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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  Perfect family snowbelter - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By CT Subaru Buyer - November 13 - 5:30 pm

  This is our 3rd Subaru, 2nd Legacy. This week was the 1st ice storm test. Waiting at a signal in a line of cars, everyone did something other than go strait. When it was our turn, the Legacy showed no sign of being affected by the black ice that caused everyone else to lose traction. Turning corners on ice, stopping on ice, everything the legacy did said safety and control. The only fear was being patient for all the sedans, minivans and trucks to finish their sliding so that the Legacy could maneuver through them. In style and comfort, its no different than Camry, Accord, Altima, Fusion, but in snowbelt, I wish everyone else drove a legacy, would be safer for me.

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  2003 Legacy S E......awesome car - 2003 Subaru Legacy
  By VW72SUPBUG - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought my new 2003 Legacy Special Edition thinking it was a "so-so" car since it did not cost as much as my last 3 Acura Integra GS-Rs did. Boy, I was I wrong!....this AWD car is so awesome on the road.....you have so much confidence in wet/snow weather that you would not find in FWD cars. This car is built solid, inside and out. It could stand to use more power and a smoother shifter, but overall it is great value for the money, cheaper than an Audi A4 AWD.

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  I LOVE it! - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Lisa - November 3 - 12:26 am

  This is by far the best car I have ever owned. I have not had any mechanical problems what so ever and I bought a demo that had 3900 miles on it. I live in Minneapolis and it responds to the cold very well and handles awesomely. I really do love it.

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  Lemon Legacy GT Wagon? - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By jorgeorge - October 31 - 1:46 am

  Recently purchased a new 2005 Legacy GT Wagon mid March of 06, guess it was a holdover from last year. This car has been back to the dealership 5 times, originally for check engine light as well as the cruise light. I also experienced shaking and loss of power each time. June 30, 2006, it went back AGAIN for same problem. I also didnt have the vehicle for approximately 15 days because of a rattle behind the dashboard which turned out to be some kind of cracked foam right behind the firewall. I have as of today sent my certified Lemon Law letter to the company hoping to get them to take back this UNSAFE vehicle. Not sure if I would get a Subaru again. To be continued.

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  One of the Best Used Car to Buy - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By Wong - October 22 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used in 2009. Now has 76,000 miles. Now, 5 years later the car runs just like new sill. The paint isnt the best but every car now has bad paint. There is only one rattle but only comes once in a long time other wise everyday its quiet. Some people complain about wind noise because of frame less window but I dont hear and I know there is no wind noise unless its 30 mph winds but even cars with framed windows will here that. Seats are comfortable for shorter trips. It doesnt have all the new toys that 2010 cars now have but you dont need it. Like back-up camera, gps, mp3, push start etc. If you can drive without the new toys this is a good car to buy with awd standard

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  Good family car for snow belt - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By OmahaNE - October 22 - 10:00 am

  As the title states, I feel this is one of the best family cars available for folks that have to deal with snow. I look at most other cars in this class and my decision came down to the VW Passat and the Subaru. The Subarus interior space, quiet ride and predicted reliability won-out. It has been almost a year and 10,000 miles and I am still happy with my decision. Fuel mileage has been great - 25 city and 30+ highway. The car has enough power and I would even say the engine sounds good. The car does require a lot of correction in a crosswind and stepping over the body skirts is annoying. The car is not sporty to drive. For example an Accord is much more nimble.

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  Japanese engineering -feels like a European - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By chi - October 20 - 7:00 am

  All the cars I owned were Toyotas such as Corolla, Camry, Celica. I may have switched to Subaru from now on. It has the reliability of Toyota. in addition, the interior of Europe like VW and Audi. The ride is pretty firm like a sport car, very good handling and traction for a family wagon. The sunroof is huge. Although it will be nice if it come with a basic 200 HP engine will make it more fun and within the bargaining price range. Thinking about the Tribeca or Forester as our next car. Love the deep pitch sound of the flat 4 engine.

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  Wonderful car - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By Ownedlotsofcars - October 16 - 6:46 am

  I bought my 2002 Subaru Legacy wagon used in 2006. It has been sensational, reliable, fun to drive, easy to handle, just a fine automobile. Things Ive had to repair: cooling system has a minute leak somewhere that was stopped with additive; moon roof stopped popping up but the sun roof (yes its a double moon/sun roof!) works just fine, so the moon roof pop up hardware just needs to be re- engaged. Im going to have to replace the head gasket soon, but Im putting it off and putting up with the small leak stain I have in my garage. For a used car, though, its hard to imagine a better buy. Im a pretty assertive drive. I drive the crap out of this thing and it has never let me down.

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  Amazing! - 2007 Subaru Legacy
  By J Franceschi - October 13 - 5:10 pm

  Just got rid of a Mercedes, and what a difference! The Subaru is sooo much faster. The build quality is excellent - almost Lexus-like and the Subie is very comfortable too. This car holds the road like it was glued there and the clutch is really smooth. The turbo is really fun and Consumer Reports has given the Legacy great reliability ratings. I test drove the MazdaSpeed6 and there was no comparison. Edmunds compared them also and preferred the Mazda, but if youre looking for fun AND great reliability and build quality go for the Legacy. It beats the Mazda hands down in the quality department.

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  Disappointed - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By Quite disappointed - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I love the looks and practicality of my Subaru Legacy wagon. However, I have already had to have the transmission replaced ($5,000 item at 49,000 miles), head gasgets, brakes, heat shield, the moon roof leaked into the interior light. Thank goodness it is has all been on warrenty, but I bought it thinking that it would be a work horse for many years. The dealer has worked hard to make me happy--but I really dont trust the car but dont want to incur another car payment now that this is just about paid off.