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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  Buy One Youll Love It. - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Red Dirt - July 26 - 8:46 pm

  Great car, has been a treat to drive. Wish I had the GT though.

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  2018 Subaru Legacy2.5 Sport - 2018 Subaru Legacy
  By Perry Epstein - July 13 - 11:07 pm

  Awd can’t be beat and has push button start

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  Great Vehicle. - 2017 Subaru Legacy
  By Zino Kent - July 11 - 9:11 am

  I was looking to buy a car for about 9 months. I was eyeing for a midsize sedan, an upgrade from the 2005 Civic I had for 13 years. I was searching online, reading reviews, driving through dealership lots on Sundays, asking people around...I wanted something reliable for years to come, with decent fuel economy, nice looking and also can outstand the icy cold weather of my state Minnesota. After 9 months, narrowed it down to two vehicles, and only 2. The 2017 Honda Accord or the 2017 Subaru Legacy. I settled with a Legacy Sport Trim, because of the standard Symmetrical AWD System, which is a huge plus in Minnesotas winter conditions. After two months of driving it around, Im very confident to say the car is nicely built. It drives nice, handles the road amazingly, its quiet, roomy and comfy. I was blown away about the fuel economy 25/34, given the vehicle size, weight and AWD system. I drove to work on a Sunday morning, the roads and freeway empty, slightly down hill commute. I clocked 39.4 MPG in a trip of 11 miles. I wasnt hyper-miling like crazy, I was easy on the gas pedal and maintained a steady speed of 60/62

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  Car Accelerates - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By TheForma - July 11 - 1:06 am

  I purchased my 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited almost a month ago. I have put a little over 200 miles on it since then and have enjoyed every last one of them. The car accelerates beautifully and the shifting is very smooth (especially for a Subie). I traded up from an Imprezza 2.5 TS sport wagon and the hard shifting was one of my complaints. These problems are now non existent however. The shift on the fly levers on the steering wheel are fun to use. Passing cars on the highway and merging on the interstate is a true joy in this car. The interior is very comfortable and the Harmon Kardon sound system has plenty of bump once you tweak it a bit. My only complaint is the bit of body roll.

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  1st Subaru..... and probably not last Subaru - 2015 Subaru Legacy
  By usmcbigguns - July 9 - 11:14 am

  I have been researching a new car for the last year. And out of all the cars I looked at in this class of car, I always came back to the Legacy. So i pulled the trigger and decided to lease this car instead of buying it since I have never had a Subaru before and I heard they will be upgrading the power train in a couple of years. I have the eyesight system and I can tell you it works. I got distracted and the things start beeping, display blinking and my brakes stopped my car. Already payed for itself! Overall the Legacy is a great value. Got my fully loaded Legacy 2.5 Limited for under $30k. Cant beat that for the features & safety you get.

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  First and last subaru. Their junk - 2001 Subaru Legacy
  By bgtpeifer222 - July 5 - 7:30 pm

  I bought my legacy just a few weeks ago. And talk about a big mistake. It has 180,000 miles on it and yes i know thats alot but the dealer clames they will run 280,000 easy. When i bought the car it had its normal subaru noises in it. And just today the rear of my transmission went out of it. No warning no nothing just a loud crack and then the rear of the trans binding. This car is JUNK. first and last one ill ever own.

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  Great Car at Great Value - 2006 Subaru Legacy
  By Sandman - June 25 - 6:30 am

  When it came to buy a new car, Legacy was not on my list until the last minute. I was looking at Audi A3 & A4, Acura TSX and Cadillac CTS. After test driving all of them numerous times, I wasnt quite sold on any of them. I really wanted an Audi but could not bring myself to spend the money for a car with one of worst reliability ratings. Acura TSX had everything I would want in a car in a nice package but was very boring to drive. And one day, I saw a car I hadnt seen before parked on my street. It was a brand new Subaru Legacy GT. After doing internet research and 2 test drive & a great treatment from the dealer, I had my car with everything I ask for in a car.

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  The Most Fun Car Ive Ever Owned - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By DeAnna - June 22 - 3:06 am

  When I started shopping for a new car my boss told me that I should try the Legacy. He and his son are car enthusiasts and told me that his son had the Subaru Impreza and loved it. I was planning on either getting a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry so test drove both of them and took my bosss advice and test drove the Legacy. The Accord was so stiff it was killing my back and with the Camry I felt like a was driving a bulky tank. The Legacy was wonderful. The drivers seat is totally comfortable, the displays are really convenient, and the handling on the car is just unbelievable. I have never had so much fun driving a car. I totally feel like I got my moneys worth with the Legacy.

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  Could have been great, but... - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By Dr. Alif Terranson - June 19 - 2:00 am

  The performance of the 4 wheezing mice just doesnt cut it. I actually thought the car had a problem, and brought it in for service - the service manager stated that this was "just the way it is with the newer Subarus, because of the emissions control requirements". This is, of course, pure BS, as I have an even newer car (from another manufacturer) that meets emissions without this performance hit. The performance is *so* bad that I was going to upgrade to the 6cyl, unfortunately, a drive in that confirmed that this is a design issue, and not an engine size problem.

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  Exceeds expectations - 2008 Subaru Legacy
  By theanimal - June 10 - 7:00 pm

  Have owned Lexus LS, Toyota Camrys and Corolla, BMW 3/5/Z4 series, and Honda Civic. Hadnt ever looked at Subaru before but researched sedans with top safety ratings and the Legacy stood out. I have had the car for 2 days and am very pleased with how well it was designed and built. Very well appointed, great value, above average performance, even providing a bit of luxury but without being pretentious in any way. Fuel economy like a small SUV, requires premium gas and frequent oil changes. More fun than a Camry/Corolla or Accord/Civic but just as practical and more bang for your buck than Lexus or BMW.