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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  could be a mistake - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By puglover - February 25 - 10:33 am

  The transmission on my 05 sedan failed at 7,700 miles. A bushing failed causing the seal to burst and then catastrophic failure, high and low clutch burnout, etc. Im concerned now about the quality of my Subaru.

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  Good, but not Great - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By havertownrider - February 19 - 11:49 am

  We bought this car used in 2008. I negotiated the full warranty for a new car, 6 yrs and 100,000 miles, it expired in in october 2010 and soon after our transmission fluid and oil covers both leaked. Cost $500 to fix. It has been solid, but not what we expected. It is our first subaru and we are hoping to get 150K miles out of it. We bought with 45K and now have 75K. A few other nuiances are breaking down too but nothing major. I hope this last repair shop visit will last.

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  2006 finally Makes the Grade All Around - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By b1 - February 18 - 9:33 am

  This replaced our 1995 Legacy 4WD LS wagon, which still looks good but recently had to have its transmission rebuilt, and axles and driveshaft replaced. The new i LTD wagon is gorgeous and a great value. The engine is the new 175 hp model - a big improvement over the old one, and over the 168 hp 2005, which had seemed slower than the 1995 model. You can feel the power and supercharger is not missed. It handles exceptionally well and has outstanding visibility. The Gold Award from the IIHS sealed the deal - the 2005 had done poorly in the crash test. The ride is a great improvement - taut and responsive. The automatic shifter is weird and awkward but versatile. No manual option on the LTD.

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  Great Car - 2013 Subaru Legacy
  By ohio441 - February 18 - 7:06 am

  Ive had the 2013 4-cyl. Legacy Premium for about 7 months now, and love the car. Picked it up for $22k including the all-weather mats (recommended). The main reason I bought it was the AWD, since I live where it snows a lot. The car is a beast in the snow, even with the regular tires. It was 11 degrees today with the car sitting outside, and it started without a hitch and plowed through about 5 inches of snow on the driveway to get to the street. It has plenty of room - its larger on the inside than it seems from the outside, and the trunk is large too. Its comfortable, solid and well-handling to drive.

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  New to AWD - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By SubieNewbie - February 16 - 6:46 pm

  Ive had this car a year now, and like all cars it has is good and bad points. Good things are the engine has a lot of pep for a non-turbo 4-cyl, and it grips the road nicely. Winter driving is great. Good ergonomics. good front passenger room. Some bad things i found was that the plastic seems cheap. It makes noises from cold weather. And the plastic scratches easily. The passenger compartment could be bigger. heated rear view mirrors should be standard, I never had icing up problems on any of my other vehicles as much as this one.

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  Subaru Nailed It! - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By JM94 - February 15 - 11:56 pm

  06 Outback and time for something new, went to test drive a new Outback had to have the Legacy. Finally, a Subaru with an interior big enough for my toddlers carseat! Love the looks inside and out. Yes, the 2.5 engine is not a good selection if you like to drag race. But realistically, it handles every day driving just fine, not a donkey. Gets over 30 mpg on the highway-really good for AWD. It handles exceptionally well, just drove it in a huge rainstorm and the car has nothing but confidence on the road. The CVT has an interesting feel, especially if you are coming from a 4 speed auto, its very quiet and often at a low rpm. For 23k, AWD, moonroof, CVT and paddle shifters, hard to beat.

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  Austin GT Limited Sedan - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Danny Kemp - February 14 - 1:00 am

  The only issue that I have had with this car is thaat the a headlight will burn out every six months or so. I am not too crazy about the gas mileage, but with the way it can zoom around, I overlooked it. Due to the fact that there arent that many Subarus around in comparison to the rest of the cars on the road, people always ask me, "What kinda car is that?" I answer, and they return a strange look. I guess some people have a bad view of subarus. All in all, a good car, solid ride, and decently comfortable.

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  We Love our "Black Beauty" - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By J. P. Kidwell - February 8 - 5:43 pm

  After months of testing in the mid-size class, we now have a stout and luxurious Legacy 2.5i Limited w/VDC that we really like. To get here, weve driven and kid-tested the back seats of the Accord EX-L, Camry XLE w/ Leather and Aura XR. Were getting 27 mpg, and all four of us are comfortable. Now, I confess that I am 54" and my wife is 5, so we fit well. But this cars price, safety, fit, finish, and driving characteristics made it our winner.

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  This Legacy is a great choice - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Craig in Seattle - February 8 - 9:56 am

  We traded in our B9 Tribeca for this car, due to the Tribecas low mpg and need for premium gas. So far, I am not missing the SUV. This Legacy is nimble, fun to drive, and relatively quiet. I was totally surprised at the power and responsiveness of the engine. The CVT makes it feel like it has 25-30 more horses under the hood. I have driven previous generation Legacies with the base engine, and would not buy one because of the low power. This engine/tranny combo is great. The car is very stable, even when cornering at high speeds. We took it on a trip to the ocean recently and had a total blast on the curvey highway route we took. I would buy this car again without hesitation

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  Not Just for a Niche Market Anymore - 2015 Subaru Legacy
  By xrodriguez1992 - February 6 - 5:21 am

  Test drove numerous mid-size family sedans and ended up with the 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium in Carbide Grey Metallic. Two weeks in and Im very happy with my choice. Living in the northeast means traction is important during the winter months and the Subaru delivers with its Symmetrical AWD system. Ive never had an issue getting to work and Ive always felt safe driving this car. I got the base 2.5i premium with no extra options (no Eyesight, moonroof or navigation). This is still a very nicely equipped car for the money.