IT'S not often I get to do nearly 600 miles in a week of very varied driving and still have juice left in the tank.

You may think this must have been a small diesel but you'd be wrong. I was driving Subaru's very good Legacy 2.0-litre diesel, which like all Subarus, comes with four wheel drive.

Over that week of long and short haul work it averaged the claimed 44mpg figure. That's the first time I have ever achieved this in any car.

The Legacy comes with six-speed gearbox, but top gear is really a cruiser and only has about enough acceleration in sixth to change lanes on the motorway.

Drop down to fourth though and this big estate flies with plenty of urge for overtaking.

The diesel is smooth and quiet and willing from very low revs.

Road-holding is superb, but the car is let down by a lumpy ride caused by firm suspension and very low profile tyres.

The top SE Navplus I drove has big interior space, a good boot and 60/40 split rear seats. It comes with sat nav, leather, electric seats with memory, and an alarm with movement sensors.