WRX meets Outback: 2024 Subaru Layback high-ride wagon revealed

The 2024 Subaru Layback has debuted as a jacked-up, Outback-style version of the car sold here as the WRX Sportswagon.

However, the high-riding WRX Sportswagon is currently off-limits for Australia, with Subaru’s local arm confirming the Levorg Layback is exclusive to Japan.

“Currently there’s no plans for this model for Australia, as it is currently exclusively for the Japanese market, but we will be keeping a vigilant eye on future developments,” said a Subaru Australia spokesperson.

Under the bonnet, it is fitted with the same 130kW/300Nm 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine found in base Levorg variants in Japan, rather than the 202kW/350Nm 2.4-litre turbo available in the WRX version sold here.

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Positioned alongside the mid-size Forester, and between the Crosstrek and Outback, the Levorg Layback adds increased ground clearance, plastic wheel cladding, and an updated front end.

Measuring 4770 millimetres long, 1820mm wide and 1570mm tall, the Levorg Layback is 15mm longer, 25mm wider and 70mm taller than a standard WRX Sportswagon. It has 200mm of ground clearance, up 55mm.

Compared to the current Forester, the Levorg Layback is 130mm longer and 5mm wider, but 160mm lower in height with an identical 2670mm wheelbase. The Layback has a claimed 560-litre boot capacity (the Australian WRX Sportswagon has 492L) while a Forester is listed at 498L.

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The high-riding Outback large wagon is 100mm longer, 55mm wider and 105mm taller than the Layback, with a 522-litre boot.

Inside, the Layback features bi-tone cloth or leather upholstery, depending on the variant.

Two official body kits – Urban or STI Aero – replace the plastic wheel cladding with body-coloured or gloss-black styles, a chunkier lower front bumper with additional DRLs, and different side skirts.

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As with the standard Levorg and several other Subarus sold in Japan, the Layback also has a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and EyeSight-X semi-autonomous highway steering. Both features are not available in Australian models.

Would you like to see the Subaru Levorg Layback high-ride wagon in Australia? And, if so, what should Subaru Australia call it? Let us know in the comments below.

Below: The 2023 Subaru WRX Sportswagon, our version of Japan's Levorg STI Sport wagon

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