Subaru shows its frugal side

Outback is one of three Subaru models with new diesel engines. Photo / Supplied

So what's with that group of new Subarus heading gingerly towards Morrinsville from the vicinity of Happy Valley?

Not long ago they were roaring around closed tracks in Whitford Forest; now it looks like a road trip for grannies.

It's part of a plan hatched by Subaru New Zealand to dispel the notion that the company's vehicles are heavy on fuel.

They've assembled a group of Legacys, Outbacks and Foresters with the new 2.0-litre flat-four diesel engine and, after the frolic in the forest, are asking members of the press to do an economy run.

The rules are simple. All the drivers have to do is better the overall fuel economy for each type as determined by EC testing.

Those teams that beat the official ratings win product from a highly regarded winery, but those who don't go home empty.

There are some impressive targets. The most frugal of the three models, the Legacy Euro Spec sedan, is rated at 5.9 litres/100km, a figure that nobody would have associated with Subaru a few years ago.

The wagon version needs 200ml more, while the more off-road-oriented Outback is rated at 6.4 litres/100km.

The APN team, comprising Ross Kiddie, motoring writer at The Star in Christchurch, and myself are in the Forester SUV rated at 6.3 litres/100km. There's a certain amount of bravado at the start of an almost-100km run to the Hangaweka Lodge, but the dashboard readout in the high sixes soon brings us back to reality. As kilometres roll by, the readout gradually drops to 6.4, then 6.2.

Hah! We have it made. But then inexplicably the readout flicks back to 6.4. "Must be the altitude," says a bemused Kiddie, feathering the accelerator. "We can always toss out your luggage," I suggest.

By the time we reach the lodge's driveway, we've clawed the reading back to 6.2. The fuel-using air-conditioning has been turned off, windows up, driving dynamics changed to full granny mode.

We've earned our reward - and so it seems have the drivers in all the other cars. It's a clear victory for careful Kiwi driving.

But while the newcomers clean up Subaru's corporate fuel economy image, many customers will be buying diesel for the characteristics of the engine, particularly the superb flexibility delivered by the 350Nm of torque that's available at 1800rpm. In all vehicles bar Forester, power is 110kW at 3600rpm. Forester loses 2kW because of more restrictive airflow to the turbocharger from the bonnet scoop.

Drive goes to the wheels via a new six-speed manual gearbox, similar to the one in petrol models, but with different ratios. The ratios are well chosen and suit the engine. The transmission's also 20kg lighter than Subaru's previous six-speeder.

Those who prefer an automatic are out of luck. Subaru says the diesel will get a self-shifter one day, but company officials are suggesting it won't be any time soon.

Because many Subaru customers prefer a manual, the New Zealand head office isn't overly worried about the omission.

Internationally, Subaru has been disadvantaged by the absence of a diesel, particularly in Europe. Company legend says that various experts advised it to buy-in a diesel rather than develop one itself. This created an immediate problem of trying to find one that would fit in the space meant for Subaru's preferred flat, or horizontally opposed, engine. And besides, Subaru wanted a diesel to call its own.

So its engineers set to work to develop the first car boxer diesel, a motor that bears no relationship to Subaru's petrol motors, apart from the configuration.

The engine in the newly arrived European-spec models - which, in a quirk of timing, New Zealand got even before they went on sale in their target market - has been improved over the original that made its world debut last year. A small number of previous-model diesels came here to test the market and most were sold by word of mouth.

The latest version has, among other changes, reshaped pistons to improve gas flow, faster-heating and higher-temperature ceramic glow plugs, and a plastic manifold like the petrol motors.

While the new diesels deliver good mileage, they come at a price premium. For example, the Legacy 2.5i Sport manual sedan costs $41,490 while the diesel lists at $48,990. The Outback 2.5i manual is $45,490 and the diesel $52,990. And the manual XS Forester is $43,990, compared to $45,990 for the diesel.

The extra cost is also due to additional equipment on the diesels. Impreza enthusiasts hankering for a diesel version would seem to be out of luck. "We looked at it," said Graeme Woodlands, Subaru NZ's managing director, "but we don't see the opportunity for it at this stage."

The problem, he said, was Impreza was in a price-sensitive section of the market where he doesn't think the diesel price premium would be helpful to sales.