That youthful, playful and slightly rough around the edges Subaru we once knew has passed through its awkward puberty stage to become a fully grown up automaker. No longer cranking out the outlandish, like the Brat or Baja, Subaru has chosen to focus on the mainstream with its redesigned Legacy.
Yet, as our week-long evaluation told us, that doesn’t mean that Subaru has become dull with age.
What is it?
Unless you’re within about 100 miles of Boulder, Boston or Portland, you could be forgiven for not knowing that this Legacy is actually the fifth generation variant of a nameplate that dates back to 1989.
This latest Legacy sedan represents a comprehensive rethinking of the line – and it was recreated with the lucrative North American market’s needs in mind. That latter statement is usually a sign that all the engineering emphasis was put into making the seats wider, the cupholders bigger and the suspension softer, but as we discovered, that’s just not the case with the Legacy.
Our tester was equipped in a new-for-2010 trim level that probably won’t account for a big slice of Legacy sales. Featuring Subaru’s biggest six-cylinder boxer engine but an otherwise base trim level, our test car listed for a reasonable $25,690 including destination. Subaru also offers the 2.5i, a 170-horsepower, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder boxer, as well as a more enthusiast-oriented, 265-pony, turbocharged 2.5GT. All three engines are offered in a dizzying array of trim levels, so rest assured that there’s a Legacy suited for your lifestyle out there.
The Indiana-built Legacy sedan is a kissing cousin to the hot-selling, ruggedized wagon Outback.
What’s it up against?
The Legacy competes against some of the best – and best-selling – in the business, but it’s hard to categorize this left-of-mainstream sedan. Subaru hopes it will bite off a chunk of Toyota Camry and Honda Accord sales, but for many buyers, the mostly unfounded fears of all-wheel-drive maintenance and fuel efficiency will be a turn-off.
With the added dose of sport ingrained into modern Subarus – these cars are brought to you by the guys who have long dominated every type of rally driving available – the Legacy also goes up against more enthusiast-oriented mainstream sedans like the Mazda Mazda6 and Nissan Altima.
Then there’s the all-wheel-drive element, meaning the Legacy does battle with the four-wheeler versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan.
To muddy the waters even more, higher-trim Legacys start to feel downright entry-luxury in their inner trappings, meaning the Saab 9-3 and Audi A4 might be on would-be Legacy buyers’ radar.
Any breakthroughs?
Subaru brought to the table more of what we love: More displacement, more power, more miles per gallon, all the while using 87 instead of 91 octane. These engineers are to be applauded.
The all-wheel-drive system has been enhanced; 3.6R models feature a planetary center differential and limited slip rear differential capable of transitioning power to any wheel that needs it.
How does it look?
Power and traction are longstanding Subaru virtues – style is not. For the new year, the modestly enlarged Legacy – which grows mostly in height, width and wheelbase – eschews its predecessor’s conservatively tasteful and upscale look for a more outlandish style that doesn’t sit well in our stomaches.
Most notable – and notorious – are the flared fenders, an increasingly common design theme in the auto industry. They’re at odds with the Lexus GS-esque tail and the swept-back, fisheye headlamp clusters, both of which would be acceptable on their own but seem misplaced when slapped together. It looked to us as though competing design languages drove the Legacy’s new look.
Although not a bad-looking car per se, the Legacy’s design lacks the mature, cohesive style that emerges from Europe or North America. It typifies the age-old stigma of Japanese design in ways the outgoing Legacy avoided. The basic shape is pleasing, and we even grew to accept the aggressive fender flares during our evaluation. Yet there’s room for improvement and we hope that a midcycle refresh will allow Subaru to hone a more well-thought-out style of its own.
And on the inside?
Its low-rung specification notwithstanding, our Legacy sedan’s cabin proved an exceedingly comfortable place to spend time. Compared to the outgoing Legacy – which had an upscale-looking, but tight interior, the new body takes a more mainstream design approach and adds considerable space.
