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The Legacy is one of the
more expensive cars in this group, and a rather unique one. Especially in the
turbocharged GT versions, it is no typical family sedan. Its firm ride leads
to impressive agility, and it has a group-exclusive all-wheel-drive system as
part of its standard equipment. The interior is comfortable, but smaller than
most of the other cars in this group. While it is not a real alternative to
the traditional family sedans, its unique attributes present an alternative to
their respective strong and weak points.
The Legacy
has a firm, controlled, and generally comfortable ride, though more road
imperfections can filter through than in the softer-tuned cars in this class.
Base Legacy versions are more absorbent. The car handles very well, the
controlled body roll, the responsive, communicative steering, and the nimble
feel make this one of the more fun family sedans. The weight of the
all-wheel-drive system holds back this version’s turbocharged 2.5-liter
4-cylinder, and it suffers from off-the-line lag, but is powerful by this
group’s standards overall. The engine whines under acceleration. Wind noise is
well-suppressed, road noise is somewhat obtrusive. A combination of the AWD
system and the high-power engine diminish fuel economy.
Inside, the Legacy’s
front seats are a bit low, and there could be more headroom, but the firm,
well-shaped seats are very comfortable. The rear is also well-shaped, but it
would need more leg and head space to be considered truly comfortable. The
attractive interior uses high-quality materials that fit
together very well.
The gauges are very clear, and the instruments are
logically placed and easy to use, though they could use more contrast. Drivers
sit comfortably, and can see out well. Rear seat entry/exit is complicated by
narrow door openings and small footwells. The trunk is smaller than that in
most compact cars, and is easily the smallest in this group.
NHTSA has not crash tested
the Legacy, but the Subaru Outback (a slightly modified Legacy station wagon)
earned five stars across the board. The Legacy also did exceptionally well in
IIHS testing. It earned the Best Pick rating in both its offset and side crash
test, and its head restraints were rated Good.
The Legacy reviewed here
came in at $27,249, as one of the higher-priced cars in this group. At that
price, it includes the standard all-wheel-drive (as have every other recent
Subaru) and front-seat active head restraints, but no stability control or
satellite radio.
Overall, the Legacy is a
blend of premium and fun qualities. It isn’t roomy, inexpensive, or refined,
but it is very safe, very quick, and enjoyable to drive, and has a
high-quality interior. Cross-shop with the Volkswagen Passat, Acura TSX, and
Mazda6 before you do a more mainstream competitor, and get more fun than the
former and more luxury than the latter.
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