Overview & Reviews

Introduced more than two decades ago, the Subaru Legacy is the brand's longest-running nameplate in the United States. Thanks to its all-wheel drive, the Legacy has often been selected by consumers as a winter-beating alternative in the midsize sedan or wagon segment.

Perhaps as a consequence of the Legacy's off-beat nature, it's never been as popular in terms of sales as mainstream picks like the Accord and Camry. In recent years, though, Subaru has attempted to expand the Legacy's appeal by making it roomier and more fuel-efficient. The newest generation, in particular, is a fully competitive rival. As a used vehicle choice, we still highly recommend the Legacy (particularly if you want all-wheel drive), though certain model years are going to be more appealing than others, so a bit of extra research is recommended.

Current Subaru Legacy
The newest Subaru Legacy sedan has been fully redesigned for 2015. Representing the car's sixth generation, the new Legacy shares a similar look and feel to the previous version, but changes under the skin have resulted in more passenger and cargo room. The cabin itself features nicer materials and updated electronics.

The Legacy has a choice of two engines. The base 2.5-liter horizontally opposed ("boxer") four-cylinder produces 175 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The available six-cylinder, which is also a boxer design, generates 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive.

Trim levels include 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited. Highlights for the base 2.5i models include air-conditioning, cruise control, full power accessories, a rearview camera, a touchscreen display, Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system. The 2.5i Premium adds dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat, heated front seats and an upgraded audio system that includes a larger touchscreen. Going with the 2.5i or 3.6 R Limited (which has the six-cylinder engine) gets you leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, heated rear seats and a 12-speaker premium sound system. Major options include a sunroof, a navigation system and added safety features.

Seating is pretty roomy inside the Legacy, and outward visibility is excellent. The cabin is trimmed in high-quality materials, and the touchscreen that's bundled with the navigation system can be controlled like a tablet. On the move, the Subaru Legacy's standard all-wheel-drive system gives it plenty of capability in bad weather. Both the four- and the six-cylinder engines are quiet and provide class-acceptable acceleration. We also like how the Legacy easily soaks up bumps and ruts, yet maintains its composure when you're driving through turns. All in all, the Legacy is a smart choice for a midsize family sedan.

Used Subaru Legacy Models
Previous to the current model was the fifth-generation Legacy sedan sold from 2010-'14. Compared to the car it replaced, this Legacy was bigger both inside and out and was more visually distinctive because of its blockier styling.

Originally, Subaru offered this Legacy in 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 2.5GT Premium, 2.5GT Limited, 3.6R, 3.6R Premium and 3.6R Limited trim levels. All came standard with all-wheel drive.

The 2.5i models had a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that produced 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. You could get it with a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. The 2.5GT boasted a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter four that cranked out 265 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, but only the manual transmission was offered. The 3.6R models came with a 3.6-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that generated 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic was the only available transmission.

Standard equipment included air-conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a four-speaker stereo. Moving up to the Premium and Limited trim levels would get you added features like power front seats, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, Bluetooth and a premium sound system. Exclusive to Limited models was an optional navigation system with a rearview camera.

The most significant changes for this fifth-generation Legacy occurred for 2013 when Subaru gave the car a sleeker look, made the four-cylinder engine slightly more powerful (173 hp) and fuel-efficient, revised the suspension tuning and CVT, and added a newly available frontal collision warning system (Subaru's "EyeSight" system). The 2.5GT model and its turbocharged engine were also discontinued that year.

Though it had some appealing qualities, this generation's Legacy didn't appeal to us as much as previous ones did. It was certainly roomier and more fuel efficient, but it largely lacked the snappy, fun-to-drive personality established by the fourth generation. In reviews we praised the car for its roomy seating, good outward visibility and standard all-wheel drive. Downsides included behind-the-times audio and navigation systems, below-average fuel economy with the six-cylinder and a ride quality that could seem overly firm at times.

The fourth-generation Legacy was produced from 2005-'09. It was available as both a sedan and a wagon until 2008, when the wagon was discontinued. Although the base car was a bit of a stripper, the other trims were well-equipped and made the Legacy as luxurious and comfortable as some midsize cars wearing luxury badges.

