SUBARU'S Levorg gets its name comes from a combination of the words ‘Legacy’, ‘Revolution’ and ‘Touring’.

On the practical side, it was inspired by earlier incarnations of the Japanese firm's Legacy tourer, but you only have to look round the the front end to see the imposing appearance of the WRX STI.

For grip, it comes with with Subaru’s hallmark all-wheel drive system, while the standard equipment from its single ‘GT’ trim level is near-premium in its quality.

Add to this mix the superb engine and you have a heady mix of sports car-cum estate providing bags of room for lugging duties and plenty of punch for a rewarding drive.

There's no choice of engine or transmission. The Levorg comes with a 1.6-litre turbocharged Boxer engine and Lineartronic CVT automatic gearing.

Offering the same performance as Subaru’s 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated Boxer engine - despite being 36 per cent smaller produces 170 PS and 250 Nm of torque for smooth and seamless power delivery that exceeded my expectations.

After a week of road-testing I came to the conclusion that this is the best all-rounder in the Subaru stable.

The only disappointments were the return of an average 38mpg - in line with official figure of nearly 40mpg - and the unfavourably high emissions of 164 g/km.

But sitting behind the wheel in leather-trimmed sports seats surrounded by high quality materials, there was a lot to admire.

Subaru’s factory-fit 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, connectivity and navigation system is the star of the show, but the standard equipment also includes auto on-off LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear fog lamps, metallic paint, 18-inch dark grey alloy wheels, privacy glass, a roof spoiler, keyless access and push-button start, unique-to-Levorg heated leather sports seats in the front, 60/40 split-folding and reclining rear seats, boot lamp, two 12-volt power outlets, four USB ports dual-zone air-conditioning and a rear parking camera.

Although it shares its dimensions with the fourth-generation Legacy Tourer, the Levorg offers more leg, head and shoulder room and a 522-litre boot that offers1,446 litres of space with the second row of seats folded down.

The most refined powertrain that Subaru has ever produced makes the Levorg a joy to drive, both as a relaxed transporter able to munch motorway miles with barely a murmer and as an eager B-road companion. Seamless torque and a quite impressive acceleration of 0 to 62mph in 8.9 seconds can be improved slightly by utilising the ‘Sport’ button. There are paddle-shifters if you want to add to the experience, but the engine set-up is so impressive that there is really no point in doing your own thing.

I drove through some fierce storms and along roads that from the driver's seat consisted more of water than Tarmac, and it was in these conditions that I was thankful for the Levorg's terrific grip and traction.

One of the key exterior features is gaping air intake on the bonnet - a la Subaru's more leary offerings - but if that gives somes clues as to the underpinnings and power then rest assured that this car's primary aim is to carry you in comfort rather than race through a wood.

The Levorg joins the WRX STI and Outback in being fitted with active torque vectoring, which brakes the inside wheels under cornering and apportions greater torque to the outside of the car, reducing understeer and oversteer to allow a more predictable and controlled course through corners.

On the safety front, the Levorg boasts a higher proportion of ultra-high tensile steel than other models in the Subaru range, with 50 per cent of the body made up of strong, yet light steel alloys for improved crash safety performance.

The Levorg is equipped with a rear vehicle detection system that alerts drivers to vehicles behind it, blind spot detection, high beam assist, lane change assist and rear Cross traffic alert, which detects vehicles passing behind the Levorg when reversing out of a parking space.

The Levorg is virtually without any rivals and, as such, it is a niche car. And with an absence of choice when it comes to the engine and transmission, only those who test it and are convinced by the single offering will open their wallets. I suggest that those who take the plunge will not be disappointed.

Subaru Levorg GT

Price: £27,495

Engine: Four-cylinder1.6-litre direct injection turbo boxer petrol, producing 170PS

Transmission: Six-speed CVT automatic, driving all four wheels

Performance: 0 to 62 mph in 8.9 seconds; top speed 130mph

Economy: 39.8mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 164g/km