2012 Subaru Legacy

Rating from 3rd Legacy Owner

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Ok all you car researchers, here is the review of the 2012 legacy from a repeat legacy owner. Quick back story, I have owned a 06 2.5GT, a 07 2.5i limited and now a 12 2.5i limited. While the 12 still cannot hold a flame to the power of the GT, the CVT transmission matched to the 2.5 power plant provides plenty of go go power. I did a lot of research before buying the 12, specifically about the handling capabilities. Most people said "if you hate body roll, don't buy the new body style". Well, they are not all wrong. The new body style does not take corners like my 06 and 7,but the 12 still provides a solid performance on the tight turns and off ramps. It took a few days getting used to the larger hood and reduced sight lines. What I noticed most in the turns was the movement in the seat. The larger body allows for more seat, which in turn leads to more lateral movement of the driver in the seat. The older seats really held you in place, but the new seats are much more comfortable, especially on long rides. Overall interior style is very nice. Fit and finish is good and the upgraded Harmon Kardon stereo is nice. Rear leg and head room is caverness in comparison to the 07 which makes it much easier trying to strap in the kids than before, which used to require a class in contorsionism. I drive 100 miles per day commuting, so i get a pretty real MPG of 29.3. I have yet to see anything over 30 even thought 90% of my mileage is highway. Get into the throttle a bit more and work the CVT and you are down around 28.2. The paddle shift is nice in traffic, and even nicer when you break free. It is a bit strange getting used to the sound of the engine as it matches the transmission, but once you get passed that, you can really make this non-turbo move along. Overall I am very pleased with the purchase of the 2012. If you want road hugging, rocket-ship performance, look at the WRX. If you want spacious comfort with a solid power plant at a great value, take the Legacy for a ride."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Thought it would be better

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		2 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"Had an older Subaru years ago and loved it, so I thought I'd buy a new one. Biggest mistake I've made in a long time. Engineers are designing the car as cheap as possible, and the build quality reflects it. I've had my new '12 Legacy for 8 months and it's been in the shop 6 times already trying to get the drivers seat to stay still when driving. I have a manual seat and the track system is very poor quality. Seat squeaks and moves around on the road. Had a loaner with an electric seat and that one was fine. I've also had engine idle problems. Cars almost dies out when sitting at a stoplight. Very aggravating. No low end power in my car at all. It's a 6 speed manual and it is S L O W. Overall, VERY disappointed in the car as a whole. Dealer isn't much help. Sure wish Subaru would buy it back so I could go get a real car."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Subaru Fan

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Bought my 2012 Legacy in July. This is my 5th Subaru since 1980. Great car so far - getting 35mpg hwy. Very comfortable. Before buying, read reviews that the radio was poor quality. Not so - radio/sound system is great. Looked at the Honda CR-V and Camry, but after my wife sat in the Legacy, she said this was the car. Rides great, and has excellent acceleration when passing on 2-lane hwy. Punch it and it takes off. Only down side - I miss the hatch back opening of my former Impreza."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from First time Legacy driver

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I just got my 2013 Legacy a week ago and love it...I've been a Camry owner for years and have been very satisfied with them, but was talked into an all wheel drive car with the Subaru being the top of those recommended. Thank goodness I took the advice. I'm having some difficulty adjusting to the "stiffer" steering, but I know it won't take long to wonder why I found it to be a problem at all. There is no question that I've become a Subaru fan probably forever....Everything else about it is far above my hopes and expectations for a car in that price range. Would I recommend it to friends? Without a doubt!!! (Incidentally the Venetian Red with black interior is gorgeous!)"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Nana

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I am enjoying the many features of my new Subaru Legacy. I'm glad I made this selection, and I found the staff at the dealership where I purchased it to be the best!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Commuter Joe