When this Legacy was introduced for '05, it was available as a sedan and wagon, and there were two basic trim levels: 2.5i and 2.5GT. The former had a 168-hp 2.5-liter boxer-4, while the 2.5GT received a 250-hp turbocharged version of the same engine. These models came with either a five-speed manual or an automatic transmission -- four speeds in the base 2.5i, five in the 2.5GT. As time went on, a few additional models joined the lineup, notably the sedan-only 2.5GT spec.B and 3.0 R. The former was a better-handling version of the 2.5GT, while the latter was a luxurious Legacy that came with a 245-hp 3.0-liter flat-6 and a five-speed automatic transmission. As with all Subaru vehicles, AWD was standard.

In road tests, our editors found the fourth-generation Subaru Legacy to be both sporty and comfortable -- a challenging combination for manufacturers to master. The base 2.5-liter engine provided adequate power, but the turbocharged GT model was the one to have for enthusiastic driving. However, the GT performed better with the manual transmission, as the five-speed automatic seemed ill-suited to the turbo motor's power delivery.

This Legacy was a bit tight in the backseat relative to its midsize rivals, but it compensated with comfortable front seats and a sleek BMW-like dashboard design. Additionally, the wagon model brilliantly combined impressive driving dynamics with all-star utility. Although this Legacy vintage is getting a bit old now, we still highly recommend it if you're looking for a used midsize sedan or wagon with all-season versatility and an extra dose of driving flair.

Notable changes to the fourth-generation Legacy began in 2006, when the sedan-only GT spec.B trim was added. For 2007, the GT spec.B received a six-speed manual in place of the original five-speed unit, and the 2.5-liter engine's horsepower rating was revised to 243 (from 250). For 2008 Subaru discontinued the wagon model, and the sedan-only 3.0 R model debuted, bringing six-cylinder power to the Legacy lineup. For 2009 stability control became standard and every Legacy except the base 2.5i received an upgraded nine-speaker audio system.

The previous, third-generation Subaru Legacy was more of a rugged all-weather performer than the current model. Sold from 2000-'04, it launched with three primary trim levels: base L, sporty GT and premium GT Limited. A Brighton value trim was also included in the 2000 lineup for the wagon, but was removed the following year.

Although it was a bit lacking in refinement, the previous Legacy was well stocked with standard features, including AWD. All trims came with a smooth and responsive 165-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional. In 2003, Subaru moved the L trim upscale and added the L Special Edition trim, which was renamed the 35th Anniversary Edition a year later.

Value-minded buyers looking for an all-weather vehicle might take a look at the second-generation Subaru Legacy. Sold from 1995-'99, it was best known for spawning the Outback wagon, a rugged SUV alternative that came with standard AWD. The model's one weak link was its anemic 135-hp 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, which many people felt was a downgrade from the 160-hp turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder that was available in the first generation's Sport Turbo trim (sold from 1991-'94).

User Reviews:

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  Cmon SUBARU, you can do Better - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Gman - December 24 - 9:58 pm

  Over all I am satisfied with the purchase of my 2016 Legacy. There are a few things that would have made this car a perfect 10. 1. Must improve speakers quality, as of today, its a JOKE. 2. Must make push button start a STANDARD feature. 3. Make the car ride a little softer, and perhaps a little more torque wouldnt hurt. Thats it.

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  2006 Spec B review - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Todd - December 18 - 1:00 am

  Definitely not worth the extra money for a specB. Subarus are designed by engineers, not by people who actually use the cars on a daily basis. Would I buy another one again? No, with emphasis! Too many annoying and poorly thought out features.

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  2013 Upgrades hurt overall ratings - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By fitfd - September 5 - 9:32 pm

  I traded in a 2012 2.5i Premium for the 2013 2.5i Sport for the new performance upgrades. The best way to describe the 13 model is disappointing. I cant question the AWD performance of a Subaru, it handles almost any road condition with ease. The acceleration on the 13 is sluggish from a stop but crisp at higher RPMs. I think the acceleration on the 12 was better overall. I was averaging 31 mpg with my 12 and only 26 with my 13. The Sport interior isnt all that impressive, the seats may feel softer but they also show dirt and lint far worse than the 12 interior. The new suspension is stiff and bone-jarring at times. Camrys run the same 18 set-up with a much smoother ride.

