The Legacy is Subaru's midsize sedan entry. It competes against vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. The Legacy is the only car in the class that comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). In fact, the only others to even offer AWD are the Chrysler 200 and Ford Fusion.
The 2016 Legacy comes in four flavors with one of two engines. 2.5i, 2.5i Premium and 2.5i Limited come with a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Topping the line is the 3.6R Limited, which comes with a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine that makes 256 horsepower. Both engines pair with a CVT automatic transmission.
Prices start at $21,745 for the 2.5i and range up to $29,945 for the 3.6R. The Legacy is built in Indiana and comes with a $795 destination charge.
For more than two decades Subaru has hung its hat on the all-wheel-drive mantra. That helped the Asian brand sell somewhat off-beat cars that were either smaller, underpowered or both when compared to bestsellers in the class. That's not the case anymore. Subaru has reinvented itself and Legacy is a great example of the brand's desire to compete for mainstream buyers.
First off, the Legacy is a large midsize car, it offers ample room for four adults - five in a pinch - and all of the safety and convenience features that today's buyers have come to expect. Secondly, Subaru has closed the price gap and not only competes with competitive product, but also dollar-for-dollar with most competitors.
From a driving perspective, Legacy provides middle-of-the-road manners. The steering feels a trifle over boosted and numb on the highway and turn in isn't as crisp sportier offerings from Ford and Mazda. The suspension leans toward the comfort side of sport but never pounds or pitches over rough patches. Brakes have great stopping power and an easy-to-modulate pedal.
One nice available safety feature offered on Legacy is Subaru's EyeSight. It's designed to help the driver avoid collisions by constantly monitoring the road ahead. If a collision is likely, it can alert the drive with a flashing light and warning sound. If the collision is imminent, EyeSight will attempt to bring the vehicle to a stop to avoid or lessen the collision.
The 2.5-liter four provides decent pep away from stoplights and fair passing punch - as long as the vehicle is not loaded down with passengers or cargo. The 3.6-liter six provides a noticeable improvement in both acceleration and passing. Both engines mate well to the CVT automatic. Because of its gearless design, smooth transitions between power and cruising are the norm.
Both engines are fairly frugal - especially considering the Legacy comes only with AWD. The four rating a 30 mpg combined rating with the EPA and the six netting a 23 mpg combined rating. Real-world driving in 2.5i models is likely to yield about 28 mpg overall in routine suburban commuting with the 3.6R dropping to about 24 mpg overall.
The interior is contemporary and functional if a bit plain. Most controls fall close to hand, except for some defeat buttons for the available safety features. Front seats are comfortable and nicely padded. Rear seats have true room for large adults and three can sit across in a modicum of comfort. Trunk is roomy and wide, but the opening could be a little larger for loading bulky items.
Overall the Legacy is a credible midsize competitor. It doesn't fall short of the class leaders in any specific area and provides plenty of comfort and refinement. Add to that reasonable pricing, good model mix and standard AWD. Plus Legacy comes with some safety features like EyeSight that competitors don't offer.