The Hidden Gem Of The Mid-Size Sedan Segment

Summary

• Subaru Legacy sales have increased by 15.4% compared to last year, thanks to a mid-cycle refresh and improved driver aids.
• The Legacy offers a choice between a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, with the turbo option providing brisk acceleration.
• The Legacy features a sporty exterior, and spacious interior, and comes with standard all-wheel drive, making it a strong contender in the mid-size sedan segment.

In a mid-size sedan class that has a slew of brilliant offerings, it’s easy to ignore an old-timer like the Subaru Legacy, a nameplate that debuted in the United States in 1990. Outshone by the impressive Outback, Crosstrek, and Forester models, the Legacy is one of the least popular Subaru models Stateside. However, Legacy sales have improved in 2023: the automaker reported that as of November 2023, it had recorded a 15.4 percent increase in Legacy sales compared to 2022.

The current Legacy generation debuted in 2019 and received a mid-cycle refresh for 2023. The Japanese automaker updated the car’s look and improved the model’s already impressive suite of driver aids. The refresh perhaps explains the uptick in Subaru Legacy sales. Here’s all you need to know about this hidden gem in the mid-size sedan segment.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Car And Driver.

Subaru Offers A Turbo And Non-Turbo Engine With the Legacy

Subaru offers two engines with the Legacy: a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four and a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter boxer. The 2.5-liter power unit premiered in the 2019 Forester with nearly all of its parts new.

The 2.4-liter Turbo Engine Delivers Brisk Acceleration

The Subaru Legacy is not a performance sedan, and it doesn’t pretend to be one. Nevertheless, if performance matters to you, you should opt for the 2.4-liter turbo engine, which comes standard in the Sport and Touring XT trims. It gets the Touring XT variant to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds; the lighter Sport trim takes 5.7 seconds to complete the dash to 60 MPH. During everyday driving, the turbo’s extra thrust may come in handy when overtaking.

Paired with its standard symmetrical all-wheel drive, a Subaru hallmark, the automaker hypes up the handling characteristics of the current-gen Legacy, claiming the car’s stiffer construction improves cornering. The Legacy lies on an optimized version of the Subaru Global Platform, which the Subaru claims is 70 percent stiffer in torsional rigidity and 100 percent stiffer in front and rear rigidity compared to the previous generation’s platform.

The added stiffness comes from the increased use of high-strength steel and structural adhesive. Subaru alleges that thanks to the new platform, a lower center of gravity, and strengthened suspension (MacPherson struts in the front; double-wishbone layout in the rear), the Legacy is more responsive to steering inputs and a better performer through corners.

Performance Specifications

(Source: Subaru)

The 2.5-liter Engine Is More Economical

Compared to the turbo, the 2.5-liter engine, which comes as standard in the Base, Premium, and Limited trims, delivers lackluster acceleration: it motivates the Legacy to 60 MPH in 8.0 seconds. It won’t instill you with confidence when gearing up to overtake. Both engines send power to all wheels through a CVT gearbox, which is more efficient at transferring energy than the previous generation’s CVT.

The naturally aspirated boxer engine claws back some pride when considering fuel efficiency. The EPA claims that, on average, it consumes a gallon of fuel every 30 miles. In contrast, the turbocharged power unit consumes a similar amount of gas every 26 miles. As per the EPA, variants with the 2.5-liter engine have a range of 555 miles on a full tank, while trims with the turbocharged power unit can only do 481 miles on a full tank of gas.

The Legacy Features A Sporty Exterior And A Spacious Interior

Subaru offers five Legacy trims, all featuring a handsome exterior and a spacious interior. The bottom trim, dubbed Base, is the cheapest and least equipped, while the top trim, dubbed the Touring XT, is the heaviest, most expensive, and most well-equipped model in the lineup.

2024 Subaru Legacy Price

Subaru Gave The Legacy A More Aggressive Exterior During The Mid-cycle Refresh

Subaru redesigned the Legacy’s front fascia for 2023, installing redesigned LED headlights and a bigger grille. The refresh gave the Legacy, with its wide fenders, frameless grille, and raised trunk surface, a more aggressive stance. Subaru redesigned the exterior side-view mirrors to increase aerodynamic efficiency and reduce cabin noise, to distinguish between the different variants.

The Base trim has black side mirrors; the Premium and Limited trims have body-color side mirrors; the Sport trim features side mirrors with a magnetic gray metallic finish; the top-rated Touring XT variant features satin chrome finish side mirrors. Also, the mid-range Sport and top-ranked Touring XT trims have dual exhaust outlets; the bottom three models have single exhaust outlets.

The Legacy Has Plenty Of Space For Passengers And Cargo

The new-gen Legacy is more spacious than the previous-gen model. It offers 105.5 cubic feet of passenger volume (104 cubic feet with moonroof installed) and 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space. The rear seats fold flat to free up more room for cargo. Subaru offers cloth, leather, and Nappa leather upholstery with the Legacy, depending on the trim you choose.

The base model features dual 7.0-inch displays, while all other models have Subaru’s 11.6-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Andoid Auto integration. The vertical style screen dominates the unremarkable but well-finished dashboard. It controls a considerable number of functions, including navigation and climate settings. All Legacy models come with an updated version of the Japanese automaker’s EyeSight suite of driver aids.

Subaru Legacy Standard Driver Aids

• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Automated emergency braking
• High beam assist
• Automatic emergency steering
• Lane keep assist

Comparison With The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord

Two of the stars of the overpopulated mid-sized sedan segment are the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The Legacy is the only one of the three that comes standard with all-wheel drive, a helpful feature, in areas that experience conditions are far from ideal. However, the Camry and Accord also have handy tricks of their own.

Toyota Offers A Hybrid Powertrain With The Camry

Toyota offers a wide variety of engines with the outgoing Camry, including a hybrid powertrain and a 3.5-liter V-6. The 301-horsepower V-6 is the sporty version, while the hybrid powertrain is the most economical; the EPA gives it an average fuel economy rating of 52 MPG. The non-hybrid 2.5-liter engines are remarkably frugal, consuming a gallon of fuel every 32 miles in the LE and SE variants. AWD Camry models are thirstier than rear-wheel drive variants. Both cars feature extensive lists of standard safety and driver-assistance features.

The Honda Accord Is Pricier And Only Comes With Front Wheel Drive

The base Honda Accord costs about $3,000 more than the base Subaru Legacy. However, it features a more potent turbocharged engine and a plush, modern-looking exterior. All Accord variants come with a front-wheel drive and a CVT gearbox. Like Toyota, Honda offers a hybrid powertrain with its mid-sized Sedan offering. Consisting of two electric motors and a 2.0-liter inline-four, it produces a combined 204 horsepower, enough to get the Accord to 60 MPH in 6.5 seconds.

Final Thoughts On The Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy is a brilliant mid-size sedan that perhaps suffers from the lack of a hybrid powertrain. Of the two engines offered, the more powerful turbocharged engine is the better option. The extra oomph provided by the turbo adds to the excitement of driving the rather understated Legacy.

It is less economical than the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine, but not by much. Standard all-wheel drive (one of the very best in the class, this side of Audi’s Quattro system), a plush and comfortable ride, a generous offering of standard driver aids and affordable starting MSRP, make the Legacy an attractive option in the mid-size sedan segment. However, the fuel economy of competitors with hybrid powertrains reduces its desirability.