A SALOON version of the Subaru Legacy is on the cards, complete with diesel engine and all-wheel-drive.

Set up to rival Audi's quattro A4, Subaru's British importers are currently considering whether to add the car to its UK line up.

The latest Legacy was launched late last year but so far has been available only as an estate car.

With Subaru's niche market image the saloon would be aimed more at the company car market where good economy is crucial.

Certainly the saloon has the potential to tick all the right boxes with average fuel consumption in the mid-40s but Subaru would have to reduce the car's emissions to make it really competitive.

At the moment the car has a CO2 rating of 161g/km although Subaru is confident it can squeeze that below the 160g/km threshold for additional tax benefits.

The car is likely to be priced around £25,000 - significantly cheaper than a quattro - and it's also slightly bigger.

A large air scoop in the bonnet gives the Legacy a powerful and sporty appearance and overall it is much more stylish than its predecessors.

Subaru is the only company to use a flat four Boxer diesel engine with its lower centre of gravity helping the car's balance.

On the road it feels well composed and even though this was a pre-production model the handling was good although the ride was slightly harsh.

The advantage of all-wheel-drive saloons is a sure-footed feeling and here the Legacy impresses.

Apart from Audi only Vauxhall offers such a set up in a saloon with its V6 petrol Insignia and after the treacherous conditions of the past few months the added traction of an all-wheel-drive system is obvious.

The two-litre diesel engine develops 148bhp and although not as powerful as some of its competitors the Legacy has a 0 to 60 acceleration time of 9.6 seconds and a reported top speed of 120mph.

It's a six speed manual with plenty of mid-range acceleration and that power is usable without causing severe damage to the fuel consumption. An automatic gearbox is not available, although the car is fitted with cruise control.

With mpg being so important the driver's eco-performance can be monitored either from a fuel consumption gauge on the instrument panel or a digital readout from the trip computer and the car is fitted with gear change indicators to help achieve optimum economy.

Subaru claims 46.3mpg on average and that appears to be fairly accurate, if not conservative with some careful use of the throttle.

Inside it is a roomy five seater with above average head and legroom in the rear while the boot is large at 486 litres.

Carbon fibre-effect inserts are used in the trim and the cockpit is the same as that of the estate with back-lit instrumentation.

Automatic air conditioning, heated seats and an electric parking brake are fitted although the latter is operated from a cluster of buttons which are buried away to the bottom right of the steering wheel and not as user-friendly as they could be.

But that's about the only niggle in what is otherwise a very accomplished family-sized car.

Subaru says that it will be making a decision about the saloon in the next few months with the possibility of it being available before the end of the year.