2012 Subaru Legacy Review

2012 Subaru Legacy

By Joe Duarte, Toronto Sun

Legacy has sure footing in mid-size family sedan segment

There is no denying Subaru's legacy is its symmetrical all-wheel drive system, and although four-wheel drive has been a Subaru staple for well on 40 years, it really came to the forefront with the Subaru Legacy of 1989.

Back then, Legacy gave Subaru a car with which to take on the giants of the family imports ? mostly Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. It didn't really upstage the others in size, and it still had a couple quirks in the styling, but man that all-wheel drive made all its flaws pale.

To this day, Legacy remains the hallmark of the Subaru line-up, as well as those markets where sure-footed traction is a must in winter months (most notably at higher elevations or places where snow accumulates quickly and stays long). And though the company has tried to push the benefits of all-wheel drive year round for performance, it's never managed to make the Legacy into a sport sedan (as it has with the smaller Impreza).

At most, Legacy is a sportier family car; but mostly, it's a dependable family car. The latest generation (introduced in 2009) did away with some traditions - the frameless windows, for example, which helps make a much quieter cabin (and closer competitor to the eerie silence inside a Camry), and the relegation of the wagon to its sister Outback (there are Legacy wagons in other world markets).

The latter is a shame for those of us who feel a two-box bodystyle is so much more useful than a three-box design, but Subaru also addressed one of its biggest challenges - price. Previous editions of Legacy were always more expensive than its rivals, leaving Subaru to justify the price as "but it has all-wheel drive and the others don't."

Well, the others still don't have all-wheel drive (except for a few mildly smaller rivals such as the Ford Fusion and Suzuki Kizashi) and Legacy is priced mid-pack, making a more affordable, value-added alternative even in its base format (as was our test unit).

The only option on our test Legacy is an automatic transmission, which unfortunately is now a continuously variable unit. It's not as bad as some of its competitors' (most notably the horrible Kizashi slush-box) and it does have shiftable steps (with steering wheel paddle controls, no less) but it's also not the electronic four-speed automatic that made Legacy in its early generations. A five-speed automatic is available with the six-cylinder engine at the top of the line.

Speaking of engines, Legacy sticks with the horizontally opposed design (H, if you will, or "boxer"), and why not? It's naturally smoother than competitors' in-line "fours" that require balancing shafts. And though it's no more powerful than others at the top end, it does twist up more effectively for positive launches and quicker getaways during passing or getting on the highway.

The cabin feels a bit tighter than most of its competitors, especially in the rear (despite radically scooped front seatbacks and a flat, squarish seat cushion. The upholstery seems to be durable cloth, but it also doesn't feel as upscale as some of its competitors' inexpensive fabrics.

The driver's office is comprehensively and attractively laid out, looking more like a high-tech control panel than a family car's control centre, with its faux metal face plates top to bottom. The driving position is definitely European, with the driver sitting at arm's length from the wheel when legs are appropriately set (for somebody of equal proportions, such as me). Those who prefer to sit closer to the wheel (such as I do) will find it awkward.

But overall, there isn't much to quibble about with the latest Subaru Legacy, especially in base trim (which really gives you all you need in basic mid-sized family transportation - except maybe Bluetooth). And that's perhaps its biggest step toward acceptance in this segment.

Read Article: http://torontosun.autonet.ca/autos/search/testdrives/2011/11/04/18926501-autonet.html

2012 Subaru Legacy Review

2012 Subaru Legacy

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