of the engine and drivetrain's mechanicals are within the wheelbase, so for a large estate the Legacy is an extremely agile one. It grips strongly, has exceptional traction, brakes well and doesn't even mind being adjusted on the throttle. The ride's good too and much the same is true of the Outback, only with taller suspension and a greater propensity to lean. A saloon isn't available for now because of supply limitations and that, as far as can be seen, is the only real drawback. Some engine, this.
Should I buy one?
Traditionally, our answer here would be circumspect. A Subaru Legacy, we'd have said, is not for everybody; the limitations of its range sees to that. That's not the case any more: Subaru deserves to sell as many of these as it can make.
Want to test-drive one first?
Either call Dave and the team on 01782 617321 to arrange a time that's convenient for you or simply drop in and see them at Holdcroft Subaru, Brunswick Street, Newcastle-under-Lyne, Staffordshire, ST5 1HQ - they'll be happy to help.
First drive data...
How much?
Price - £19,995
How fast?
0-62 mph - 8.5 sec
Maximum speed - 126 mph
How big?
Weight - 1585kg
How thirsty?
Combined - 49.6 mpg
CO2 emissions - 151 g/km
Engine
Layout - 4 cylinder
Capacity - 1998 cc
Maximum power - 148 bhp at 3600 rpm
Maximum torque - 258 lb ft at 1800
