Review of the new Subaru Legacy

You can only bang your head against a brick wall for so long. When the headache starts to set in, it's usually time to admit defeat and adopt a more nuanced approach. That or try a sledgehammer and a run-up. Subaru has been plugging away at the compact executive car market with its Legacy for quite some time and although the car has maintained steady sales, a major breakthrough hasn't looked forthcoming. The latest Legacy is the result of a conscious decision by Subaru to come at the problem from a different angle. The Legacy has grown, but will that be enough to get it noticed?

The Legacy, like quite a few Subarus down the years, has become something of a cult car. Its standard four-wheel-drive transmission and charismatic Boxer engines set it apart from the pack in the congested medium range and compact executive market sectors. Popular with owners who tow and those who live in outlying areas where 4x4 mechanicals can be essential, the car has a sparkling reputation for reliability and generally performs strongly in customer satisfaction surveys. Previous models have had their downsides too, Subaru lacked a diesel for too long and cabin quality hasn't always been up to snuff, but the Legacy's plus points would still lead you to expect it to figure more highly in the sales charts. That hasn't really come about but the latest enlarged Legacy is attempting to change that.

Providing the Legacy's power supply is a range of engines that isn't short on potency. The entry-level car uses a 2.5-litre Boxer unit with 170bhp and 230Nm of torque. It incorporates Subaru's i-Active Valve Lift System to adapt the combustion process according to the demands being placed upon the engine by the driver. A turbocharged version of this engine comes next, similar to that found in the higher-powered Subaru Impreza models. It has 265bhp and 350Nm of torque which help it cover the 0-60mph sprint in only six seconds. At the top of the line-up is the 3.6-litre H6 engine which, oddly, is less powerful than the turbocharged four-cylinder unit with 256bhp. Subaru's impressive Boxer diesel engine is another option that Legacy customers will want to explore.

"The car is a lot roomier than the previous model and also includes a number of useful upgrades beneath the skin"

All Legacy models get Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive which is adapted according to the engine and gearbox options that are installed. The system distributes power in a 50:50 split between the front and rear wheels via a viscous coupling centre differential. If grip is in short supply at one axle, more power is diverted to the opposite one. On the more powerful range-topping models, Subaru's VTD Variable Torque Distribution system is installed which uses a planetary centre differential and a hydraulic transfer clutch to continuously adjust the amount of torque being applied to each wheel according to the driving conditions. This system routinely directs a greater proportion of the available power to the rear wheels for a more dynamic drive.

Subaru has aimed for space with this Legacy, the car is bigger than the one that preceded it in every dimension, tagging on 35mm in length, 90mm in width and 80mm in height. These are significant increases and they're made all the more so by the car's layout. The wheels are pushed right out to the corners of the body by a wheelbase that's 81mm up on that of the old model. This increases cabin space and produces a planted, aggressive stance. Despite the need to accommodate the drive axles and rear differential needed at the back of the 4x4 Legacy, the car also has a generous boot of 416 litres. An advanced double wishbone rear suspension system also features at the rear and is said to offer major improvements over the old car's multi-link set-up.

With its added bulk, the Legacy has become a more imposing sight on the road. It looks lower and wider with muscular curves around the front end and the wheelarches. There's little in the design that we haven't seen before elsewhere but Subaru's amalgamation of styles comes together to pleasing effect. Lots of work has also gone into enhancing the Legacy interior. Again, the approach is on the sober side but few family cars in the Legacy class really push the boat out where innovative cabin design is concerned. Enhanced materials, a multi-function display at the centre of the dash and an electronic parking brake with hill holder function all feature.

Safety equipment on the Legacy includes the VDC Vehicle Dynamics Control system which combines stability and traction control. There's also an ABS braking system with brake assist and EBD brakeforce distribution. The five and six-speed manual gearboxes are supplemented by a five-speed auto on the 3.6-litre model and an advanced CVT gearbox with paddle shifters.

Subaru will contend that its Legacy competes in the compact executive market sector but through its previous generations, the car has tended to sit amongst models which occupy a hinterland between compact executive fare and the mainstream family saloons below. The larger dimensions of the latest car make it usefully more roomy than compact executive stalwarts like the Mercedes-C-Class and BMW 3 Series but it's going to be tough for the Subaru to match them in other departments. Medium range family models like Ford's Mondeo and Vauxhall's Insignia have the size but the all-wheel-drive mechanicals, performance engines and relative exclusivity of the Legacy should give it an edge. This is largely the status quo that the previous generation Legacy existed with. It was chosen as a leftfield alternative to the mainstream options but Subaru will be looking for the qualities of the latest car push more customers its way.

The large petrol engines in the Legacy are going to sell on their power and performance rather than low running costs but Subaru's Boxer diesel engine should provide a viable option for those on a tighter budget. Subaru will need this Legacy's residual values to hold up more strongly than those of previous models if it's to make real headway.

By going large, the latest generation of the Subaru Legacy is looking to gain an advantage over the compact executive cars that have always overshadowed it in the past. The car is a lot roomier than the previous model and also includes a number of useful upgrades beneath the skin. It should be a step forward for Subaru but whether it goes far enough remains to be seen.

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