Subaru Levorg Layback off-road turbo wagon revealed

There’s a niche for just about everything these days and Subaru has managed to create another one, applying Outback treatment to the WRX Sportswagon with the all-new 2023 Subaru Levorg Layback.

Not yet on the agenda for release in Australia, but a prospect down the track, the Layback is essentially a beefed-up and higher-riding version of the Japanese-market Subaru WRX Sportswagon (known there as the Levorg).

An extra 55mm of ground clearance (now 200mm) combines with an updated exterior design and marginally increased dimensions – 4770mm long (+15mm), 1820mm wide (+25mm) and 1570mm tall (+80mm) – to create a slightly bigger, more wagon-like alternative to the Forester mid-size SUV.

The Layback’s off-road intent is hammered home by new black body cladding skirting the sills and wheel-arches, complementing the new bumpers and black grille.

Few changes have been made within the cabin, save for a new two-tone black and beige colourway.

Under the bonnet is the same 130kW/300Nm 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as found in the regular Levorg, which drives all four wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

This engine may not be familiar to Aussie consumers given our market’s WRX Sportswagon comes with the same 202kW/350Nm 2.4-litre turbo-four as the WRX sedan.

There are many Subaru fans waiting for a turbocharged Forester XT to return to Australia, but could a kind-of Outback XT WRX tempt them?

Not just yet, anyway.

“Currently there are no plans for this model for Australia … it is currently exclusively for the Japanese market, but we will be keeping a vigilant eye on future developments,” a spokesperson told carsales recently.

The Layback is being offered in seven colours in its home market: Ceramic White, Ice Silver Metallic, Magnetite Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Ignition Red, Asteroid Grey Pearl and Sapphire Blue Pearl.

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