Space and style for the wagon-conscious

Let’s face it, station wagons are not exactly top of any Filipinos’ wish list (yet), but some of the latest models here and abroad are making a compelling case. Take the Subaru WRX Wagon, which is actually the second-generation Levorg with the turbo boxer engine of the WRX sedan.

I admire how Subaru designers kept the exterior low-key without losing the brand’s identity and the Levorg’s personality. They could have gone nuts with fender flairs, fins, garnishes, vents, and spoilers, but the only ‘aggressive’ aesthetic, in my opinion, is the hood scoop.

The front fascia still looks sharp despite its age. The grille and the other elements around it have remained essentially the same over the years, albeit smaller or slimmer, depending on the variant. It is starting to look its age and should get a redesign soon.

At least exterior equipment is modern, like full LED lighting (including front and rear fog lamps), power-folding side mirrors, a smart key that requires a simple tap of the door handle to lock/unlock the vehicle, and 18-inch aluminum alloy rims that sufficiently fill up the wheel wells.

Due to the number of advanced creature comforts and high-tech driver assist systems in the cabin, the area around the driver is fully utilized down to the last micrometer. It will look overwhelming to someone getting behind the wheel of a Subaru for the first time.

The dashboard does not have a padded surface, but the hard plastic it uses, thankfully, does not look cheap. There are several leather panels to soften up the look. It is on the door panels and the center console. The red stitching and the few piano-black accents add a regal vibe to the cabin, and for a bit of sportiness, there are also carbon fiber garnishes on the multi-function steering wheel and the front door panels.

To make buttons, levers, and switches easy to see, Subaru added chrome or white tips to most of them. Shapes differentiate one from the other, but I feel it causes confusion and is a source of distraction as the shiny bits are too eye-catching. Materials with lesser sheen and luster can be better options next time.

With so much packed into the tiny space in the cockpit, even the manual hazard button was minimized and added to the corner of the enormous tablet-like infotainment screen that houses the digital controls of the automatic dual-zone climate control center. It has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth audio streaming, but the interface and menu systems require a bit of a learning curve.

Yes, the creature comforts are a-plenty, but it is not highly intuitive. It is not something new with Subarus in general. All their models bear this cabin style/layout design. It feels somewhat cliquish, but once you familiarize yourself with it, ease of use increases exponentially.

The firm yet comfy leather seats with power-adjustable features are the cabin’s best feature, in my opinion. It feels almost bucket-like and cradles the torso and legs with its bolstering. Like all Subarus I have driven, it is a close second reason to stay behind the wheel right behind its WRX engine and the symmetrical AWD (all-wheel drive) system.

And now to the pièce-de-resistance, the vehicle’s powertrain. It has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine making 275-PS and 350-Nm of torque. Drive goes to all four wheels via a continuously variable transmission with an eight-speed Sport mode.

Acceleration is not abrupt nor cat-quick because at 1.619 tons, this baby is hefty. That is not to say it is slow. Its reaction is immediate, and each move is purposeful, precise, and decisive with each throttle and steering input.

With shorter front and rear overhangs, its handling is excellent. It carves through curves like a butcher’s knife and maintains composure under pressure. The last one is impressive despite its relatively high ground clearance compared to its sportier counterparts, and yet, it glides around corners like a prima ballerina. I wish it had a (slightly) stiffer suspension because the soft setup, which is wow for comfort, has a teeny-tiny extra bounce coming off humps.

Coming in a close third of my favorites is the EyeSight feature. It has pre-collision braking, autonomous emergency steering, adaptive cruise control, lane centering and departure prevention, lead vehicle start alert, etc. Best of all, the implementation is seamless and subtle. It is never intrusive and gentle with its beeping.

The 2023 WRX Wagon 2.4L GT-S CVT is safe, pretty, highly capable, and offers as much space as an SUV without looking like you are going on a safari every time you head out. Price and fuel consumption should not be an issue if you know what you are getting into because Subarus have never been cheap. If you want performance at this level, be willing to cough up P2.658 million for a vehicle that does roughly 8.5 km/l in mixed driving conditions.