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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  Sedan with Soul - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By resipsa99 - February 15 - 4:36 pm

  The GT is lightning quick when the turbo kicks in at 3000 rpm. Need to get up to speed quickly to merge onto a crowded highway? Just open up the 250hp turbo and hold on. The handling is solid and inspires confidence -- push hard on a twisty back road and the car stays firmly planted beneath you. The exterior styling is aggressive yet clean, with much more personality than its competitors. The interior is perfectly adequate, though some pieces are cheap looking for a car of this price. Leather is almost a necessity, since the only cloth option is not very attractive. Compared to its competitors, you sacrifice some luxury and options for performance, but its well worth it.

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  Top Quality, Low Comfort - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Norvin - February 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a very safe and dependable car. It is great in all types of weather. It is also extreemly uncomfertable on long drives and the road noise is outrages for a $23,000 dolar car. if you are thinking about one drive it for a distance to make sure.

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  Do NOT believe the MPG rating - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By Bill Ramsey - February 6 - 6:54 am

  We have put just about 1k miles on our car after trading in our 2010 Toyota Camry. My wife drives the same as she always does back and forth from work and it is half highway and half street. We get a BEST 22mpg. That is no where near the 30mpg combined they advertised. She would fill up her tank in the Toyota which has the same size tank and it would last her about 2 weeks. Now we are barely making it one week before we need to fill up again. Horrible advertising In my book. Would NOT have bought the car if I knew that it was going to be this bad. Im hoping for engine break in but was told that it wasnt likely by Subaru. The rest of the car is great, the transmission is definitely sketchy but you get used to it. Overall we really like the luxury about the car ( I drive a 2010 Lexus IS250 and it is probably better than it ) but the gas mileage is not what we expected. DONT believe the salesman as that is a MAJOR selling point they use. Once we bought the car the reneged on that sales point of course!

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  First Time Subaru Owner - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By legacy2011 - February 6 - 2:25 am

  Never had a Subaru before til now, looking forward to driving this car in the Ohio winters we get. 1,600 miles in the car is performing fine, the CVT takes some time to get used to especially if you are coming from a V6. The car lacks power when you get stopped at a light briefly and then you have to accelerate. I feel that the CVT does get better as the engine breaks in and you drive it more. Gas mileage for city has been around 24-24.6(according to the optimistic computer). Havent driven much highway miles to comment on the epa estimate. The AC could be better, I feel it doesnt cool the car down as well as it should. The interior is very spacious for driver and back seat passengers

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  Subaru once, Subaru always....... - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By artquiltsbymeiny - February 4 - 10:00 am

  We used to own a 1992 Subary Loyale wagon which was recently totalled in a crash. The driver and passengers survived thanks to the sturdy Subaru body. The car is very quiet, with a very smooth ride, excellent aircondition and I love the showing of the direction the car is heading. The main reason for buying another Subaru though is our great experience with the service personal at the dealership; no haggling over repairs, mostly scheduled service appointments.

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  Great car, some nitpicks - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By piredon - February 3 - 12:56 pm

  Bought the car in March 06. Got the manual GT wagon after hearing complaints about the automatic. Awesome acceleration, balanced handling and quick, accurate steering make the car great on the back roads or on long trips. Holds a ton of stuff, especially with the seats folded flat. Currently 8600 miles on the odometer with 24.6 mpg average so far. Have managed over 28 mpg on long trips. Only problems have been tires with severe flat spots (dealer replaced with no hassle) and slight engine hesitation / stuttering at 2500-3500 rpm under hard acceleration (have read about this problem on the message boards, no fix so far and Subaru claims this is normal).

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  Good car for the price. - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By K Rangst - January 27 - 6:58 pm

  Traded my 2016 for the new 2017. Has many new features but the same old outdated navigation system. When going out o the area I use my old Garmin which can be updated for free.

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  Reliable Car - Fun to Drive - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By RMAN - January 20 - 3:30 pm

  I have owned the car for more than 7 years. It drives the same way today as it did when I bought it. I had a few company recalls on the vehicle but no major problems. The car handles great in any condition. AWD really works well in snow. I have received many compliments onthe looks and styling.

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  Very pleased - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Sam - January 15 - 3:00 pm

  This is a solidly-built, nicely styled car. Great gas mileage--significantly better than posted on the window sticker. Quiet cabin. Comfortable seating. Storage is well laid out, and though the trunk is considered average in size, the space is very accessible. Five stars all around on safety. The 2.5 engine provides comfortable performance for everyday driving, but will not snap your neck from a standing start. Not a bad trade-off, though, when I get well over 30 mpg on a road trip.

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  Great Car for Tall Commuter in the Snow - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By vtcommuter - January 12 - 7:23 am

  This car is perfect for a taller person who commutes in a snowy environment. This car gets good gas mileage (28mph at 75mpg on highway) considering its AWD - which I like to have in Vermont. If you dont need the AWD you can do much better (toyota camry hybrid). Also, the handling is average. But for someone with my specific needs, this car is just perfect.