Rear seat room has improved from econo-car tight to downright spacious thanks to clever packaging and a longer wheelbase, while the front seat also adds some wiggle room. The front seats, covered in a grippy cloth material, proved comfortable for hours at a time despite lacking adjustable lumbar support.
The dashboard is higher up and features more storage places, addressing one of our issues with the outgoing interior. Its overall design, shared with the Outback, is functional and materials selection is acceptable for the class. In our base 3.6R test car’s trim, the materials were class competitive and the assembly quality was top notch.
The deep trunk will have no problem swallowing luggage, but the lid – supported by gas struts, not hinges – doesn’t open very far. We whacked our foreheads on it more than once during our evaluation.
We were a little disappointed with the level of equipment included at the 3.6R’s trim level – a power driver’s seat, leather covering the steering wheel and gearbox knob, and RDS functionality for the radio would go a long way towards improving creature comforts by adding just a few bucks to the bottom line. Traditionally, Subaru has offered a cut-rate Special Edition package for the Legacy and we hope these features will be added soon. At least there are some pleasant surprises inside that help set the Legacy apart, like berber-style floor mats, uniquely grained faux-metal trim and a nifty economy gauge to help drivers use less gasoline.
But does it go?
It might seem odd that Subaru offers two high-performance engines with similar power outputs – the 3.6-liter flat six in our tester is down just nine horsepower compared to the turbo 2.5GT. Yet the cars have an entirely different mission – the 2.5GT is aimed at enthusiasts who will cope with a little lag in exchange for the rush of a turbo, while the 3.6R is aimed at more mainstream users seeking smooth, consistent power delivery – which it delivers in spades.
From any speed, the 3.6R is positively fast, especially at speed, when its ample mid-range torque comes into play. Though rated at a fairly conservative 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm, this 3.6R strikes us as the understatement of the year – we can’t think of another naturally-aspirated six-cylinder that delivers this kind of grunt across the rev range (we did pop the hood to see if Subaru had snuck a turbocharger in there). If anything, we think the 3.6R has been tuned too much for performance at low speeds, where a jumpy throttle proved tough to modulate. An owner would get used to it after a few weeks of driving, but would-be passengers might want to brace themselves for the interim.
Despite its power, the Legacy didn’t guzzle 87 octane fuel; its 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway EPA ratings are par for the class and seemed accurate in our driving. We averaged 21 mpg in driving that tended towards the aggressive.
The 3.6R is silky smooth at idle and makes only a distant growl at speed, unlike the comparatively gruff four-banger. It’s mated exclusively to a five-speed automatic with rev-matching paddle shifters. Generally, the transmission did not struggle to find a gear and was happy to fire off rapid downshifts when called upon. We played with the paddles for a bit and found that, while they are happy to induce those rev-matching downshifts, moving up the gears seemed a little laggy. We suspect almost every owner will keep the transmission in D for most of their driving.
Rarely do we seek a week of rain showers when we evaluate a press vehicle, but that’s just what we wanted for the all-wheel-drive Legacy. Though the neighbors might not have appreciated our front yard rain dance, it obviously paid off: A downright deluge from the clouds had us gathering wood for an ark until we hopped in the Legacy.
Man, does this thing have grip. Even at high speed in standing water, the Legacy refused to let go of the tarmac. Its steering spoke to us in ways we’ve never before felt in a family sedan, reminding us that all four wheels had things under control. When the rain finally stopped, the Legacy was a delight on dry, curvy roads, too. A balanced chassis lent to its neutral, pushable feel as it begged to be thrown hard into corners.
Flat cornering typically results in a choppy ride, but that wasn’t the case with the well-dampened Legacy. Although the ride tends towards firmness, it remained controlled and refined even over the roughest roads we could find. Adding to the feeling of sophistication was an especially stiff body.
