THERE'S no denying the fact that the all-new Subaru Levorg has quite a legacy to live up to and it appears to be succeeding rather well.

That's because the stunning looking estate car that delivers on all counts has been introduced by the Japanese manufacturer to replace the very popular Legacy which ended production last year after a quarter of a century.

The Levorg, which is priced at £27,495, comes fully loaded with no hidden extra costs, which is most refreshing these days.

And anyone thinking that Subaru is not remaining true to its heritage need fear not as the Levorg is packed with the brand's stand-out styling traits such as the large air scoop on the bonnet, side sill spoilers, shark fin antenna, dual exhaust mufflers, a roof spoiler and rear privacy glass.

However, the model does boast some very welcome modern additions such as LED headlights, a neatly styled interior with excellent connectivity and infotainment systems and a very punchy new powertrain.

The Levorg features a 1.6-litre 170ps Boxer petrol engine which can propel the car to 62mph from a standing start in just 8.9 seconds - not bad for an estate. And it maxes out at 130mph.

The cabin is bright and spacious with ample room for five adults to travel in comfort. And there are good storage options throughout the car, including a generously-sized boot with a capacity of 522 litres - this can be increased to a whopping 1,446 litres with the 60:40 split folding rear seats dropped flat.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include heated leather seats, dual zone air conditioning, a seven-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with easy-to-operate sat nav, a six speaker sound system, a rear vision camera, Bluetooth, plenty of leather trim and the Subaru Starlink app-based connectivity system which works in conjunction with smartphones.

The Levorg is fitted with a six-speed CVT automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles if you fancy taking a little more control. These transmission systems can be a bit like marmite - some are loved, others hated.

The good news is the CVT fitted to the Levorg falls into the former category. It's responsive, sharp and there is a constant supply of power on tap at all times.

Despite its estate car dimensions, the Levorg is actually quite agile and easy to manoeuvre and the all-round visibility is good too.

The car is very sure-footed with the added reassurance of all-wheel-drive to keep you on the move in colder months.

Subaru's intelligent drive system also adds to the fun factor with a sporty setting that really sharpens up the reactions and dynamics.

I did find there was a little engine noise when it was pushed particularly hard on motorways, but that aside, the cabin remained beautifully hushed.

And the car has an impressive list of safety specifications too, such as high beam assist, lane departure warning, hill-hold, numerous airbags, a safety pedal system, plus blind spot and cross traffic alert which is very practical when reversing.