SUBARU is returning to the estate car market with the Levorg - a thoroughly modern replacement for the Legacy.

Priced at £27,495 the Levorg is a single specification model that comes fully kitted, well trimmed and has a good amount of cargo space.

It is also four wheel drive - a feature which helped the Legacy gain a loyal following, especially in rural areas.

The Legacy bowed out last year after a 25 year run and Subaru is well aware of its reputation, creating the Levorg name from a corruption of the words legacy, revolution and touring.

All of which fall into place with the Levorg retaining some of its predecessor's classic traits such as the huge air scoop on the bonnet while moving Subaru forward with the likes of LED headlights, smartphone connectivity and an all-new engine.

The Levorg is powered by a 1.6-litre, flat four petrol Boxer engine boosted to 170ps and mated to a six speed CVT gearbox.

That's an unusual set up for an estate but Subaru is a brand that likes to be different and the combination works well.

There's no surge through the gears as can be experienced on some CVT boxes and manual shifts are both rapid and positive when using the steering wheel mounted paddles.

Lively performance is complemented by some sure footed handling and with all-wheel-drive backed up by torque vectoring there is plenty of grip.

For an estate the Levorg is very much a driver's car and that is reflected in the official figures of 0 to 60 in 8.9 seconds with a top speed of 130mph.

Subaru claims a fuel return of 39.8mpg with emissions of 164g/km and in everyday use the Levorg is likely to average around 30 to the gallon as it demonstrated on a decent drive through the Yorkshire dales.

The car is fitted with Subaru's intelligent drive system which changes characteristics to accommodate sporty or more economical driving styles. Stop/start is another feature to help on the eco front.

Other driver aids include lane departure warning, blind spot and cross traffic alerts which warn of oncoming traffic when reversing, as well as a hill holding system to help in severe conditions.

There is also a tailgate mounted camera with a high definition seven-inch touchscreen which also incorporates sat nav and Subaru's Starlink app-based connectivity system which hooks up to smartphones.

The interior is upmarket with leather seats finished off with neat blue stitching and the dashboard is quite high tech with a secondary colour trip computer display sitting above the main screen.

The front seats are heated while space all round is good and cargo capacity is more than that of the Legacy at 522 litres extending to a maximum of 1,466 litres. There are also two useful storage bins below the luggage floor which give the Levorg some extra practical features.

Subaru says it is pitching the Levorg against the likes of the Mazda6 estate and the Volvo V60 with aspirations of 500 UK sales a year.

For a car that drives so neatly and has striking looks which make it stand out from the rest of the estate car pack that is a modest target.

The Levorg is a complete package that blends excellent dynamics and above average practicality in a very clever fashion. In more ways than one it is a fitting legacy to its popular predecessor.