Why you would buy it:
The Legacy is your car if you’re willing to admit that a four-door family hauler need not signal the demise of your days as an enthusiast.
Why you wouldn’t:
You’re hooked on Camrys or Accords and are afraid to try anything else.
Leftlane’s bottom line
The last time we tested a Legacy – about a year ago we sampled a previous-generation 2.5GT – we said, “the Legacy stands as potentially the most underrated automobile on the market today.” A year later, we still feel the Legacy is an absolute standout in the family car segment. Yet with Subaru’s phenomenal sales – think about it, Subaru’s sales are up in a recession! – perhaps no longer is the Legacy truly underrated.
We hope Subaru doesn’t rest on its laurels. The Legacy isn’t perfect, but for what it is, we can’t think of a four-door that tickles the enthusiast soul more than this one. It’s not a car you’ll stare at as you walk away from it, and it’s not one you’ll agonize over washing. But it’s one that will dutifully serve your needs every day while putting a smile on your face at each curve.
2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R base price, $24,995. As tested, $25,690.
Destination, $695.
Words and photos by Andrew Ganz.
10/13, 12:13 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I just can’t get over it’s taller body! The previous one looks a lot better imo…even with the interior…this one just looks CHEAP!
10/13, 12:15 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
This Subaru is NOT subarashii. It is one ugly machine.
I am certain Janet Napolitano will want it, though
Some cars can be ugly and cool. This isnt one. It is simply ugly and awkward. Plus Subaru mileage basically sucks huevos. I suppose if you’ve resigned yourself to an ugly Camry or Accord anyway, this is an alternative, but for those who are not blind there are better and far less embarassing cars out there.
10/13, 12:16 PM
posted by:
cocojoe53
This is the best buy in this segment of the market. Yes, a bit plain looking, but at 1/2 the price of a Audi A4 its unbeatable
10/13, 12:17 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
even Hyundai makes better interiors than this! I bet they did this on purpose so that it would be easier to design the next gen and make it better looking!
10/13, 12:20 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
typical LLN responses…ignoring the good and focusing on weird looks…
10/13, 12:24 PM
posted by:
Elvacano
I would rather it didnt have those Bmwish taillights, other than that, I like the exterior.
10/13, 12:24 PM
posted by:
ICEMAN
kinda looks like a huge G37
10/13, 12:26 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Wow, LLN made it through the evaluation and the car didn’t leave them stranded like your typical import? Amazing that it didn’t turn into a pile of rust ,catch fire, suffer a massive engine or transmission failure.
Must have been embarrassing to drive around in an import huh? And an ugly one at that.
No matter, this car is no threat to General Motors or it’s loyal buyers who actually want quality, reliability and dependibility in their rides rather than polarizing looks and foriegn (un)reliability.
And like a typical import, it should be recall-laden, problem prone and contributes nothing to Americans.
FAIL.
Be American, Buy American. Buy GM. Like a Malibu or Impala or something.
10/13, 12:48 PM
posted by:
Stinky007
I’d rather have the previous generations. This is too tall for my liking and has two engines which are almost identical in specs. What gives!?
10/13, 12:49 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
LWA, feel free to correlate the ugly with the good.
10/13, 12:59 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
This is a nice car and as an owner of a previous gen Legacy, I can say the improvements are nice. The previous gen is fine but it has some funny dimensions. The interior is small and cramped and has virtually useless back seats. Even the front it it tight with its shoulder and hip room. I am 6′1″ and weigh 160 lbs by the way. I am pretty slender and still find it cramped.
One thing I don’t like are the wheels. They are SUPER boring 17’s on this car. I don’t know any car in this class that has a 6-cyl. and has 17’s on it. I can see the 2.5i having 17’s, then put 18’s on both the 3.6R AND the 2.5GT, not just the 2.5GT (whose wheels are also very boring).
Other than that, it is a nice car. For the same cost as a loaded Camry or Accord, you can get a loaded Legacy PLUS AWD. Seems like a winner to me.
10/13, 1:01 PM
posted by:
AtWork
NMOFGM.. I must have missed the reviews in which the team was left stranded due to an import turning into a pile of rust, I’ll keep searching for that article. Also, it’s no threat because it’s a different driving experience than ‘your’ company offers. Find me a Malibu or Impala with all-wheel-drive. I’d love to read one article without your idiotic and un-founded bias toward you’re ‘American Car Company’.
Oh, the Impala is made in Ontario. Numb nut.
10/13, 1:13 PM
posted by:
Fletch
They say this Legacy is selling well, but I have yet to see one. Then again, I rarely see a previous gen LGT other than my own. Ugly as it is, the WRX 5 door is subaru to buy for enthusiast/utility.
10/13, 1:20 PM
posted by:
vicdub85
I work directly with this vehicle and none of your negative opinions matter. The plant is cranking these babies out like hot cakes. People love them.
10/13, 1:25 PM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
I’m not a fan at all of Subis new designs, their old stuff was different but that’s what made it Subaru. Sadly if I wanted to buy a Subaru today, I’d be looking at a used from at least a year or two back.
10/13, 1:29 PM
posted by:
worst 3
same mpg as the 2.5turbo with one less gear, and running on regular, should come in a 6speed manual option. if this car looked better and had the 6speed with the 3.6L i would consider it as my next car. good for winter driving if u live in the north.
i would like to see how this would fair as a turbocharged engine as I believe it was designed for turbos
10/13, 1:55 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
leftwing, that may be so, but you have to ask yourself why Subaru consistently puts out some of the most awkward designs on the market today. They do have a choice you know… in fact an infinite number of choices when it comes right down to it. Do they not want to sell more cars? Are they happy being number whatever on the pecking order? Of course not. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck chances are it’s a f*cking duck. If so many people are saying that the one thing preventing them from buying your product is the styling then simply fix the problem. And if you don’t have the guys in house to do the job then hire someone who can.
10/13, 2:04 PM
posted by:
tob
This is a major step back in styling from the last gen. The last gen is a nice car and looks classy and sporty.
10/13, 2:07 PM
posted by:
cocojoe53
Once again, the numbers prove most of you wrong. They are selling very well, and I can’t call it a beautiful design, it is better looking then the Accord or Camry
10/13, 2:29 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
If this brand new release is such a hot seller and in demand how come I just got a quote for $1500 off MSRP on a quick email requesting an offer on a 2010 Legacy 3.6 premium sedan? That’s with no factory incentives, thei initial offer, and I can only take it lower from there if I wanted?
10/13, 2:50 PM
posted by:
Hazar
Like all new Subarus this one also looks heavy, boring and cheap. But don’t get fooled by looks it is heavy and boring but definitely not cheap. Previous generation was much better looking.
10/13, 3:20 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
Better than the Accord?? What are you smoke??? Sh!t???
10/13, 3:31 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
i guess i just don’t get all the bitching about styling…you want the safety, security, performance and luxury of this car, but because it has weird headlights you’re going to deny yourself all those other things? is this how you find women too? great ass, shags like a demon, huge bank account, but her left nostril is a little bigger than the right, so no way! because that’s what it seems like to me…
also…after reading that comment about the styling in the article, i predicted what the comments would be and ended up being 100% right…the opinions of people here you’d think would be less predictable than they are…i guess i find that disappointing…folks here rarely surprise me…
10/13, 3:31 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
I owned a ‘06 Legacy LTD in the same colors as the one in the picture and it stickered for over $27k and that had a non-turbo 4 cyl. They really really lowered the price on these! Wow, I don’t like it as much as my old one (it was a gorgeous sedan) but for a AWD V-6 this is hard to beat.
10/13, 3:33 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
i’m not correlating ugly with good, although there are certainly cases where that applies: an english bulldog, for example…but when somebody tells you 10 things are good about something, and 1 thing is bad, all the comments focus around that 1 bad thing and not the 10 things that are good…
that’s throwing the baby out with the bathwater, imo…
10/13, 3:39 PM
posted by:
teahead
How is this any worse looking than what’s already out there?
I like the looks.
YOu guys think Honda makes such beautiful cars?
As if.
10/13, 3:46 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
leftwing, tell me more about that huge bank account… I’m getting moist.
10/13, 4:07 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Leftwing – the more I see it and one sout in public, the less and less I hate it. It’s not as good looking as the old one, and I’m going to look at a 2009 2.5GT this Saturday, and that kind of stings me worse than what it looks compared to a Accord. I would still buy this car and be happy with it BUT it’s like marrying a chick and her being a Cubs fan (or even worse a Red Wings fan) – happy as heck, but really? Come on!
10/13, 4:08 PM
posted by:
cocojoe53
Better LOOKING then the Accord…not by much….Hey look, it gets better then 30 MPG with the Boxer 4. That beats ALL other 4WD sedans. Teahead is right…Really point out a beautiful AWD midsize sedan for 25K……Point made
10/13, 4:30 PM
posted by:
ASIMO
My quick take…
The basic shape is fairly good looking, with lines that channel the latter incarnations of the previous generation G35 sedan (which, by the way, is superior to the current G); however, the details throw big kinks into the overall aesthetics: overwrought headlights and fender arches, mainly.
So I’d say that the Accord overall does look better. As for the better car, I don’t know. This Subie sounds like it’s a solid contender.
10/13, 5:41 PM
posted by:
Borat
The difference between Suby and the rest of the driving universe is that their cars are reasonably tall to be comfortable and provide commanding view of the road. In practice, in Suby you sit like in a bathtub. Granted, there is large percentage of drivers who enjoy coziness of sitting on the floor, but all that space above the driver is absolutely unused. The car has decent volume, but very little of it is truly usable.
10/13, 5:51 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
I strongly suggest tha NOBODY marry a chick who’s a CUBS fan.
That goes for Steelers fan girls too.
And assymetrically nostrilled chicks must be avoided at all costs.
10/13, 6:40 PM
posted by:
09Accord
NMOFGM…You cannot be over 13 years of age.
10/13, 6:43 PM
posted by:
CanadaCraig
I think it looks really good. A few days ago – however – I test drove a new Forester for my mom. I really didn’t like it. It was gutless and the 4-speed auto took forever to downshift. It was also very uncomfortable. So unless the Legacy is a LOT different – power and [Especially] comfort wise – I wouldn’t even think of buying one.
10/13, 7:14 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
I hate seeing women who have unequal sized nostrils………..
10/13, 7:29 PM
posted by:
elantra_touring
I like this car alot, it is on my list for whenever i wish to buy a family sedan, far better than Accord or Camry and not as common and is somewhat fun to drive. Will have to see how it goes up against the new Sonata and then I can descide.
10/13, 7:59 PM
posted by:
h82w8
Another thread, another moronic pro-GM comment by you know who and another condescending, arrogant comment by lefty. Yep, the sun still set in the West tonight.
10/13, 8:44 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for Volkswagen
Dear Subaru,
This car is not the most fashionable car on the market right now…
But it sure beats any Toyotas! Hondas are your main gripe, I hope.
Toyota is just the biggest selling (and the ugliest and cheapest) cars.
I do though hope to see an improvment in your exterior and interior designs.
NMOFVW
10/13, 8:54 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for Volkswagen
Attachment:
I liked your old designs better they were unique
and your style not Japans.Dissapointment.
The style is the only main gripe so just help that part
out and you wil be fine.
10/13, 9:14 PM
posted by:
Whattup
JC (Johnny Canuck, not Jesus Christ), you got some jokes. You probably drive a subaru.
10/13, 10:59 PM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Yep, your guy’s are right. GM has nothing that can compare to this car. I guess I’ll go back to takeing upo the a$$ like I like it everday.
