IT IS sad but true. Most people who pay big bucks for premium cars put the emphasis on the badge on the bonnet rather than one essential: driving performance.

BMW, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Lexus and Volvo are all good head-turners that will gain appreciative glances and turn in a fine performance. But how many have considered another premium brand model, the Subaru Legacy saloon? It now comes with a three-litre 'threeengines-in-one' technology to complement the all-wheel-drive developed from their successful world rally cars.

This is a car which will delight driving enthusiasts. First you get the all-wheel-drive dynamics which give phenomenal road holding and stability. Add to this the SI-Drive (Subaru Intelligent Drive) and you get a choice of three completely different engine responses: 'Intelligent', 'Sport' or 'Sharp Sport'.

Pick 'Intelligent' and you optimise fuel consumption from the 241bhp six-cylinder engine. In this mode, the power is conserved and you get the driving efficiency of a strong two-litre engine. This will please the green streak in most of us as it suits gentle economical driving and long-distance cruising thanks to the soft throttle response. This setting works well with the automatic transmission by selecting the highest gear as quickly as possible, while the accelerator requires a firm foot to get kick-down.

The 'Sport' mode is designed for open road driving and gives a lively acceleration for brisk overtaking thanks to a more sensitive setting. There is good low speed torque here which most drivers will appreciate.

The 'Sharp Sport' mode reveals the full potential of the engine with the ultimate accelerator response. The slightest flick on the pedal brings in the kick-down and low gears are held longer to give an extra boost. This gives the capability to change gears up to 40% quicker than in normal driving.

Added driver involvement comes with the option of sidelining the automatic transmission by using the steering column mounted paddle shift or the manual stick option gear change in the central console.

The all-wheel-drive technology makes driving in the wet and on rough surfaces as safe as driving on tarmac. The total package makes this a true performance car and the specially tuned suspensions give a relatively smooth ride despite the power.

The downside is the extra cost all this technology brings. The saloon sells at Euro52,595 but in fairness it is Euro5,000 less than a BMW 3-Series 330i and almost Euro4,000 less than a Mercedes Benz C280 automatic. It is thirsty around town - almost 14L/100km - but good on the open road. If your green conscience keeps you light-footed you can get 7.4L/100km.

The new Legacy has front and rear styling changes, upgraded interior with leather seats, dualzone climate control, projector front fog lights, computer info and steering-wheel mounted controls for audio and phone, and a six-CD dash-mounted unit with MP3 capability. For safety there are front, side and curtain airbags and an electronic brake force distribution system.

Subaru also has a new Legacy estate all-wheel-drive with a twolitre four-cylinder boxer engine, which puts out 162bhp. It comes with manual or automatic transmission with high and low gear ratios. Prices are Euro35,595 and Euro37,445.

The manual version returns an average of of 9L/100km in mixed driving. The estate is 55mm longer and 45mm higher than the saloon and has good carrying capacity of objects up to 843mm in length with the rear seats up, and 1,967mm with the seats folded. The boot capacity is 459L/1,628L depending on the seat formation.

The two-litre engine gives a lively performance with 0-100km reached in less than 10 seconds and the top speed is 204km/h (125mph). Behind the wheel, the driver will find it has all the good manners of Subaru's AWD technology. Both the saloon and estate come with a threeyear/160,000km warranty.

VITAL STATISTICS Subaru Legacy saloon 3-litre petrol sportshift 241 bhp 4665 mm 1730 mm 1425 m 2670 mm 8.4 secs/100km 237 km/h (148 mpg) 5-speed auto/paddle shift 13.8/9.8/7.4L - 100km Euro52,595