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  Run Far away from this car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By tag4575 - July 7 - 3:44 am

  Bought mine and started out loving it. You will soon regret that thought. Wheel bearings, turbo, clutch, timing belt, interior plastics, all went to hell after only 60k miles. I replaced th tires one time and they lasted a mere 20k miles. Treated this car like a baby, only synthetic, premium gas and drove it carefully. Seems like check engine light was always on, car was in ecellent condition when I god rid of it, traded it on a new acura, I feel bad for whoever buys the piece of junk. My 2001 BMW 740 is supposed to be high matinance, but this car proved that wrong and now I appriciate my BMW way more. Very dissapointed in Subaru, my $57,000 acura is less to insure than this thing too.

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  Oh but for the seats - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By Paul - July 5 - 5:23 pm

  The legacy is a good proposition if youre expecting a kid and want basic transportation. It has one fatal flaw that is resulting in me getting rid of it: The seats. The seats are so uncomfortable that I would be prepared to take a loss on the car just to get out of it. My wifes rabbit is a much better vehicle in terms of comfort, despite its smaller size.

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  Engineering Problem Update - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By Phillip - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Put 500 miles on the Subaru Legacy since my 10/9/10 posting. The upgraded Continental tires didnt help. I like the interior a lot, great seating position and the engine is very nice. Sadly for me, the steering wheel vibration is still there and EVERY road imperfection on ALL surfaces travels through the car. In summary, the worst handling, riding and cornering car I have ever owned by a wide margin. For the record, I have owned a lot of cars in my life. The dealer has been nice and claims they can fix it, but I dont believe it. Subaru knows they have a problem with the Legacy, but they are still making them with the problem and shipping parts to their dealers to fix them

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  Clutch Problems - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By in NJ - February 2 - 10:23 pm

  In 3 years our only real complaint is the clutch. From day 1, when you try to shift into first gear when the car has not been run for a few hours, the entire car shudders and bucks like you are learning to drive a manual for the first time. There is another review in here that mentions the same problem. Make sure you drive this car cold before you purchase. Otherwise, we are pretty happy with the car.

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  Very disaponted - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Dispointed - January 27 - 10:00 am

  If you are considering this vehicle be very wary of the stock Bridgestone Potenza tires and interior trim quality. My vehicle began suffering fron bubling and craks in the door trim and centre arm rest. Also fit and finish is well below standard for a vehicle of this price. Watch for problems with leaky sunroofs as well. I was told by the dealer that they are common due to dirt accumulating in a drain tube in the sunroof assemly. Fun to drive but not worth the money!

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  Good car, not great - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By Ajluptak - January 10 - 10:00 am

  Car is OK in most respects ( handling, ride, etc. AWD system shines in poor conditions. Car is only adequately powered (165hp) and the AWD system is heavy, making the car sluggish. 4 spd auto trans geared too steeply for engine power, hunts in and out of gears. Fuel economy awful, 16 mpg average and my wife is not a leadfoot. If you can find a 5 spd manual car, get it. Lack of power should be fixed with the optional 5 spd auto and 250 hp turbo 4 in the 2005 car.

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  Engine Noise and Hard Xmission shifting - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Eric Tanner - January 3 - 3:20 am

  1. Excessively LOUD Engine Noise, especially when first starting; 2. SHIFTING Gears – HARD, JOLTING, CLUNKING, CLUCKING and CLICKING: A. When shifting from Park to Reverse, most of the time (90%) there will be QUITE a big JOLT accompanied by a loud CLUNKING sound from under the car, and sometimes also a CLUCKING sound from under the rear; B. When shifting to Neutral and Drive, there’s not much of a Jolt; C. In general, Shifting from P to R to N to D and vice versa is always NOT smooth and there will always (100%) be a CLICKING sound coming from right under the car (like a cable snapping noise.) Suggestion and comment are welcome.