Levorg Layback Is An SUV-Fied WRX Wagon That Subaru PH Should Sell

Crossovers and SUVs are all the rage these days, and in the Philippines, that has made an already niche segment even smaller. The Subaru WRX Wagon won’t sell in huge numbers, but by giving this sporty wagon a raised ride height and more body cladding, then it could become a hit sensation right? Well, say hello to the 2024 Subaru Levorg Layback.

So, what’s with the car’s name? If you recall, the WRX Wagon used to be called the Levorg globally and in the Philippines. Since they share similar hardware with the WRX sports sedan, it was unsurprising for Subaru to give its wagon a related name. The Layback name puts this ruggedized wagon in line with the Outback, and this is where things get interesting.

The Levorg Layback will probably be called just the Layback if it gets exported outside Japan. just like in the Outback where it has the Legacy name in Japan. The overall body design is faithful to the current WRX Wagon’s sporty looks, but there’s another reason why it’s called the Layback. Instead of a sporty design, this wagon has a “laidback” design that’s characterized by a smoother front bumper and a grille that cuts through the LED headlights. Of course, the crossover transformation won’t be complete without the obligatory body cladding and a ride height that’s been raised to 200 mm. 18-inch wheels fill those wheel wells, just like in the standard WRX Wagon, but the design is–unsurprisingly, less sporty.

As for the interior, the 2024 Subaru Levorg Layback’s overall design is similar to the standard model, which means sitting front and center of the dash is a familiar 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment system, though Subarus in Japan, including this Levorg Layback, can be equipped with a more sophisticated 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument cluster.

What separates the Levorg Layback from the WRX Wagon is the details and upholstery. Say goodbye to the red stitching in favor of copper ones, while two-tone upholstery, either in water-resistant fabric or leather, is offered as standard. Features that are available on higher trims include a Harman Kardon sound system and ambient LED lighting.

Powering the Levorg Layback is a 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine option, presumably to separate it from the sportier WRX Wagon with its available 2.4-liter turbocharger four-cylinder boxer engine. With the 1.8-liter engine, the engine produces 174 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque that’s sent through a CVT that drives all four wheels. 

Considering how popular rugged vehicles are in the Philippines, we definitely think that Motor Image Pilipinas, the distributor of Subaru in the Philippines, should offer the Levorg Layback in our market.