Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Now that the latest model has recently arrived as a 2015 model, Subaru’s Legacy has been with us for six generations spanning some 26 years. Over the decades each new model has been endowed with the types of qualities its relatively small but fiercely loyal ownership base demands, although its progeny might just be more notable. The old Legacy Wagon was the basis for the legendary Subaru Outback that came on the scene in 1993 as a 1994 model, which makes it one of the first modern-day crossovers. While there was once a very odd but ultimately useful
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Lafayette, Indiana-built four-door is new from the ground up, and most should find the stylistic changes to their liking. The car’s most dramatic design update is right up front, the outgoing model’s near-hexagonal grille (its trapezoidal grille had two tiny edges at each outermost top portion that almost made it six-sided) is now a full-fledged hexagon in similar fashion to the new Hyundai Sonata and Ford Taurus. The hexagonal shape is obviously a design trend that
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The grille is bigger and bolder than anything that’s come before, however, and that’s a global trend that most gravitate toward. It portrays power and luxury, attributes the new Legacy has aplenty. Of course, the available power and luxury depends entirely on which trim level you opt for, and there are many to choose from starting with the 2.5i mated up to a six-speed manual or an optional continuously variable (CVT) automatic, followed by the fuel- and emissions-friendly 2.5i PZEV that comes standard with the CVT, 2.5i Touring in manual or CVT
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
If you hadn’t guessed already, 2.5i refers to the base four-cylinder engine that is 2.5 litres in volume and continues Subaru’s legacy of a unique horizontally opposed layout (hey, if it’s good enough for Porsche… enough said), whereas the 3.6R is also a “boxer” design albeit comprised of six cylinders and therefore lot more powerful while also more refined. Where the 2.5i puts out a respectable 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque the 3.6R produces 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. That makes for a difference you can really feel and hear, the 3.6R launching
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Legacy 3.6R gets where it’s going quickly nevertheless, with all four wheels gripping
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
All Legacy trims come standard with Subaru’s much-lauded all-wheel drive system as has been the case in North America since the second-generation car, although for 2015 it’s a new design that works in concert with brake-based active torque-vectoring
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
As you may realize already, the Legacy is the only mid-size sedan from a volume producer to offer all-wheel drive as standard equipment, but what I find strange is that most of its mainstream competitors don’t offer AWD at all. Back to that search engine, look up “all-wheel drive mid-size cars” and you’ll get the Legacy showing up on every list, but the remaining offerings are from much pricier premium
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Along with the technical and styling upgrades the new 2015 Legacy delivers a decidedly more premium experience inside, my 3.6R Limited featuring soft-touch synthetic surfaces across the dash-top and dash facing ahead of the front passenger, while both front and rear door uppers were comfortably padded, as were
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Subaru has also made great strides in the quality of the Legacy’s switchgear, now much more upscale than in versions past. Likewise the electronics being actuated are a lot more appealing, my Limited model also receiving the very well priced $1,200 Technology package (available with the 2.5i too, but only with the CVT) that added a handsome full-colour five-inch multifunction trip computer within the primary instrument cluster, along with proximity-sensing keyless access with
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
EyeSight
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Before I get into some of the extras you get with either Touring or Limited trims, I should mention some of the other standard features that come with the 2.5i, such as a four-speaker display audio system utilizing a nice, clear, full-colour, high-resolution 6.2-inch touchscreen accessing AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA and satellite capability as well as auxiliary, USB and iPod inputs, Bluetooth audio-streaming and
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The Touring package, at $26,495 for the manual and $27,795 with the auto, adds fog lights, 17-inch alloys, side mirror-mounted turn signals, a stainless steel exhaust tip (or dual stainless exhaust tips with the 3.6R), and a windshield wiper de-icer
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Limited trimmed models, at $31,195 for the 2.5i or $30,795 with the 3.6R, upgrade to the previously noted 18-inch wheels, Stablex ride control dampers, enhanced interior trim, leather upholstery, and larger multifunction trip computer within an electroluminescent primary gauge package, plus navigation becomes part of the infotainment system, as does text messaging capability and an awesome sounding 12-speaker audio system with a 576-watt amplifier and subwoofer. Voice-activated dual-zone automatic climate control is also part of the Limited package, as is a garage door opener, ultra-comfortable 10-way driver’s seat
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Its fuel consumption should also put a smile on your face, coming very close to similarly powered rivals that don’t include the benefits of all-wheel drive. Keep in mind that Natural Resources Canada upgraded our rating system to a new five-cycle process for the 2015 model year (so don’t use these numbers for comparison against 2014 models), and the 3.6R’s 11.9 L/100km city and 8.2 highway estimates look very good, while the 2.5i CVT’s 9.0 city and 6.5 highway rating
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
And the Legacy gives up nothing to its rivals when it comes to interior comfort and roominess, both front and rear seating areas totally accommodating and thoroughly comfortable, while its trunk is a large 425 litres (18.5 cubic feet) with the advantage of 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks for stowing longer items like skis. Under the cargo floor is a bit of storage for tools (or valuables) along with a compact spare tire – oh how Subaru has given up so many of its quirky traditions since the Legacy came on the seen more than a quarter of a century ago; that spare tire used to be
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Some traditions continue on, of course, such as Subaru’s legacy of reliability, the brand above average in J. D. Powers and Associates 2014 Vehicle Dependability Study (the most recent at time of writing), and even better, the new 2015 Legacy becoming Consumer Report’s “top-scoring midsized sedan.”
I must concur, as the new Legacy delivers a lot more than its competitors for a similar price, not to mention a higher than average expected resale value. The Legacy is a win-win proposition that should be on your shopping list.
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