2010 Subaru Legacy: Up Close
Subaru ads tout the unique appeal of the brand — what makes a Subaru a Subaru — that others ostensibly lack. What Subarus offer is roll-up-your-sleeves utility, and that aspect translates even to the redesigned, midsize Legacy sedan. It gains a lot of utility to help it compete with the big boys — Toyota Camry and Honda Accord — but it doesn’t do enough to completely win out.
I’m not sold on the styling. It’s an amalgamation of Infiniti’s G37 sedan and a lot of other Subarus. It looks (slightly) better in person than in pictures, but the front still appears too busy. The rear, on the other hand, left me flat. In the photos, it’s trying to be a Lexus GS; in the flesh, it’s just a bit plain — certainly more so than the outgoing Legacy.
Cabin materials aren’t class-leading: The silver plastic around the center controls has a matte finish that’s attractive enough, but the wood trim is awfully plasticky. Ditto for the dashboard panels, which are cheaply finished and hard to the touch; nearly every competitor employs softer panels up there. The front seats have good adjustment range, but their cushions lack thigh support and feel a bit squishy.
Still, utility tells a different story. The backseat is far roomier than before — there’s perhaps as much legroom as you get in the Accord, save a large floor hump that’s there to accommodate the all-wheel-drive system. Trunk volume splits the difference between the Camry and Accord, and there’s a low load height and wide fold-down backseat, which allows large items to pass through. Standard all-wheel-drive, of course, will be a boon for anyone who lives in the Snow Belt.
No word on the Legacy’s gas mileage yet, but all-wheel drive will likely cost the Legacy a few mpg versus its front-wheel-drive peers. We’ll have to wait and see what a new CVT transmission does for the base four-cylinder’s mileage versus the outgoing and somewhat outdated four-speed automatic. The 265-hp turbo GT model requires premium fuel — bummer — but the regular four-cylinder and the available six will take regular.
Of late, Subaru’s been one to build cars that trade high-rent interiors and luxury frills for consummate utility, reliability and safety. The Legacy appears no different. If this is a winning formula — and by sales figures, it looks to be — then Subaru has done well.