GM. An American Embarrassment
10/14, 3:07 AM
posted by:
Need More Oil For Imports
LLN made it through the evaluation and the car didn’t leave them stranded like your typical import?
This shows this car is excellent reliability. Living Proof that it can turn into a pile of rust ,catch fire, suffer a massive engine or transmission failure. It’s basically bullet proof! It’s so much better than driving an embarassing GM vehiche, and they make such ugly vehiches.
People who buy subaru are people who actually want quality, reliability and dependability in their rides rather than polarizing looks and GM (un)reliability.
And like a typical G, it should be recall-laden, problem prone and contributes nothing to Americans.
FAIL.
Be American, Buy Imports. Buy Sabaru. Like a Wrx or Sti or something.
10/14, 8:46 AM
posted by:
HoosierHero
I still like the design. Yes it’s a lot different, but when they initially posted it here I thought it had great dimensions, looked muscular without going boy-racer and still pulled off refined. I would definitely think about this if and when my 2000 Camry decides to die. Unfortunately for me, it only has 107,000 and has had nothing wrong with it which means I’m stuck for another 100,000 at least. Sigh, import quality…
10/14, 9:08 AM
posted by:
2WheeledSpeed
How many of you NMOFGM clones are there? I know I haven’t been drinking THAT much to imagine all of you…
10/14, 9:48 AM
posted by:
HalGameGuru
I’m a little sad at the bland generic styling but its gonna be a great car.
10/14, 11:37 AM
posted by:
A4
Wait… elantra_touring… your Hyundai heap of sh!t isn’t enough of a family car?
10/14, 2:18 PM
posted by:
vicdub85
This is a REAL American Car. Made in the USA. Has 180+ suppliers in the USA. Employees thousands of Americans.
10/15, 4:34 PM
posted by:
Bunny Cat
dis car is not ugly **** yah
10/27, 9:59 PM
posted by:
RustyPanama
I just got my 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Premium with all the bells and whistles. I love this car. First – regarding design, (1) the pictures on this website don’t really do the car justice. Go see it in person, and you’ll be more impressed. I can’t promise you’ll love the design like I do, but you’ll like it more – I’m sure of that. Ironically, the people that like the way this car looks weren’t impressed by the previous generation – myself included. Some people prefer fenders and angles to smooth lines and curves. Sorry. I think it looks meaner, tougher, and more masculine than the last version, and so does everyone else I’ve spoken to. (2) The car is an amazing drive. The torque to horsepower ratio is perfect. I can’t get the tires to squeak – even when I try – from a dead stop the car accelerates like a dream, stops on a dime, and turns so tightly I’ve over-shot one or two turns getting used to the radius. Please note that I drove a Mustang for the last 8 years, so I can’t stand front wheel drive. I don’t miss the ‘Stang at all, and with winter coming, I’m excited to try out the AWD. Look – if you want a car everyone agrees looks “nice” get an Altima. Many people love the way the Mazda 6 & 3 look, but I can’t get over the weird squinting cat eyes on the 6 or the goofy grin on the 3. The same goes for the popular Accord, or Cooper Mini. Different strokes for different folks. In the end, though, I think this is ONE of the best looking mid-size sedans out there, and it is by far the best performance you’ll get out of the segment. Throw in Subaru reliability, and you can see why they are doing well.
10/30, 2:43 AM
posted by:
Bing Chow
Used to love the Legacy. Now I think Subaru should fire all of its designers. The Tribeca is embarrassing. Then they wrecked the STI. Imprezas are just blah. Now they messed up the Legacy. I’m not a fan of headlamps that ride up over the front wheels like the Maxima. The grill is awful. The fender flare just don’t work here; it’s like they’re trying too hard to make it look muscular. The tail reminds me of an older gen Sonata. And the wheels are just meh. I sure hope it drives great because there is nothing to look at.