Station wagons are not as popular as hatchbacks in Singapore, but that has not stopped Subaru and Volkswagen from introducing the Levorg and Golf Variant.
The Levorg’s “face” 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 pair of exhaust tips.
The Levorg makes the Golf Variant seem meek in comparison. 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 accessories, the neatly styled Golf Variant remains as understated as ever.
The VW is more impressive once you have settled in the driver’s seat. The cockpit is more user-friendly than the Subaru’s, with a dashboard angled towards the driver and equipped with intuitive infotainment controls.
More importantly for cars like these, the Golf Variant offers greater cabin functionality, thanks to its larger and more numerous storage points.
Although less practical than the Golf Variant, 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 is a delight to hold and well-padded front seats that are more supportive than the Golf Variant’s.
Boy racers will also love the instrument cluster’s blue accents, along with digital readouts for the turbo boost and oil temperature.
The Levorg’s cockpit is filled with sporty touches.
But when it comes to backseat accommodation, occupants in the Levorg are more likely to feel Singapore’s heat than those in the Golf Variant because the Subaru does not have rear air-conditioner 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 Golf Variant 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 is more useful than the Subaru.
The Golf Variant may be roomier and more versatile, but it is not 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 flat-4, which delivers a healthier 170bhp and 250Nm.
Not surprisingly, the Levorg is livelier than the Golf Variant, completing the century sprint in 8.9 seconds or 0.6 of a second faster than its competitor.
The Golf Variant’s dashboard has more intuitive controls.
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 will discover that it enjoys having an enthusiastic driver stomp on its throttle and enter corners a bit too fast. You will even get the sense that the Levorg likes having its chunky steering wheel suddenly yanked left or right.
You will need 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 are manoeuvring in carparks.
Although the Golf Variant is not as quick or nimble as the Levorg, it does have a lighter helm and a more pliant ride. There will not be any impromptu arm workouts while parking and the softer damping means more comfortable daily commutes.
Because the Subaru is focused on performance, it appeals to drivers who drive hard. Not so appealing, however, are its continuously variable transmission (CVT) – less responsive than the Golf Variant’s dual-clutch gearbox – and its unforgiving ride.
In this contest, the Levorg pummels its opponent with its purposeful design and Japanese athleticism. But the Golf Variant strikes a better balance between driveability and practicality.
Subaru Levorg GT-S 1.6 (A)
ENGINE 1600cc, 16-valves, flat-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 170bhp at 4800-5600rpm
MAX TORQUE 250Nm at 1800-4800rpm
GEARBOX CVT with 7-speed override
0-100KM/H 8.9 seconds
TOP SPEED 210km/h
CONSUMPTION 13.5km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE $131,800
Volkswagen Golf Variant R-Line 1.4 (A)
ENGINE 1395cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 125bhp at 5000rpm
MAX TORQUE 200Nm at 1400-4000rpm
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select
0-100KM/H 9.5 seconds
TOP SPEED 205km/h
CONSUMPTION 19.2km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE $140,400
