This year marks the 20th anniversary of Subaru's flagship Legacy Tourer, and to celebrate, the marque has launched an all-new, fifth-generation version of its charismatic estate car. On sale from 1 October, the Legacy Tourer features a bold new look, increased space and comfort for all occupants, improved dynamics and refinement, and enhanced safety.

Every Legacy Tourer offers the combination of Horizontally-Opposed 'Boxer' engine – in diesel or petrol guise – and Symmetrical AWD (All-Wheel-Drive). This well-proven set-up, further refined by Subaru's engineers for the fifth-generation car, has made successive generations of Legacy Tourer the preferred choice for motorists seeking a practical family car that delivers rewarding yet secure handling in all weather conditions.

The 2010 Legacy Tourer exudes on-road presence thanks to a bold front-end design and an increase in overall dimensions: the car is wider (by 50mm), taller (by 65mm) and longer (by 55mm).

The new grille (complete with 'wing motif') flanked by elongated headlights is both modern and instantly recognisable as a Subaru. Prominent wheel-arches hint at the impressive power running through the Symmetrical AWD system, while the strong belt line and a chrome-rimmed glass-house give the Legacy Tourer a premium feel.

The luxurious and spacious interior has been completely redesigned to give occupants more room and to improve comfort levels. For example, front headroom has risen by 21mm over the previous model, and legroom for rear-seat passengers increases by 99mm, aided by an 80mm increase in wheelbase.

Key to the Legacy's sustained appeal over the years has been the practicality it offers buyers, and the latest incarnation is no different. Boasting a generous 526 litres of stowage capacity with the 60/40 split rear seats in place, the new model offers an additional 67 litres over its predecessor. Fold the rear pews flat, and a cavernous 1,677-litre cargo hold is created.

In a revised engine line-up, buyers will now be offered a choice of Subaru Boxer engines: either 2.0-litre diesel or 2.5-litre petrol. A six-speed manual unit comes as standard with the diesel, while the petrol benefits from the new in-house developed 'Lineartronic' automatic transmission.

This all-new 'next generation' transmission system is mounted longitudinally behind the boxer engine, 'Lineartronic' is a fully automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT)-type unit that enables the engine to operate continuously at the most efficient part of its rev-range – resulting in strong, linear, seamless acceleration and maximised fuel economy.

On the road, the New Legacy Tourer offers competitive performance and economy. Top speed for the diesel-powered model – expected to be the most popular choice for private and business motorists – is 120mph, with a 0-62mph time of 9.6 seconds. Fuel economy is an outstanding 46.3mpg (combined cycle) and its CO2 emissions figure is 161g/km.

The 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol unit generates a maximum output of 167ps and torque of 229Nm at 4,000rpm. By adopting the i-Active Valve Lift System (i-AVLS), combined with the new Lineartronic automatic transmission, top speed for the automatic model is 120mph with a 0-62mph time of 10.3 seconds.

Subaru has adopted a revised MacPherson strut front suspension design, with the lower arm mounted on the sub-frame for greater stability and refinement. The thickness of the stabiliser (anti-roll) bar has also been increased, improving roll resistance and offering even greater agility.

Underneath the 'new-look' styling, the New Legacy Tourer has a completely re-engineered all-steel unitary structure that delivers the highest crash safety performance. The vehicle was recently awarded a 5-Star Euro NCAP crash safety rating.

"The fifth-generation Legacy Tourer is a flagship model and a new technical benchmark for Subaru," explains Paul Tunnicliffe, Subaru's UK Managing Director. "Our vehicles are designed to be different from other cars, and the new Legacy has been conceived to take on premium-brand rivals with a unique blend of attributes. Its arrival marks the latest stage in the resurgence of the Subaru brand in the UK, and it is a very fitting way of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Legacy."

Legacy's loyal customer base of over 3.6 million buyers worldwide has come to expect high levels of standard specification, and the latest version will not disappoint. Standard on all derivatives are alloy wheels, tilt-and-slide sunroof, heated front seats, six CD tuner with RDS and six speakers, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, and automatic activation for wipers and headlights.

Prices start at £23,295 for the 2.0D S, and range up to £27,295 for the 2.5i SE NavPlus Lineartronic.