Few mainstream cars have as strong an enthusiast owner community as the Subaru Legacy. Popular with driving enthusiasts and folks active in outdoor sports, it’s earned a well-deserved reputation as an upscale, fun-to-drive car with winter-busting traction.
Subaru has just moved their popular sport sedan into its fifth generation for the 2010 model year, meaning the fourth-generation car has now transitioned fully into the used car marketplace.
For its last generation, Legacy was available in both sedan and wagon body styles. Shoppers could pick between one of three engines, as well as an automatic or manual transmission depending on the model selected.
Standard on Legacy 2.5i sedans and wagons was a 2.5 litre boxer four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower. A four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission was available. Most owners recommend opting for the manual with this engine for maximum performance. The 2.5 litre engine is known to deliver decent mileage, though it won’t tickle any horsepower buffs.
The 2.5 litre turbo engine might, though. A turbocharged and intercooled version of the standard engine available on Legacy 2.5GT models, it saw horsepower bumped to between 243 and 250. Legacy GT models are distinguished visually by a functional hood-mounted scoop, and their owners enjoy plenty of passing and merging power.
A turbocharged Legacy will have a higher purchase price, higher insurance rates, and higher maintenance costs. It also requires more expensive premium gas, burns through it more quickly, and may cost you a speeding ticket or two. Of course, the fun-to-drive factor outweighs the added costs for many owners-- especially those with the rare-but-coveted 2.5GT Wagon.
Legacy was also available with a three-litre flat six-cylinder engine with power output similar to that of the turbocharged four-cylinder unit. The flat-six engine came only with an automatic transmission.
Like all Subaru’s, every Legacy came standard with All Wheel Drive (AWD). Subaru’s ‘Symmetrical’ AWD system constantly powers all four wheels, splits torque slightly between the axles as needed, and works entirely without driver involvement. Owners love the confidence and stability the system delivers in bad-weather driving, as well as enhanced year-round performance.
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| (Photo: Subaru) |
Subaru has just moved their popular sport sedan into its fifth generation for the 2010 model year, meaning the fourth-generation car has now transitioned fully into the used car marketplace.
For its last generation, Legacy was available in both sedan and wagon body styles. Shoppers could pick between one of three engines, as well as an automatic or manual transmission depending on the model selected.
Standard on Legacy 2.5i sedans and wagons was a 2.5 litre boxer four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower. A four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission was available. Most owners recommend opting for the manual with this engine for maximum performance. The 2.5 litre engine is known to deliver decent mileage, though it won’t tickle any horsepower buffs.
The 2.5 litre turbo engine might, though. A turbocharged and intercooled version of the standard engine available on Legacy 2.5GT models, it saw horsepower bumped to between 243 and 250. Legacy GT models are distinguished visually by a functional hood-mounted scoop, and their owners enjoy plenty of passing and merging power.
A turbocharged Legacy will have a higher purchase price, higher insurance rates, and higher maintenance costs. It also requires more expensive premium gas, burns through it more quickly, and may cost you a speeding ticket or two. Of course, the fun-to-drive factor outweighs the added costs for many owners-- especially those with the rare-but-coveted 2.5GT Wagon.
Legacy was also available with a three-litre flat six-cylinder engine with power output similar to that of the turbocharged four-cylinder unit. The flat-six engine came only with an automatic transmission.
Like all Subaru’s, every Legacy came standard with All Wheel Drive (AWD). Subaru’s ‘Symmetrical’ AWD system constantly powers all four wheels, splits torque slightly between the axles as needed, and works entirely without driver involvement. Owners love the confidence and stability the system delivers in bad-weather driving, as well as enhanced year-round performance.
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| (Photo: Subaru) |