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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  2012 Legacy Buyers Check Steering Before Buying - 2012 Subaru Legacy
  By bill497 - March 20 - 11:03 pm

  Dont make the same mistake I did. I was totally unaware of this issue when I bought. Do some searches on steering wander. You will mostly find the problem on the Outback, but I think thats because there are more Outbacks out there. My 2012 Legacy was very annoying to drive. You had to constantly correct from the left to the right. The car was still under factory warranty, but they couldnt fix it. New tires, alignments, rotations, nothing worked. The car had never been wrecked. Also it had a heavy wheel, so between the constant correcting and that, it made for very fatigued driving. Test out your Legacy or Outback first and check for this problem before buying!!

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  Less Than Expected - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By SjS - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Seems to be issues with the front brakes, and the windows in front doors leak air. (BAD) Dealer doesnt seem to be able to correct this.

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  Be cautious if buying used - 2002 Subaru Legacy
  By bm16v - January 1 - 2:26 pm

  Bought this vehicle used and it has not been a great experience. Overall, the car is ok but if you are in the market for this model, go above and beyond to see if the vehicle has any oil consumption issues. My car eats oil like crazy and after researching "oil consumption subaru" I have learned I am not alone. Ive switched to a thicker oil and have just learned to live with the issue. I have had several VWs and now appreciate what I had with the VR6 engine. Looking forward to seeing how this thing does in the snow, but I really dont like driving this car. Subarus can be good, but this thing is getting sold in the spring.

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  Same clutch - 2000 Subaru Legacy
  By francois - November 28 - 9:26 pm

  Hello, we have a Legacy L wagon bought new. It is still the original clutch! 80% is city driving. Comfort is bad, but I like this car. Super great on the snow, 160 hp is plenty, just have to use the shifter. We replaced: an injector, timing belt (maintenance) relay switch for fuel pump and torsion bar that broke on a dirt road. This is an incredible reliability record. However we will not buy another one because of not so good fuel mileage. My daughter will learn to drive with this car.

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  Serious Design Flaw Not Resolved in 2011 Model - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By electricity1 - November 28 - 4:24 pm

  The Subaru Legacy was plagued with design issues after its redesign in 2010 and unfortunately these have not been resolved in the 2011 model. Many of these cars (along with the Outbacks) have a "shimmy" issue at highway speeds and if you bring this to the dealers attention, they will apply an extensive technical service bulletin (TSB 05-48-10) which is essentially a redesign to the car. After I had this applied the car had serious vibration issues and swaying at highway speeds, along with pulling to either side. Subaru refuses to acknowledge that there is anything wrong with the car after this fix was applied. Google "subaru legacy shimmy" and read the 64 pages of posts! Stay FAR away!!

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  Needs Some work - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By Mike - October 13 - 12:10 am

  As a life long Audi owner I had a hard time converting but the price and test drive convinced me to go Subaru. So far after only 300 miles I have found the steering to be average with shaking at speeds above 60 (Subaru Service says this is a known issue with no known fix yet). Highway handling is fair with several corrections needed to keep the car straight. Compared to the German brethren this car lacks driving exhilaration. On the plus the car is roomy, and priced well. The styling actually grows on you. The braking is superb. Good utility car but dont expect a lot of driving wow. Ask about the wheel shake when buying.

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  Legacy GT ( NOT) - 2010 Subaru Legacy
  By gal50 - July 13 - 7:33 pm

  I owned an 05 legacy GT with an automatic, and traded it on an 2010 Legacy 3.6 Premium. BAD MISTAKE!!! The new Legacy GT doesnt come with an automatic anymore, REALLY BIG MISTAKE!!! I dont like manual transmissions, but like the performance of the turbo 4, so the only choice I had was the 3.6 6 cylinder, if you have a turbo 4 Legacy GT hold on to it, the gas mileage and performance of the 3.6 cant come close!!! WISH I STILL HAD MY 05 GT!!!

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  Hate this car - 2005 Subaru Legacy
  By KC - March 19 - 7:46 am

  I got this car as an alternative to a "real" car because it was a practical alternative to a gas guzzling SUV or a more expensive Audi or BMW. I thought I needed the wagon for my lifestyle, but I wish Id bitten the bullet and just went for an Audi, got a bike rack and drove on down the road. This car is NOT fun to drive, although it sounded good on paper.

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  Good and Bad - 2016 Subaru Legacy
  By SCamp - March 5 - 6:48 pm

  Like many, theres many things I like about my Legacy. Conservative styling and a car that I can actually see out of are benefits. Road and wind noise are disappointing. Ride can be harsh. At 22000 miles I ended the time with the OEM Goodyear tires and greatly improved the ride. Navigation lags, often telling me to turn too late. Rattles, squeaks, and pops everywhere in the interior deemed as "normal". I would accept in a 1986 Plymouth Horizon, but not here. Decent handling, good braking, adequate acceleration. Overall pleased with fuel economy. I would feel much better about my purchase had Subaru sweat the details. Dealer support has been fine.

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  Very Roomy Sedan - 2011 Subaru Legacy
  By fisheagle - January 31 - 7:45 am

  From start i filed a complaint at the dealership about the car poor road handling.The car bounced on the road the suspension felt harsh.Dealership argued "there is nothing wrong with the car"A letter to SOA head office did not produce any results.I took it upon myself to replace the shock absorbers at nearly 20k miles there were clear signs of wear on tear on the struts.Much to my surprise the struts was the same company that supplied the OEM front and rear struts!The handling increased marginally.The rear end still bounces.The idle drops to below 500 rpm when coming to stop.Uneven idling.Going down hill cruise control does not work. Dealer nothing wrong with car.My last Subaru!