The fire-breathing Japanese dragon takes on the shiny Teutonic knight in this station wagon showdown.
The fire-breathing Japanese dragon takes on the shiny Teutonic knight in this station wagon showdown.
Subaru Levorg Gt-s 1.6 Versus Volkswagengolf Variantr-line 1.4
STATION wagons aren’t as popular as hatchbacks in Singapore, but that hasn’t stopped Subaru and Volkswagen from introducing the Levorg and Golf Variant respectively.
The latter’s model name is easy to comprehend, since it is literally a variant of the Golf hatchback. The former’s oddsounding moniker, on the other hand, is derived from “Legacy”, “revolution” and “touring”. “Legacy” refers to the fact that the Levorg shares its platform with the Legacy model.
There’s nothing odd, however, about the Levorg’s aggressive design. To many people, especially boyracers, this is how a Subaru should look.
The face of the “dragon” is dominated by a prominent bonnet scoop, which feeds fresh air to the top-mounted intercooler. Further hinting at its performance potential are the muscular lines found throughout its body, and a “tail” with a pair of exhaust tips.
The Levorg makes the Golf Variant, the Teutonic knight in this tale, seem meek in comparison. Mind you, the only Golf Variant sold by Volkswagen Singapore has the R-Line package, which comes with a bodykit and upsized wheels as standard. Despite these, the neatly styled Golf Variant remains as understated as ever.
The VW is more impressive once you’ve settled behind the driver’s seat. The cockpit is more user-friendly than the Subaru’s, with a dashboard that’s angled towards the driver and equipped with intuitive infotainment controls. More importantly for cars like these, the VW offers greater cabin practicality, thanks to its larger and more numerous storage points.
"Levorg’s cockpit is sportier, while Golf Variant’s is roomier and more user-friendly."
Although less practical than the VW, the Levorg will please keen drivers with its sporty cockpit. Racy touches include alloy pedals with rubber studs for enhanced grip, a chunky steering wheel that’s more delightful to hold, and well-padded front seats that are more supportive than the VW’s.
Boyracers will also love the instrument cluster’s blue accents, along with digital readouts for the turbo boost and oil temperature.
But when it comes to backseat Subaru’s more powerful turbocharged 1.6L flat-4 also has a wider powerband than the VW’s smaller turbocharged 1.4-litre 4-pot. accommodation, occupants in the Levorg are more likely to feel Singapore’s heat than those in the Golf Variant, because the Subaru doesn’t come with rear air-con vents. The Levorg, however, offers a pair of USB points, which might please Pokemon Go players who need to recharge their smartphones on the move.
While the VW loses out in terms of connectivity, its rear bench feels more upmarket thanks to a panoramic sunroof. The rear footwells also offer more space for feet and legs than in the Levorg.
And when it comes to boot space, it is again the Golf Variant that offers more, with 605 litres compared to the Levorg’s 522 litres. If your weekend activities include cycling and bulk purchase of groceries, the VW ismore ideal than the Subaru.
The Golf Variant may be roomier and more convenient, but it isn’t as athletic as its rival here. Volkswagen’s turbocharged 1.4-litre 4-pot produces 125bhp and 200Nm, but seems a bit weedy compared to Subaru’s turbocharged 1.6-litre flat4, which delivers a healthier 170bhp and 250Nm.
Not surprisingly, the Levorg completes the century sprint in 8.9 seconds, or 0.6 of a second ahead of the Golf Variant. Acceleration aside, the Levorg, with its all-wheel-drive system, also has the edge in handling.
In fact, the Levorg loves being flogged. Set the SI-Drive setting to Sport, and you’ll discover that it enjoys having an enthusiastic driver stomp on its throttle and enter corners a bit too fast. You’ll even get the sense that the Levorg likes having its chunky steering wheel suddenly yanked left or right.
You’ll have to have strong arms to perform the last action, though, because the Levorg’s helm is weightier than expected. This is great during highway runs, but annoying when you’re manoeuvring in carparks.
Although the Golf Variant isn’t as quick or nimble as the Levorg, it does have a lighter helm and a more pliant ride. There won’t be any impromptu arm workouts while parking, and the softer damping means more comfortable daily commutes.
So, is the Levorg a better wagon than the Golf Variant? Because the Subaru is performance-focussed, it benefits the minority of drivers who drive hard. Its only drawbacks are its CVT, which isn’t as responsive as the Golf Variant’s dual-clutch gearbox, and its less forgiving ride.
In this contest, the “dragon” has more than singed its opponent with its fiery performance. But although charred, the “knight”, with its better balance of abilities, has managed to hold its ground.
"The Levorg Enjoys Being Flogged, While the Golf Variant Prefers a Laid-back Approach."
