Launched earlier in the year in the Legacy Sports Tourer and Outback, the world’s first boxer-diesel-engine for a passenger car offers outstanding refinement, throttle response and fuel economy coupled with class-leading ultra-low emissions.

Also exceptional is the new Boxer Diesel Legacy’s handling thanks to the engine’s light weight and low centre-of-gravity afforded by its horizontally-opposed cylinder layout.

The new Saloon is priced from £19,995 on-the-road and is available in the three trim levels of 2.0D R, 2.0D RE and 2.0D REn. It joins the Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer and Outback crossover mid-sized estates which were launched this February.

This is Subaru’s first diesel engine – developed in-house using over 40 years’ expertise in ‘boxer’ engine technology coupled with turbocharging know-how gleaned from the fierce World Rally Championship arena.

The 150 PS Boxer Diesel Legacy Saloon boasts the best fuel efficiency in the 4WD passenger car class – and the lowest exhaust emissions.  In fact, the new Legacy 2.0D Saloon returns 50.4 mpg on the Combined Cycle with only 148 g/km of CO₂.

Nor are these figures achieved at the expense of performance. The Boxer Diesel Legacy Saloon has a 129 mph top speed and 0-60 mph time of only 8.3 seconds.

The new Boxer Diesel uses an advanced common-rail fuel-injection system with the fuel being pressurised at 180 MPa before being fed into the common rail. This maximises efficiency, both in terms of power, fuel consumption and emissions.

The Boxer Diesel meets Euro4 emission standards thanks to oxidation catalytic converters, a particulate filter and exhaust gas recirculation. It is the most environmentally-friendly vehicle in the AWD passenger car class.