- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
DRIVEN: Subaru Builds On Its Legacy
Midsize sedan with all-wheel drive boasts agile drivability and superior fuel mileage in an affordable package.
Subaru Legacy's tractability is enhanced by standard all-wheel drive, one of the automaker's signature features. (Photo: Subaru)
There was a time when Subaru was the most-quirky of automakers, its cars and SUVs mostly piloted by East Coast college professors and Earth Shoe individualists.
No more. Subaru has gone mainstream and in most respects, is all the better for it. Although still a bit player among the industry giants, Subaru has been one of the brightest spots in the comeback of the auto industry, with products that range from the sport-compact performance of the WRX to the family-values appeal of its strong-selling Forester SUV.
While Subaru’s recent success has been led by the redesigned Forester, the Legacy sedan has also thrived since its 2010 makeover, and it shows how Subaru competes in the crowded midsize-sedan segment on its own terms.
The Legacy may not be as distinctively different as it was in years past, but there’s still enough here to set it apart from the herd with unique features, such as the new EyeSight safety system, and increased agility from a retuned chassis as well as the tractability of all-wheel drive.
What’s still different about Subarus is that they all get their traction from standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (notable exception: the new rear-drive BRZ), which makes them popular in snowy climates. And they all run on low-profile horizontally opposed engines; the only other automaker using a similar configuration is Porsche for its 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars.
The 2013 Legacy test car was powered by the lesser of two available “boxer” engines, a 2.5-liter four that generates 173 horsepower, which is up a trifle from last year’s. Not mighty but certainly adequate. Fuel efficiency has also been improved.
Two transmissions can be had with the four, a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic, which this Legacy had. Subaru has improved the function of the CVT, now called Lineartronic, so that it doesn’t feel quite so rubbery, but I would take the stickshift over this in a heartbeat.
The automatic does have a manual-shift function that picks and hold various drive ratios to simulate gears. It works well enough, but I’m still no fan of CVTs despite their fuel efficiency because of how they dull the driving experience.
The CVT does help Legacy achieve impressive fuel mileage for this class of car: 24 city, 32 highway and 27 combined, according to the EPA. Subaru crows that it’s the best mileage of any similar-size sedan with all-wheel drive. Compare that with stickshift models, which get 21 city, 28 highway and 24 combined.
The Legacy also has an optional six-cylinder opposed engine that produces 256 horsepower and comes only with a five-speed automatic. Performance goes up but mileage goes down, though it’s still not bad at 18 city, 25 highway and 20 combined.
The previously available Legacy GT with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been dropped for 2013.
The response of the all-wheel-drive system varies according to the drivetrain. The four-cylinder stickshift model gets a straightforward 50/50 split between front and rear power, while the CVT version varies the power front-to-rear depending on traction needs. The six-cylinder Legacy gets a sportier AWD setup that sends more power to the rear for better handling.
The chassis has been improved for 2013, according to Subaru, and although the suspension is still fairly soft, the Legacy corners well, and it feels stable and controlled at any speed. The steering is very responsive though a bit light to the touch.
Overall, a refined ride with enough spark to make it fun to throw around on a back road.
No more. Subaru has gone mainstream and in most respects, is all the better for it. Although still a bit player among the industry giants, Subaru has been one of the brightest spots in the comeback of the auto industry, with products that range from the sport-compact performance of the WRX to the family-values appeal of its strong-selling Forester SUV.
While Subaru’s recent success has been led by the redesigned Forester, the Legacy sedan has also thrived since its 2010 makeover, and it shows how Subaru competes in the crowded midsize-sedan segment on its own terms.
The Legacy may not be as distinctively different as it was in years past, but there’s still enough here to set it apart from the herd with unique features, such as the new EyeSight safety system, and increased agility from a retuned chassis as well as the tractability of all-wheel drive.
What’s still different about Subarus is that they all get their traction from standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (notable exception: the new rear-drive BRZ), which makes them popular in snowy climates. And they all run on low-profile horizontally opposed engines; the only other automaker using a similar configuration is Porsche for its 911, Boxster and Cayman sports cars.
The 2013 Legacy test car was powered by the lesser of two available “boxer” engines, a 2.5-liter four that generates 173 horsepower, which is up a trifle from last year’s. Not mighty but certainly adequate. Fuel efficiency has also been improved.
Two transmissions can be had with the four, a six-speed manual or a continuously variable automatic, which this Legacy had. Subaru has improved the function of the CVT, now called Lineartronic, so that it doesn’t feel quite so rubbery, but I would take the stickshift over this in a heartbeat.
The automatic does have a manual-shift function that picks and hold various drive ratios to simulate gears. It works well enough, but I’m still no fan of CVTs despite their fuel efficiency because of how they dull the driving experience.
The CVT does help Legacy achieve impressive fuel mileage for this class of car: 24 city, 32 highway and 27 combined, according to the EPA. Subaru crows that it’s the best mileage of any similar-size sedan with all-wheel drive. Compare that with stickshift models, which get 21 city, 28 highway and 24 combined.
The Legacy also has an optional six-cylinder opposed engine that produces 256 horsepower and comes only with a five-speed automatic. Performance goes up but mileage goes down, though it’s still not bad at 18 city, 25 highway and 20 combined.
The previously available Legacy GT with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been dropped for 2013.
The response of the all-wheel-drive system varies according to the drivetrain. The four-cylinder stickshift model gets a straightforward 50/50 split between front and rear power, while the CVT version varies the power front-to-rear depending on traction needs. The six-cylinder Legacy gets a sportier AWD setup that sends more power to the rear for better handling.
The chassis has been improved for 2013, according to Subaru, and although the suspension is still fairly soft, the Legacy corners well, and it feels stable and controlled at any speed. The steering is very responsive though a bit light to the touch.
Overall, a refined ride with enough spark to make it fun to throw around on a back road.
Shake and Bake: Recent Posts
-
ICYMI: The Biff Stands By Decision To Not Help Edwards »
-
Blowout Blame Game: Is It The Tire Or The Crew Chief? »
-
Biffle Loves It When The #48 Crashes Trying To Catch Him »
-
Rubbin' Is ... Amazing? Think You Can "Finish That Phrase"? »
-
Harvick And Labonte Toss First Pitch, Mocked By Stenhouse, Jr. »
-
Last Lap: Déjà vu ... Mike Harmon Has Turned Himself In »
-
Ricky Vs. Danica: Michigan Edition »
-
Feud Of The Week: Junior Nation Vs. The Racing Gods »
LATEST HEADLINES: NASCAR
-
Winged Sprint-Car Wreck Claims Jason Leffler
Jason Leffler lost his life Wednesday night in a winged sprint-car… -
MCREYNOLDS: Dover Showed Gen-6 Car Is Strong
The biggest storyline of the year is the introduction of the Generation… -
CUP: Richard Petty Motorsports Expands Development Program
Young drivers join new Petty program... -
CUP: Monster Mile Gets Toyotas
Toyota teams find setbacks at Dover... -
CUP: Kez Is On The Down-Low
Bard Keselowski's car too low after race... -
CUP: Dover Power Rankings
Despite a rare and costly mistake, Jimmie Johnson holds onto the… -
CUP: Montoya Edges Closer To Oval Win
Juan Pablo Montoya loses shot at first victory on oval… - More News
