After years existing largely as a “nichey” carmaker with a tight circle of enthusiast owners, Subaru has decided to launch an assault on the mainstream sedan market. No longer content to exist as the 'All Wheel Drive' brand that some folks think is Australian, the recently-updated Legacy is heading up Subaru’s mission.
For 2010, it’s a machine designed to make Accord, Camry, and Malibu shoppers do a double take-- and not just because it's the only competitor with standard AWD on every model. Legacy's new focus, as an entire package, is to help move the Subaru brand onto the mental radar of more and more shoppers.
Legacy Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle
In the case of the tester, that included even those shoppers with above-average concern for the atmosphere. The Legacy tested was a model from Subaru's PZEV family, and it came with a CVT transmission priced at $26,395.
PZEV?
That's an abbreviation for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. These days, it's cooler than ever to be green, and the Legacy PZEV capitalizes on the trend. The funny-sounding emissions rating is the cleanest a gas-burning vehicle can earn.
High emissions performance are enabled by a more effective catalytic converter that heats up and starts working fast, thanks to a reprogrammed engine computer. Additionally, a revised intake manifold and special fuel injectors put the kibosh on the evaporation of fuel into the atmosphere.
In plain English, Legacy PZEV spews out near-nil amounts of environmental nastiness. There's no compromise to normal operation or driveability, either.
Last-gen Legacy-owner approved, mainly
All of this greenness occurs alongside Legacy's claim of increased performance, and a considerably bigger and heavier body. Upsizing aside, Subaru says performance is maintained and mileage increased, even though the Legacy has become, in some ways, a much different car.
 |
| The 2010 Legacy PZEV is a must-drive for shoppers looking for environmentally sensitive operation. |
For 2010, it’s a machine designed to make Accord, Camry, and Malibu shoppers do a double take-- and not just because it's the only competitor with standard AWD on every model. Legacy's new focus, as an entire package, is to help move the Subaru brand onto the mental radar of more and more shoppers.
Legacy Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle
In the case of the tester, that included even those shoppers with above-average concern for the atmosphere. The Legacy tested was a model from Subaru's PZEV family, and it came with a CVT transmission priced at $26,395.
PZEV?
That's an abbreviation for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. These days, it's cooler than ever to be green, and the Legacy PZEV capitalizes on the trend. The funny-sounding emissions rating is the cleanest a gas-burning vehicle can earn.
High emissions performance are enabled by a more effective catalytic converter that heats up and starts working fast, thanks to a reprogrammed engine computer. Additionally, a revised intake manifold and special fuel injectors put the kibosh on the evaporation of fuel into the atmosphere.
In plain English, Legacy PZEV spews out near-nil amounts of environmental nastiness. There's no compromise to normal operation or driveability, either.
Last-gen Legacy-owner approved, mainly
All of this greenness occurs alongside Legacy's claim of increased performance, and a considerably bigger and heavier body. Upsizing aside, Subaru says performance is maintained and mileage increased, even though the Legacy has become, in some ways, a much different car.
 |
| Interior build quality is very good, and backed by mainly upscale trim materials. |