Overview: Two of the fastest-growing automotive brands in America are Jeep and Subaru, which probably speaks to a cultural embrace of four-wheel drive as much as the popularity of those two brands’ specific models. A growing number of people regard all-wheel drive as a safety measure that enhances their sense of security in the same way that anti-lock brakes and stability control do—they may need it rarely but feel more comfortable knowing it’s there. Subaru’s biggest sales numbers are generated by the Forester crossover and the segment-creating Outback high-riding wagon, but all-wheel drive is standard in all of its models (save the BRZ sports coupe), among them the more ordinary, mid-size Legacy sedan we drove for this review. We mean “ordinary” in the nicest way, because the car’s absence of design excitement or fantasy-inspired overtones rests at the core of its appeal—it’s just an honest mainstream sedan that goes about its business without pretense. This sixth-generation model arrived for 2015 and was notably more refined, more comfortable, and bigger than before, firmly in the center of the mid-size market.
For this review we sampled the mid-level 2.5i Premium model, which like most Legacys is powered by a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine distributing 175 horsepower to all four corners via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and the full-time Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system. While other automakers have offered the option of all-wheel drive in their family sedans, (including the current Chrysler 200 and Ford Fusion), Subaru makes it standard—and at a price thousands lower than those competitors. This powertrain serves in both the most sparsely equipped 2.5i ($22,540) and the plusher 2.5i Limited, while a 256-hp 3.6-liter flat-six sits atop the range in the Legacy Limited 3.6R. The latter barely crests the $30,000 barrier where other AWD sedans start. We’ve enjoyed the big-engine version in the past but found that the latest CVT model trailed the pack of front-drive six-cylinder competitors such as the Honda Accord and the Volkswagen Passat. The Legacy 2.5i under review here showed up in Twilight Blue Metallic paint with a beige (Warm Ivory) cloth interior. It’s a nice-looking car—not attention seeking but handsomely equipped and well assembled.
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What’s New: For 2016, Subaru made its Starlink infotainment system standard on the Legacy; tweaked the power steering for better feel; added a function that activates the headlights when the wipers are turned on; and expanded the optional EyeSight safety system’s capabilities to include a lane-keeping-assist function. (EyeSight already included active cruise control, pre-collision braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.) In the base car, Starlink gives owners a 6.2-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. In our Premium example, the system upgrades to a 7.0-inch screen with dual USB outlets and a hands-free text-messaging function. Our car also had a $2990 option package that brought a sunroof, the EyeSight safety technologies, navigation, and a six-speaker audio system. Subaru has yet to bow to Silicon Valley hegemony—its Aha app manages limited smartphone integration features, but neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto is on the menu. We know that 2017 will bring a new Sport trim level, but while we hoped that the name would connote a turbocharged engine or a manual transmission, the 2017 Legacy Sport will have the same 2.5-liter/CVT drivetrain as this car.
What We Like: Comfortable seats, a roomy interior, excellent sightlines from the driver’s seat, and its well-sorted control layout make the Legacy an easy machine to drive, whether commuting or over long distances. The EyeSight systems worked well, and the new lane-keeping function was less intrusive than most, so we were able to leave it turned on in circumstances where other cars have us reaching for the “off” button—regard these EyeSight features more as legitimate driver assists and not as nascent autonomous-driving modes. The steering tweak for 2016 isn’t a major leap forward, but it does mitigate the disconnected sensation we noted in our test of the 2015 3.6R model.
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What We Don’t Like: Standard all-wheel drive lands the Legacy at the heavy end of its class, and the four-cylinder boxer engine coupled to the CVT can feel strained, particularly when all the seats and the large trunk are loaded. The more powerful turbocharged direct-injected 2.0-liter that motivates the Forester XT would seem better suited to the task than either the 2.5 or the heavier 3.6-liter six. Some of our drivers still abhor all CVTs, but Subaru’s latest step-function electronics that mimic the shifts of a conventional automatic make the transmission at least preferable to the unit it replaced. We’d still like to see Subaru offer the manual-transmission option it previously offered on the Legacy and today reserves for other markets.
Verdict: Safe, secure, and conventional adds up to a beige personality but a good buy.
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