When is an Outback an Outback?
For decades, the formula for the Subaru Outback has been relatively simple. That’s to take a Legacy wagon, add some body cladding, jack up the suspension, and give it a beefy set of roof rails. It’s been that way for the last six generations, but all that changed dramatically for the seventh-gen model.
With the Legacy gone, Subaru pretty much had no choice but to change the way the Outback presented itself. The result is something more of a shortened Ascent than the Legacy wagon. It’s not reached a point where even Subaru couldn’t decide if it’s still a wagon or a fully-fledged crossover.
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Meet the Levorg Layback
The new Outback is an odd in-betweener, then. That said, Subaru still builds a jacked-up wagon, but you’ll have to fly to Japan to see it. In its home market, it sells something called the Levorg Layback, and it could be said that it’s true to the Outback’s original spirit.
The Levorg Layback is based on another forbidden fruit, the WRX Wagon. It follows the foundations laid down by the Outback, so it’s quite literally the compact wagon with chunkier fender flares and more ground clearance. For those who miss the Outbacks of old, it’s time to start writing that petition letter to Subaru of North America to bring it back.
As it’s really more based on an Impreza, you can think of this more as a modern interpretation of the first two generations of the Outback Sport. For those old enough to remember, those models were based on the Impreza wagon before it shifted to a hatchback shape that eventually formed the basis of the modern-day Crosstrek.
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It’s Not Even That Small
Before you dismiss it as not being as big as an Outback, a look at the Levorg Layback’s dimensions says otherwise. Okay, it’s not at the level of the current model, but it’s bigger than the first two models and on par with the third and fourth generations.
Need proof? The spec sheet lists the Levorg Layback’s dimensions at 187.8 inches long, 71.7 inches wide, and 61.8 inches tall with a wheelbase of 105.1 inches. Those figures put it on par with the third-gen Outback, which measures 188.7 inches long, 69.7 inches wide, and 63.2 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 105.1 inches.
In terms of practicality, the Levorg Layback gets close to Outbacks from the past. Japan lists cargo capacity at 561 liters or 19.1 cu. ft., but that’s with the typically conservative VDA measurements. If we compare using the same measuring method, it’s about the same as the previous-generation Outback.
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What’s It Packing?
Yes, it has a hood scoop, but no, it’s not a WRX Wagon on stilts. The powertrain is rather conservative, but should suit the Japanese market just fine. To suit local regulations, it comes with a turbocharged 1.8-liter boxer engine with 175 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. It effectively supplements the familiar 2.5-liter engine in North American models by coming with heaps more torque.
Of course, it comes with Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System, and EyeSight is included as well. The cabin should look familiar to WRX owners, and that shouldn’t come as a surprise given Subaru’s pattern of sharing interior bits.
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As for price, it retails in Japan for ¥3,993,000 to ¥4,246,000, which is an absolute bargain when converted to dollars. The well-equipped entry-level model is just a little over $25,000, while the top-spec trim is about $26,600. Oh, how we dream of more cars in that price bracket.
Unfortunately, the Levorg Layback is about to be discontinued after just three years. It was never sold outside of its domestic market, but we reckon it could’ve done better if it made it stateside. Maybe call it an Outback Sport and slap in a 2.4-liter turbo from the WRX, and it has all the potential to be successful abroad.
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