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Let me preface this review by saying I am a Subaru fan. Not some over-the-top zealot but, in general, appreciative of what Subaru brings to the industry. Zero-landfill plant, pzev certifications, the safety of all-time all-wheel-drive (which is making its way to other manufacturers after Subaru's continued success with the concept) and the design decisions which highlight values that I share. I did, however, begin my hunt for a new car with a very slight bias towards Subaru but with an overall open mind. I research and test-drove all manner of competition. There's not a ton of choice in this size of 4-door sedan so I also test drove smaller and larger variants from many manufacturers (including, the Ford Focus and Fusion, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima and Maxima). To anyone who is price-conscious, I was shocked to find that practically all the vehicles, when equipped with the options that I considered "necessary," were within a $4,500 range (the Legacy being about $1,500 from the top of that range). This spread is so close over the expected usable life of the vehicle that I treated them all as if they were the same price. So here's what I found and why I chose the Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premuim. The "Pros": - All-time all-wheel drive from the real innovator of the technology - "Boxer" 2.5L engine that's been in production for quite some time. It's reliability is proven and there are plenty of people in the country who've seen this engine and have worked with it before. This was a real concern when I had some problems with my company-issued Prius since there were only a handful of certified mechanics and even they had no "real-world" experience - Handling - great "road-feel," though the power steering might be a little "over-boosted" for some drivers' taste - Interior - Tons of room for everyone, a common passenger of mine is 6'5" & 320lbs. He can sit either in front or in back with no problems. Trunk space is more than adequate though the opening is a bit tight. Trim is "modern" without being flashy. Fit and finish of the entire interior felt great. Controls for everything logically laid out without overuse of LCD screens. In my experience mechanical controls tend to hold up better over time. - The Look - fantastic on the new Legacy. Clean lines and judicious use of chrome lend a very classy look to the vehicle. - Fuel economy - having come from a turbo-charged WRX, I'm glad I get to use 87 octane again. 93 was breaking the bank. I'm currently averaging a real-world 29.7mpg with a 60/40 split highway/city. Kudos to Subaru for making the trip computer give accurate MPG ratings (when you're parked at a red light, the MPG goes down since you're using gas but not going anywhere). Other manufacturers cheat on that point. Cons: - Acceleration 0-60 - Kind of sluggish. Obviously compared to my previous car this was never going to be as fast but even compared to the competition it's a little slow. Using the manual-shift mode helps if you're in need of a burst off the line. Once the car is moving, however, there's plenty of acceleration for passing and getting to highway speeds etc. - Turn markers on the rear view mirrors - This is an awesome safety feature and I wish they'd have put those on by default or at least given us a factory or aftermarket option. That's it for serious gripes. Other minor gripes: - Front cup holders a little small for modern take-out cup sizes. I know I probably shouldn't be getting fast food anyway and certainly not the bucket-like soft drinks they offer but I'm an American and I ignore the health concerns as is my constitutional right. =p - FM tuner quality - There is a marked difference in the sound quality of the audio system when listening to FM radio compared to the other options (USB, BT-A, CD). It's so significant it's worth mentioning that I almost never listen to music on FM anymore, just NPR and Bob & Tom - Lack of subwoofer option - Got burned on this by ordering the factory subwoofer aftermarket only to find out that the audio system in the Premium model can't interface with it. The base stereo system can. Though the amount of bass the stock 5.25" woofers can crank out is impressive low end response rolls off a little too early for my tastes."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Another Subaru Fan

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		3 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Great car. Much improved over the 2007-2009 series. Comfortable seats. Too early to tell about reliability. My one BIG complaint about this car is the garbage stock tires that came with it. Subaru really cheaps out with the Bridgestone Turanza EL400-II tires. One of the worst tires around, if you read the reviews. WHY, Subaru?"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Marcusinfl

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"This is one great car! It's the best kept secret! Feels luxurious, is powerful, handles great, quiet responsive ride, all week drive, not common, praised right!!!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Snowman

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I needed a new car badly, and wanted something that would get me through Wisconsin's notorious winters ? while not driving like a truck. There are plenty of 4WD vehicles out there, but after doing some research I decided to give AWD a try. The Subaru line was the only way to go. The Legacy has sporty lines that don't make anyone think about mudding. Yet, during the month I have been driving my new Subaru, the snow-slick roads aren't a problem. The car rides very smoothly, and by 86-year-old mother has no complaint when I take her around town (in the back seat, no less). The 2.5L engine performs fine for my needs. It may lack some sizzle, but the 31 mpg rating is hard to beat. For the price of a traditional sedan, the Legacy gives me considerable peace of mind and more than a hint of luxury. Count me among the growing army of Subaru converts."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Transporting family

Rating from gymratjudy

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Proud owner of a 3.6r limited in deep indigo blue. This is my first subie and so far I am very impressed coming from a Ford Mustang V6. Took her out this weekend during the bad weather this weekend and I felt very confident driving."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting