Subaru boxes cleaver

3:01pm Friday 9th May 2008

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SUBARU is renowned for producing both rally-bred high performance cars and workhorses popular in the countryside - all with the common factor of brilliant all-wheel drive.

Unfortunately that had classed them with Chelsea tractors' as tax targets, but now all that's changed with a wave of new diesel models.

Of course, being Subaru they are not any old diesel but the world's first boxer' diesel engine with horizontally-opposed cylinders. This combines good ground clearance and a low centre of gravity for first class handling.

The model tested, courtesy of Sparshatts at Botley, was a flagship 2.0 D REn Legacy Sports Tourer with 16-valve four-cylinder boxer diesel with intercooler and variable geometry turbocharger producing 150PS and a lusty 350Nm of torque at 3,600rpm.

Subaru's first diesel is attracting rave reviews thanks to the engine's smoothness, refinement, petrol-like throttle-response and torquey power delivery for 0-62mph in less than nine seconds and potential top speed of 126mph.

So there's plenty of go but also the bonus of superb fuel economy, with nearly 40mpg around town and about 50mpg on the combined cycle.

These figures help contribute to CO2 emissions of just 154g/km, giving road tax of £145 this year and £150 next - the same as some recent 1.4 petrol hatchbacks.

That would be good for a modern diesel hatchback, but remember this is an all-wheel drive estate car that's roomy, comfortable, robust and well equipped, with features like leather sports seats with eight-way electric adjustment for the driver's seat.

The REn flagship is stacked with goodies including DVD-based colour touch screen satellite navigation with onboard computer and Bluetooth phone preparation and tilt and slide electric sunroof in a high specification for £24,395 on the road (including metallic paint).

But even the lower specification models, priced from £20,995, have front and side curtain airbags, loads of crash protection under that sleek and stylish skin, alloy wheels, powered windows and mirrors, power sockets and top rate security.

Oh, and a fuel economy gauge to remind you how superbly frugal it is.